Two years ago, Lagranja Design studio in Barcelona undertook an ambitious project in Istanbul: the conversion of Turkey’s first beer company into a modern brewery inspired by the graphic language of the Prohibition period. The result was “The Populist”, located in the Bomonti area, restaurant acclaimed by “Time Out” as the best place to be in Istanbul.
Now, the new “The Populist” is located in Bebek, a wealthy neighborhood on the Bosphorus. For the first Populist, the studio aimed for an industrial atmosphere with exposed beer tanks. For Populist Bebek, in order to fit the neighborhood characteristics, it has been created a more refined and dreamy look.
The Beer Dream Machine is an installation representing a ceiling mounted sculptural piece that serves as lighting and simulates the circuit of the beer fabrication. It eventually becomes a complex machine that almost feels alive, as the liquid is constantly flowing through the pipes and the lights are changing all through the day to create different atmospheres. At late hours they are dancing following the rhythm of the music playing in the brewery.
Protest is reflected in a tangible yet fun aesthetic, using powerful slogans related to food and beve-rage, treating it with irony and hum.
