Poccino Bistro & Cocktail Bar

The Poccino Bistro & Cocktail bar in Hammersmith was a challenging project as the students had to re-design the bar and restaurant area, making the bar a focal point using natural versatile lighting which would be both suitable for day and night clientele.

The site is just off Hammersmith Broadway and is an unusual shaped plan. The entrance is quite narrow and expands to large open space to the rear. The ceiling height would allow the construction of a mezzanine floor and several students opted for this in their proposals. The Bar is principally aiming at securing a lunch-time market, targeting local businesses. The atmosphere during the evenings will be more informal, and a cocktail bar with bar snacks is envisaged. The space will also be marketed as a venue for private functions.

The students all took different approaches and rose to this demanding challenge. Consideration had to be given to the locality, some element of market research used to develop the new name and branding. This was developed into a graphic identity, and some idea of marketing strategy. The completed schemes described the entire journey from Concept to fit-out, including planning, traffic flow, ergonomics and proxemics. Lighting was an important part of the project, as the provision of a flexible atmosphere within the space was an important practical consideration. Furniture and finishes were specified for this commercial space, which would conform with fire regulations and would be durable.

This was a fantastic opportunity for the students to work with a real client and real site. The brief was in fact written by the client himself and the response from the students both impressed the client and showcased the student's skills as well as their individual approach.