Graham Baba Architects has designed a bar in the city of Seattle. Called Deep Dive, it is one of the three places created in commercial spaces within the term Spheres, spaces created without identifiable programs. The space has a bar, a multi-purpose showroom and a restaurant.
Graham Baba Architects' design encompasses a number of spatial limitations, such as ceilings of varying heights, small scale, drastic changes in elevation, and complicated shapes. Deep Dive is aesthetically inspired by the old clandestine bars of 1920, with a sophisticated ambience with a rich range of materials and objects.
 

Description of project by Graham Baba Architects

Loosely inspired by the prohibition-era speakeasy, Deep Dive takes its aesthetic inspiration from the worlds of Charles Darwin and Jules Verne and captures the human spirit of curiosity and imagination. Accessed via a nondescript door tucked discretely between the two Amazon Spheres, the experience unfolds as a journey.

Deep Dive is one of three venues created in retail spaces located between and below the Spheres—spaces created without specific programs identified. Graham Baba was asked to prepare conceptual ideation for these three spaces – Experiential and Programmatic function. City regulations stipulated that each of the three spaces are open to the public; the challenge was how to activate them. Initial concepts conceived of the spaces in terms of their emotional, intellectual, and sensory potential, rather than by function. Following approval of the experiential concept, functional aspects were identified as a bar, a multi-purpose exhibition space, and a restaurant. Deep Dive is the manifestation of the bar space.

The design of Deep Dive embraces its inherent spatial limitations: small scale, varying ceiling heights, drastic elevation change, and complicated shape. Inside, a gently sloping ramp brings guests into a sophisticated environment eschewing minimalism, instead favoring a rich array of materials and objects. The floor plan mirrors the complex space with an arched, tufted velvet banquette and gently curved bar. The intimate 1,677-square-foot space is wrapped in wood, punctuated by shelves and niches supporting an array of natural objects and artifacts. The space is transformed into a veritable cabinet of curiosities. The setting unfolds as a series of vignettes; entry ramp, bar stage, and library. 

Overhead, a custom-designed array of draped steel “ribbons” adds drama to the space and shrouds the existing mechanical equipment which moves through the space. Velvet-covered occasional seating, small cocktail tables, and antique furnishings finish the interior. The library, separated from the primary bar by a steel-and-glass partition wall and furnished with an eclectic mix of antiques, provides a private space for intimate gatherings. Vintage carpets, patinaed metals, luxurious fabrics, dark woods (stained ash, oak, and walnut), custom metalwork handrails, and decorative panels collaborate the immersive experience.

“When you descend, you enter into this dark relic that's tinged with a sense of Victorian magic and mysticism”.

“It’s a small place with complex geometry. It was like building a boat”.

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Architects
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Graham Baba Architects.
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Design team
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Jim Graham, Ellen Cecil, Susan Tillack, Connor Davidge, Francesco Borghesi and Carlos Lopes.
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Collaborators
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Tenant.- Sea creatures. Architectural support.- Okano Picard Studio. Interior Design.- Charlie Hellstern Interior Design. Structural consultant / mechanical / electrical / acoustic / AV.- Arup. Lighting.- Niteo. Accessibility.- Karen Braitmayer. Bar equipment.- CMA Restaurant Supply. Prefabrication for ceilings of steel tape to measure.- Spearhead. Manufacturing cases.- custom interiors. Custom metalwork.- architectural elements. Custom bar lighting.- resolute.
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Client
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Amazon.
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Contractor
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Sellen. Key subcontractors.- electrical: Veca; M/E/P: Caoba.
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Materials
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Stone Bar.- Verde Victoria Granite. Gypsum.- Milestone. Wooden floors.- Summitt forest products. Tiles.- Bison brick. Bar stools and chairs.- Ottiu.
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Location
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620 Lenora St, Seattle, WA 98121.
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Photographer
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Haris Kenjar.
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Graham Baba Architects is a vibrant Seattle architecture firm recognized for the successful place-making of commercial, residential and arts spaces.  Whether through the renovation of existing buildings or in new construction, the firm believes authenticity can - and should - be found in every building by use of honest materials such as metals, wood and glass celebrated in their natural state.

Through subtle and economical design moves, Graham Baba creates places that tell a story, places that people are drawn to and spaces that encourage social interaction and community.  The Graham Baba team is driven by thoughtful creativity and collaboration and works to celebrate the embedded qualities of spaces as well as the potential of a site and program and client vision.  Graham Baba’s twenty-six employees are all deeply involved in their project development processes; they are essential in producing the project designs and design deliverables required by each unique client and project. 

Jim Graham has been working in architecture for over 20 years and brings a keen sensitivity and relentless creativity to his projects.  He excels at leading large collaborative teams through complex projects and his boundless and contagious enthusiasm for each project results in a fun and exciting design process for the entire team.  Jim seeks out of the box solutions and has an exceptional ability to create social opportunities for a variety of users within an environment.  He is committed to the craft of building and is active in the design, construction, and craftsman communities.   This depth of understanding from the overall project to the ultimate detail brings a rich insight to creating an inviting and welcoming place for all.

Brett Baba is an award-winning architect with over 30 years of experience.  He is known affectionately within our offices as the “Zen Master” of design and detailing, and is the go-to person for staff (young and old) when they have questions about how things are done.  His enthusiasm for the complete project, from the biggest gestural idea to the finest construction detail, allows him to maintain a consistent design intent throughout his work.
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Published on: July 5, 2019
Cite: "Deep Dive at the spheres. A new bar called Deep Dive by Graham Baba Architects" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/deep-dive-spheres-a-new-bar-called-deep-dive-graham-baba-architects> ISSN 1139-6415
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