The biggest challenge was updating the original space and fulfilling the client’s wishes while maintaining the same language and spirit to make the intervention seamless. The bar clientele is very attached to the design and mood of the bar, so refurbishing the original interior was complex. 

We designed a five-meter-long bar counter made from a three-millimeter-thick metal sheet top; the front is cladded in mosaic tiles. Everything was colored in the same gray color, very similar to the color of the walls. The overall lightness and the color tone of the materials made the intervention blend very well with the existing space. The ending of the new bar counter is curved; this kind of shape improves the flow between the front and back of the space while generating a new meeting point. 

We created a system of 3 mirrors (on both sides and above the bar “window” opening) that visually extend the bar area. Details on them (frames, shelves, etc.) were made from oak wood to give a warmer esthetic. The left mirror works as a display for various objects the owners collected and wanted to exhibit. 

The back of the bar was made using the same materials (wood, mirrors, and tiles) to join all the elements together, reinforce the existing mood, and not contrast the main space. 

In 2017 Petra Tikulin, STA co-founder, was involved in Botanicar space and brand creation together with Ivica Ivčević, Marko Krneta, and Sonja Krneta.