La Cubanita, Kortrijk Bar, Belgium, Nightclub Design, Interior Architecture, Photography
La Cubanita in Kortrijk
15 Jun 2022
Design: De Baes Architects
Location: Kortrijk, Belgium

photo © Frans Parthesius
Photos: Johnny Umans & Frans Parthesius
La Cubanita Nightclub, Belgium
La Cubanita is an extension of La Bodeguita Del Medio, a mainstay of Kortrijk?s nightlife scene. De Baes Architects worked with the owners to craft a space that embodied their multicultural heritage, creating an immersive guest experience that blends Cuban and Eastern motifs.

photo © Frans Parthesius
The design is conceived as a box inside a box that turns a leftover space into a new part of the palimpsest, completely isolated?physically, aesthetically and acoustically?from its surroundings. A circular opening cut directly out of the ceiling slab redefines the irregular pentagonal plan, creating a center of gravity that shapes a coherent spatial experience. The cutout lends a defining sculptural presence to the space and offers glimpses upstairs to the main dance floor and private booths.
photo © Johnny Umans
Designing the guest experience

The main dance floor connects to a curving central staircase that leads to the upper level, which offers a subdued atmosphere with various seating arrangements. A cascade of transparent curtains forms flexible walls. The curtains invite guests to flexibly adapt the space as they wish and create more intimate zones within the open floor plan.

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