- Project: Experimental Speakeasy Bar
- Architect: Kvadrat Architects
- Location: Kazakhstan, Astana
- Year: 2023
- Area: 133 m2
- Photography: Gleb Kramchaninov
An Immersive, Evolving Bar Experience
Tucked away on the second floor of an office complex in Astana, the Experimental Speakeasy Bar by Kvadrat Architects redefines the nightlife experience. There’s no signage, no obvious entrance—just a locked door, only accessible by reservation. Inside, guests discover a moody, magnetic world crafted not just for drinking, but for emotional connection, reflection, and sensory immersion.
Designing Emotion Before Function
The concept was born from a bartender’s dream—to design a bar where every element reflected his philosophy of mixology and emotional storytelling. The brief was unique: no floor plans or technical specs, just feelings to evoke. Kvadrat Architects, led by Sergey Bekmukhanbetov and Rustam Minnekhanov, responded with an adaptive design approach—allowing the space to evolve in tandem with its concept and clientele.
“We designed a canvas for life to paint on. The architecture sets the tone, but the space gains soul through use,” the designers explain.
Rooted in Time and Meaning
The bar’s centerpiece is a 150-year-old tree root, brought from Petropavlovsk, the hometown of the founders. Suspended above the counter, it serves as both a visual and symbolic anchor—connecting the past to the present and embodying the spirit of growth and reflection.
This metaphor of aging gracefully permeates the space. New leather furniture is expected to develop rich patinas and folds, while aged wood elements have been treated with fire and brushing techniques to accelerate time’s imprint without imitation.
No Menu, No Rush: Personalized Mixology
At the Experimental Speakeasy, there’s no menu. Bartenders create bespoke cocktails after engaging with each guest—referred to as “parishioners.” The space functions solely at night, with no kitchen and no distractions, emphasizing the art of drink creation and emotional engagement.
Raw Authenticity, Not Simulation
The design draws from vintage industrial influences with an insistence on authenticity:
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Exposed concrete columns and raw tile remnants were preserved during renovation, rather than replaced.
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Original 60×60 porcelain floor tiles, once part of an office, were removed to reveal stained concrete beneath—its imperfections embraced as aesthetic assets.
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A spiral staircase leads to the upper-floor cocktail lab, continuing the story of curiosity and experimentation.
Light as Architecture
To protect the mystery of the space, Kvadrat Architects developed a unique lighting concept:
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Candlelight defines seating zones, acting as visual “carpets” that guide movement.
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Industrial sconces highlight bronze vintage frames, artworks, and aged decor.
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There are no partitions, only the boundaries of mood, shadow, and intimacy.
Collected, Not Curated: A Living Interior
The decor consists entirely of hand-selected vintage objects sourced from flea markets and historic estates:
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Chippendale chairs from Almaty were carefully restored.
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Bronze frames were discovered at Tbilisi’s famed “Dry Bridge” market.
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Candle holders, worn textiles, and leather-bound details all reinforce a sense of time-traveling authenticity.
This is not a static interior—it’s a living organism designed to evolve with every guest interaction, every spilled drink, every evening whispered into its walls.
The Experimental Speakeasy Bar by Kvadrat Architects is not just a place to drink—it’s a journey into the soul of mixology, design, and memory. In a world of polished surfaces and fast experiences, this bar dares to age, to slow down, and to tell stories through every grain of wood, flicker of candlelight, and whisper of history.
It’s not a space you visit—it’s a space you enter into, becoming part of a growing narrative that unfolds, one signature drink at a time.
