The square is the foundation of a regular geometric grid. In 1908, Adolf Loos used the equilateral rectangle to highlight the orthogonal orientation of the interior of his so-called Kärntner Bar, the first American-style bar in Vienna. Whit this concept, the LAX BAR, designed by Christoph Meier, Ute Müller, Robert Schwarz and Lukas Stopczynski, is a copy of the Loos’s proposal.
The immersive installation reduces architecture to its very essence and centres around a seemingly simple design that underlines the sheer impact of the material. Walls, floors, ceilings and fixed furniture were completely covered in white ceramic tiles measuring 15 x 15 cm. The black grout between the tiles create a minimalist grid that also characterises the place: an all-over design of tiles and grout that repudiates practically any direct reference to the outside world and reminds the French artist Jean-Pierre Raynaud, known for tiling entire houses with white square tiles. The design also makes use of mirrors as a way of inscribing visitors into the architecture of the LAX BAR.
In short, when the door to this inconspicuous building opens, the visitors, like Alice in Wonderland, fall down a kind of rabbit hole. As an infinite image within the image.
All images credited to Ute Müller
