Longplay

Located in the heart of the historic Kampong Glam district in Singapore, Longplay is a combination bar and lounge occupying the ground floor of two existing shop houses. The owner is an avid collector of classic vinyl records, and desired to use them in an environment where they could be shared with the public. The Kampong Glam, Singapore’s most intimate nightlife destination, was the perfect location for the project. The existing shop houses are positioned back-to-back, creating the unique opportunity to see through from Haji Lane to Arab Street. Rather than treat the narrowness as a constraint, the architectural concept behind Neri&Hu’s renovation celebrates the long tunnel quality of the existing structures. By cutting a straight line through both buildings, the feeling of perspective is accentuated. The contrast between the brightness of the stainless steel with dark sides dramatizes the experience, while bringing reflected light deep into the space. In this small space, the urban character of the cut is highlighted against the intimacy of the lounge itself. Glass doors at the end of the cut further bring the outside world in, while simultaneously projecting the ambiance out towards the street.

Neri&Hu was also responsible for the design of the furnishings and lighting, taking inspiration from the classic record concept for Longplay. The materiality, black metal, dark wood, bronze, and metal mesh, produces an industrial ambiance that assists in the appreciation of the classic records. A bronze datum stretches across the entire space, integrated with a series of accessories for the use of the bar. The LPs themselves are put on display in custom shelving, which also integrates individual seating areas, desks, and lighting to form a major architectural element of the lounge. The richness of the project comes from the blend of the intimate with the public, the ambiance of the interior with the drama of the urban.