Wunder Werkz chooses "humble materials" for Semiprecious bar in Denver

A countertop made entirely from recycled plastic anchors this colourful bar in Denver, Colorado, designed and co-owned by local studio Wunder Werkz.

Wunder Werkz teamed up with co-owners Mike Capoferri and Rahul Marwah to open Semiprecious in a former 1950s furniture showroom in the Sunnyside neighbourhood.

The design studio led the interiors and branding for the project, primarily using unpretentious materials that are easy to source.

"While the space feels incredibly design forward and thoughtful, it is really all humble materials," said Wunder Werkz partner Jon Hartman. "We used a pegboard bar face, white oak, tile, paint and industrial fixtures – all readily accessible but elevated through their thoughtful application."

The exception is the bar counter, which was created by The Good Plastic Company using 100 per cent post-consumer appliances to create a faux marble effect.

Claimed to the first of its kind in the US, the counter provides a distinguished and durable "canvas" for serving a menu of avant-garde cocktails.

The material decision and colour scheme for the interior reference Swiss-French designer Le Corbusier's Cabanon on the Côte d'Azur.

Oxblood is used across the back bar, ceiling, banquette upholstery and bar stools, and a brighter shade of red coats the pegboard on the counter front.

Meanwhile, cobalt blue appears in a band of tiles that forms a baseboard as well as dining chairs, drinks table tops, and decorative items like mirror frames and plant pots.

Many of the original building's architectural motifs were retained, such as the large canted windows and stacked stone facade.

The visual identity for Semiprecious is based on 1950s drinking venues in New York City, such as the prestigious Stork Club,

"Both the handwritten logo and the Swiss typographic layout are anchored by a Pegasus mascot, illustrated to be equal parts cute, approachable and more than a little silly," said the team.

Wunder Werkz's decision to become a partner in the project stemmed from a desire for deep collaboration and to highlight the growing importance of design as part of a successful hospitality business strategy.

"We firmly believe that design can be a differentiator, determining a project's success or failure," said Hartman. "And since we have a wealth of experience working in the hospitality space, it only makes sense to take a financial stake in the brands we build."

"Now as partners in Semiprecious, we're using design as a strategy to solve issues, sharing in the success of our decisions as well as the risks," he continued.

"It changes the paradigm, allowing us to work with Mike and his team to creatively and conceptually craft something definitively new and interesting."

Also in Denver, Wunder Werkz created the visual identity for Michelin Star-winning restaurant Brutø, which explores Brutalist principles through typography, materiality and spatial behaviour.

Other recently opened bars with striking interiors include a day-to-night space inside Vancouver's modernist Waterfall Building, and a cafe and wine bar featuring stained glass windows and custom wooden shutters in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

The photography is by Luke Gottlieb.

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