Historic Places Renovations On The Blatz Brewery
January 30th, 2011 - Posted in Architectural, Restaurant Bar Lounge Interior
The Blatz Brewery is listed on the National register of Historic Places as a one of the city’s oldest and now defunct breweries. It is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA on a narrow block at the downtown’s northern periphery. Johnsen Schmaling Architects Working with a limited budget and within the strict parameters of the existing structure. Renovations focused on focused on a series of small interventions to re-imagine the building’s public sphere.
A canopied street level entrance leads into the new central lobby that bundles the main circulation spines and creates a lively interchange between offices, apartments, and newly created commercial spaces. Sliding between existing masonry columns, a narrow glowing box serves as concierge and small coffee shop. Buffered by a bamboo grove, the lobby overlooks a lower level lounge, which features a series of monumental bottle doors; depending on the doors’ position, the lounge can be used as one large open space, or divided into smaller intimate areas. An open-air roof pavilion provides a satellite amenity for all building users. Overlooking the skyline, the thin light strips lining the pavilion’s roof structure emit an enigmatic glow into Milwaukee’s dark nights, marking the urban resurgence of this downtown neighborhood.
Architect: Johnsen Schmaling Architects
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Project team: Brian Johnsen, AIA; Sebastian Schmaling, AIA
Project Area: 836 sqm
Project year: 2007
Photographs: Kevin Miyazaki
