Strange Company is a small bar with big character in Fremantle’s west end precinct located inside an unremarkable 1950s brick and tin shed.
Strange Company
Our conceptual approach was to treat the existing shed as background, suspending a new timber ceiling element from the existing steel structure as a foreground to create a warm, intimate atmosphere. The suspended ceiling compresses and releases, providing the drama of varied spatial qualities within the open plan bar.
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The scale of the bar sits comfortably in the neighbourhood street, enhancing the amenity of the local area. Located on a side street, it is discovered rather than announced and has a relaxed, informal feel, which suits its Fremantle locale. It is a place where locals meet and linger over cool music, local produce and good times.
The existing building is built to the boundary on all sides with no windows except to the street. Introducing daylight into the plan was critical to making a space that would transition between day and night. During the day the interior walls are washed with natural light from above and bamboo planting below creates the impression of a garden courtyard at the rear that draws people into the space. A copper bench that will patina over time marks the entry, while the timber bar counter offers a warm tactile surface to lean against.
The bar sits centrally in the space creating different seating environments around it. Custom designed furniture, including stools and tables, characterises each area: on one side the large table offers a convivial, communal experience; outdoor seating in the front garden; the tall tables and stools are a more lively combination of sitting and standing that can be configured to suit various sized groups; while the lounge area is illuminated by dramatic light funnels in the ceiling.
