Concept: Situated in LAX’s Terminal 6, this food and beverage offering with a coastal ambience serves as a calming stop for busy travelers.
1. SHH, IT’S A SECRET
In order to meet health department codes, this raised area of the bar acts as a shroud for various items and utensils, including a three-compartment sink, a water heater, mop sink, ice machine and even a countertop convection oven.
2. LEAVING ON A JET PLANE
With the bar’s circular design, customers can easily keep an eye on current departures and arrivals, so they aren’t rushing to catch a flight. Nearby, the eye-catching, branded blue tower toward the center of the bar also houses TVs providing news and entertainment.
3. BRING ON THE BUBBLY
Intending to add some theatrical flair, designers from AkarStudios (Santa Monica, Calif.) opted for spherical floating pendants. “We wanted something more reflective and playfully artistic,” says Sat Garg, principal, AkarStudios.
4. SEE YOUR HALO
This blue halo of light is viewable to patrons ascending the escalators and stairs into the terminal where Blu2O is located. Being one of few food and beverage options in this terminal, the blue hue acts as a beacon for hungry travelers and helped transform the formerly empty rotunda into a destination.
5. UNDULATING UNDERTONES
A wave pattern – created using bendable LEDs – on the curved bar reinforces numerous water references throughout the space. “The whole idea is [to be] soothing – it’s relaxing, and you want the customer to chill out,” says Garg. “Along with the contemporary aesthetic, it’s one of the key features.”
PROJECT SUPPLIERS
Retailer
HMS Host, Bethesda, Md.
Design and Architecture
AkarStudios, Santa Monica, Calif.
General Contractor
Martin Harris Construction, Las Vegas
Furniture
Allermuir, Maumee, Ohio
Lighting
Cooledge Lighting, Richmond, British Columbia
Viso Lighting, Toronto
Countertop
Caesarstone, Haifa District, Israel
Resin Panels
3Form, Salt Lake City
Wood Veneer
Treefrog, Easthampton, Mass.