ACANIA COCKTAIL BAR & RESTAURANT, NYC
A yacht suspended between architecture, theater and the waterfront.
SCOPE: Interior and Exterior Renovation
SIZE: 1000 Sq. Ft Interior, 2000 Sq. Ft Exterior
CLIENT: William Gilroy
LEAD DESIGNER: Suzan Wines at I-Beam Design
Located at the boat basin at Brookfield Place near New York's World Financial Center, Acania Cocktail Bar & Restaurant takes its name and inspiration from Al Capone's infamous yacht, Acania.
Working within a compact interior of just under 1,000 square feet and a dramatic 20-foot-high space, the design uses the volume of the existing structure to create additional seating while establishing a distinctive architectural identity.
A full-scale interpretation of the yacht's hull becomes the defining element of the interior. The bow appears to float above one end of the bar, creating a mezzanine seating area, while the stern conceals mechanical equipment at the opposite end. The intervention transforms practical spatial constraints into a theatrical architectural experience visible from both inside and out.
Along the façade, wide glazed folding windows open the bar directly to the marina and 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior. From the waterfront, patio and indoor-outdoor bar, guests encounter the unexpected sight of a monumental yacht hull seemingly suspended within the building—a playful connection between the restaurant and its waterfront setting.