Restaurant Spelunke Wien
Product: Vulcano
Architecture: Living Art Architekten
Photography: Mareiner Holz © Stefan Diesner
Project Address: Wien, Österreich
None of the usual attributes typically associated with this type of establishment apply to the Spelunke: instead of shady characters, a vibrant and diverse urban crowd gathers here; instead of dubious liquors and second- or third-rate food, guests enjoy fine drinks and sophisticated cuisine. And when it comes to hygiene, the spacious and slightly labyrinthine blend of lounge, bar, and restaurant on the Danube Canal is absolutely top-notch.
True to its name, the Spelunke has been given a subtly ironic and playful maritime design by Living Art Architects. In collaboration with the owners, Monika Wlaschek and Werner Helnwein, the design team agreed to create a slightly dimly lit atmosphere. This called for plenty of dark surfaces.
Charred Night Black
A case for carpenter Oliver Thanner from Eberstalzell, who has a long-standing partnership with Mareiner—and immediately recognizes that Vulcano is exactly what he needs for the construction of the Spelunke: charred wood as black as the night.
At Mareiner, we become his sparring partner as Thanner envisions extremely deep-charred wood, which he plans to coat in his own unique way. Step by step, we push the limits in sampling, each time going a little deeper than before. The third sample finally reaches the level of charring he had imagined. The rest is pure satisfaction on all sides.
