Sydney’s latest fashionable watering hole is The Argyle, set among the historic surrounds of a 150-year-old building and cobble-stoned courtyard. Comprising five bar concepts — ranging from an expansive

outdoor courtyard bar/dining area to mellow internal lounge areas over two levels — the venue is the brainchild of John Szangolies of the Bavarian Hospitality Group.Housed in the 1826 Argyle Stores building, the venue was designed by Michael McCann of Dreamtime Australia Design along with his principal designers Walter Linder, Soo Sing Chang, and Alisha Rea. The enchanting interior features original red ironbark pillars, timber rafters, sandstone walls, subtle, twinkling lighting and warm, rich colours.Clearly, given the vast age of the building, the transformation needed to done with considerable sensitivity. However, Michael McCann has forged by a fruitful relationship with the powers-that-be at the Sydney Harbour Foreshore as well as with Heritage NSW through his previous projects such as Flying Fish, three heritage Bavarian Bier Cafes, The Pumphouse, and Pony: “Over a number of meetings I asked permission to break all the rules of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore and the Rocks which, fortunately, they allowed us to do as a test case,” commented Michael. “For instance, previously only stackable, lightweight furniture was allowed!”

Rocks — Straight Up

For several years Michael has been on a mission to change The Rocks into an entertainment destination full of laneway bars and restaurants instead of tourist shops selling stuffed koalas to foreigners.“If properly developed, Sydney would embrace The Rocks area like no other,” he said. “I have been given the opportunity to start implementing this in a couple of places; showing how to use heritage to the city’s advantage in a creative and dramatic manner without ruining it. The plan is to start bringing actual Sydneysiders into the area by transforming it little by little. After 5pm, apart from a few sticky-carpet pubs, the area is almost shut down and considering its beauty and the fact that it’s next door to the CBD, this is a great shame.“To the authorities’ tremendous credit they allowed us to try things that might set a difficult precedent for them if it backfired and I’m really thrilled.”

Demountable Graphite Bar

As with most Michael McCann projects, nearly everything in the venue is custom-made. The outdoor graphite clad bar is designed and built to be demounted, and has a cleanable floor that has all the necessary pipes running underneath it and in through the back of the main building. Again, take it away and it’s like nothing was ever there.Inside the venue you’ve got two floors, with the ground floor dominated by a 16m-long bar featuring an artistically sandblast-carved bar front by artist Mick Purdy through Di Emme Creative Solutions. Semi-circular seating nooks, original sandstone walls and up-lit timber columns (that are down-lit upstairs) create an interesting interior, however it is the DJ suspended in mid air that grabs your attention. Housed in a clear glass box suspended within the atrium from the roof, the DJ, aided by clever lighting, is even visible from the main street many metres away.

The ArgyleCan The Rocks really be extricated from the clutches of the clip-on koala merchants?

Text: Cat Strom

Photos: Scott Riley

“If properly developed, Sydney would embrace The Rocks area like no other”

» Earthy: The Argyle is so large it has been described as a department store specialising in chic lounge seating and trendy lamps… although best look elsewhere for a novelty-sized digeridoo.

Loo-ny

The unisex toilets at The Argyle have become a major attraction — accessed via a ramp near the bar the room is huge and contain the strangest urinals you’re ever likely to see. Affectionately known as ‘pee pods’, these glowing, alien-like capsules are made from curved frosted glass, designed by Michael McCann and manufactured by Di Emme — apparently their birth required a six month gestation period.Central to the room is another glowing feature in the form of a long hand-wash basis, also made of frosted glass illuminated from within, with the water flowing down polished stainless steel tubes from the ceiling.“Normally toilets would take up much more space but I got the Heritage guys to agree to get rid of the corridors so there’s no need for doors saying Male or Female. The result is a big expansive heritage room with no door leading into it — it’s open directly into the main bar as if it were another entertaining area. When it’s really busy, security has to get people out as they tend to stay in the toilets drinking.”

Perch & Sit

The first floor is home to three bars; the Perch bar ideal for private parties; the Mad Max bar with lots of plate steel with kinky Italian steel lights, caramel-covered couches and banquettes, tall chunky wooden tables, plastic stools lit from inside; and the Lava Bar, a private bar that opens to the public on busy nights. The Lava Bar is a darkened, glowing cocoon of a room that features a 6m bar front (manufactured by Coffs Harbour-based Planet Lighting), with red ‘lava’ flowing through — red liquid illuminated by red lighting making it the world’s largest lava lamp. Everything in the room is red and fiery. Of particular interest are the custom-made wall lamps of red molten lava looking blown glass held off the wall by steel hands. Designed and manufactured by Michael’s friend Pam Morris of Exciting Lighting in San Francisco, the hands are actual replicas of Michaels.“I faxed a copy of my hand prints although… she’s made them bigger than they actually are — thank God it’s not

“When it’s really busy, security has to get people out as they tend to stay in the toilets drinking”

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» Pod casting: The unisex loo opens straight out to the bar and features a collection of ‘Pee Pods’. A shared basin finishes off the look.

true what they say!” Michael said a little bit too insistently. “This space could be very claustrophobic so I decided to turn the negative into a positive which is why it’s all red making it warm and cosy.” Pam also designed the four dramatic ‘Spirit Urn’ blown glass, steel and lead lamps on aged sandstone bases on the ground floor on either side of the DJ in the void.

Audiovisuals — Timber Timbre

SOS Communications of Sydney was commissioned to design and install an audiovisual solution to complement the timber-dominated environment of the heritage-listed Argyle building.It was a big ask: five bars over two floors; big open spaces; big-name DJs in one night and corporates the next… it needed a audio system that was very controlled and targetted, offering good levels of energy without driving patrons and staff barmy. The system also had to control lighting and be linked to the emergency systems of the venue.The venue consists of a combination of 16 plasma and LCD screens to fit the specific areas of the venue for corporate presentations and sporting events. A public address matrix sound system capable of playing a selection of background music, broadcast/cable television and live DJs.There are multi audiovisual points throughout the venue to allow for maximum

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» Beam me up: Look carefully and you’ll spot the floating DJ booth aloft, while Pam Morris’ ‘Spirit Urn’ blown glass, steel and lead lamps act as sentries.

» The Argyle: 12–18 Argyle St, The Rocks, Sydney

(02) 9247 5500 or www.theargyle.biz

» Dreamtime Australia Design: (02) 9368 0800 or www.dreamtimeaustraliadesign.com

» Sound On Stage Communications: (02) 9281 0077 or www.soundonstage.com.au

» Dynalite (lighting control): 1300 554 178 or www.dynalite-online.com

» Diemme: 1300 723 053 or www.diemme.com.au

flexibility for placement of DJ equipment and/or product launch facilities. This includes audio, PC, camera capabilities throughout the entire venue, which allows for seamless transfer from one area to another.The system is controlled by simple touch panel situated behind all the bars. SOS took care of the programming and custom design of these touchscreens to manage both sound and vision aspects. In summary: it’s an easy to use control system which allows staff and management to change levels, sound sources and vision from anywhere in the venue.

Giant’s Lampshades

We touched on the courtyard last issue in our Alfresco Special, but it’s worth another look. The entrance to the venue is framed by a huge archway, which leads to a cobble-stoned outdoor bar area that challenges even the most experienced high heel wearers. Destined to be a fabulous space for the warmer months, it features large red daybeds and massive, 6m-high, attention-grabbing lampshades (see image above). The lampshades are built into concrete bases for stability without disturbing the ancient cobble stones. The shades are a stretched Teflon material with waterproof dimmable fluorescent lighting housed within.“I saw a photograph of a heritage plaza in Germany which used similar lampshades and the only way I got the Sydney Harbour Foreshore to say ‘yes’ to a similar idea was by showing them this example of a creative use of heritage in Europe,” explained Michael. “So I intentionally didn’t stray too far from the design I showed them, although these are a little different. I guess it’s almost like buying it off the shelf and bringing it in.”Michael also convinced the Sydney Harbour Foreshore to allow a number of metal halide up-lights to be sunk into the ground by removing a few cobblestones.“I wanted the drama of up-lighting the beauty of the building. We compromised by placing most of the up-lighting fittings at the back of the custom-made teak benches and into recycled logs strategically placed.”«

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