If ever we needed a better reason to hop-foot it to Singapore, then this has to be it. Located at One Fullerton, The Butter Factory is an imaginative, bold and ground-breaking drinking spot that brings together a blend of urban grooves, cutting-edge electronic music, fashion, design and art. With this, let us introduce to you Art Bar - our favourite of all The Butter Factory's spaces and definitely the most awesome yet.
Previously Fash, this space in The Butter Factory has been given a new lease of life where the concept is all about “upcycling” - the re-purposing of something existing to form something new. The philosophy led the owners to conceive the Art Bar, with the emphasis placed equally on both Art and Bar. The need to have art as a core component of the new venue was uncontainable, so with this new direction and the return of the bar concept, came the need for a new identity, with a brand new name.
Decked out in bright colours, hand-made centerpieces and custom-built furniture, Art Bar is a bar that turns into a club. Taking 'upcycling' in every stride, everywhere you look there’s examples of repurposing to be found and enjoyed – whether it be the oil drum tables, multicoloured floorboard partition, sold newspaper used as wallpaper, peeling wall shutters and some interesting old drinking vessels by way of antique teacups or a Campbell's soup can. Art Bar is a place of contrasts where a rough-and-ready industrial vibe hovers amongst polished marble tiles and illuminated geometric-patterned walls. Think of it as a near-disco wonderland with a splatter of grunge or a transient space driven by vibe, creative expression and quality non-commercial dance music, serving as an abode for the edgy and the discerning.
Together with Singapore-based design company The Stripe Collective, the transformation of the space was a joint effort with the in-house team from The Butter Factory. The final product took approximately two weeks to materialise and the result is an amalgamation of vision and precise construction. Made to house a 300 pax capacity, the Art Bar is now a cosier and warmer space – perfect for that intimate catch-up session or the destination of the night for an all-out party.
'ART', of course, is a major element of the new venue whereby Art Bar will be working closely with local artists and designers to challenge the idea that a club space can only just be an entertainment joint. These selected artists will create exclusive pieces for the new venue, display their works and also showcase their craft, ‘live’. The space will also double up as a gallery, exposing more people to art and design, with the aim to cultivate new appreciation for creativity through its various forms. Working with some of the most talented names in the creative scene, Art Bar will have its walls constantly adorned with new, fresh works.
And what about the 'BAR' element? With a specially-crafted cocktail menu, prepared exclusively by famed mixologist Ethan Leslie Leong, Art Bar is serious when it comes to drinks. Leong, voted “Bartender of the Year” and ranking amongst the world’s best in international competitions, he is without a doubt one of Singapore’s top mixologists. All that's left to say is, "We'll meet you at the bar..."
Art Bar at The Butter Factory, One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road, #02-02/03/04, Singapore 049213; thebutterfactory.com/artbar
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