W atertown is located on the northern edge of trendy Belltown in Seattle. Watertown was designed to bring some modern sophistication to Seattle nightlife.
The 3,500 s.f. space has a traditional one-story masonry exterior with glass storefront. The rear entry provides drama, with in-floor footlights and a dramatic curved ceiling plane maximizing the sense of arrival. The heart of Watertown is its boat-shaped bar. The central location of the island bar helps mediate the booths on one side and the dance floor on the other. A suspended wood trellis structure helps tie the space together.
Consistent with an intimate theater, Watertown provides a terraced scene. Booths overlook the bar and the bar overlooks the dance floor. Enormous terraced booths are wrapped in an iridescent fabric and provide a unique place to escape or survey. The sunken dance floor which doubles as a dining room during the week has a plate steel floor with a steel clad DJ booth perched above. The end wall is fitted with 21 convex directional mirrors providing varied views of the groove. In contrast to the steel surfaces, all the drink rails are reclaimed Douglas fir.
It is equally comfortable as an everyday bar, a destination to meet before a Seattle Center event, or as a weekend club destination.
*Work performed while employed by another architect.
Interiors
