Whiskey Meets Fine Art: The Bascule Bar Re-imagined

WORDS Dumisani Mnisi PHOTOS Supplied

A bar created to feel timeless, exclusive and intimate while paying homage to African narratives and culture, Cape Grace’s Bascule Bar is a synthesis of opulence, history and leisure.

Tucked away in the basement of the newly renovated Cape Grace Hotel in V&A Waterfront, the re-imagined bar exudes a brood, mysterious energy of the speakeasy through its dim subdued lighting and the dark tones of the interior. Throughout the space, guests are welcomed with different tints of chestnut, auburn, copper and timber ingrained in the finishes and furniture. 

Transformed by international interior firm, 1508 London the objective was to create a space that evokes an aura of excitement, discovery and freedom of expression while honouring its location and history. “The bar is incredibly famous and it’s a place that the locals of Cape Town have relied on and known for years,” says lead project designer, Marium Daud. “The challenge we took on bravely was to ensure that we keep the integrity and atmosphere of the place intact as it always was.”

The bar houses one of the most curated whiskey collections in South Africa and that theme pours out throughout the space. Each section of the bar is inspired by warm hues of whiskey and this is elegantly exhibited through the different timbre and the glass and mirrors surrounding the bar. The interior firm aimed to create a new experience with each turn like the back bar display, named ‘The Cabinet of Discoveries’, where each drink is displayed and cherished like a precious gem, glamorously shown in a golden oval drinks cabinet. The long bar countertops – white marble with hints of golden brown and black paired with olive green bar stools – make the space ritzy and stylish adding to the speakeasy aesthetic.  

Though the project was fully under 1508 London, the firm worked with local suppliers like Cape Town-based wall design company, Cara Saven who provided the wallpaper seen across the bar. The distinct flooring found throughout the space was supplied by local-based Hardwood Flooring firm, Oggie. The Bascule embraces materiality and texture – from the plush, velvet fabric on the lounge chairs to the golden lining encircling the tables. 

The showstopper of the Bascule is its exclusive art collection spread in every corner of the bar. A collaboration with local art and design consultant and curator, Lezanne van Heerden, the pieces enrich the space. “Bascule refers to a type of bridge and my aim was bridging the African art scene with the location while focusing on the speakeasy concept,” she says. 

With artworks from Lady Skollie, Ade Adesine, Talia Ramkilawan and Nabeeha Mohamed, African artists with different styles – Van Heerden took advantage of the intimacy of the space through its low ceilings and warm lighting by creating a gallery that comes to the guests, allowing them to move closer and interact with the material. Choosing artworks from both emerging and established artists from across the continent, she elegantly integrates the diversity and richness of the African art scene into the Bascule Bar. Van Heerden incorporated QR codes at the bottom of the artworks where guests can scan and find out more about the artist. “I also wanted it to be an educational and creative experience that uplifts African art,” she explains. | 1508london.com | capegrace.com

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