Long gone are the days when sophisticated entertainment in Indonesia was only to be found in either Jakarta or on Bali. The country’s robust economy has not only spawned a burgeoning middle class, but also an ever-expanding infrastructure outside that keeps abreast with their lifestyle sensibilities, and increasingly so, outside the two aforementioned destinations. In Surabaya, the vast Indonesian archipelago’s second biggest city, options where to indulge oneself have dramatically increased as well, and the newly opened Le Papi bears witness to this trend. A new venture of local hospitality firm Locaāhands GROUP, the bar is situated in the residential area of Dukuh Pakis, and occupies a newly built structure with multiple spaces. Guests enter the premises through a long, narrow corridor, intentionally designed to build anticipation before unveiling Le Papi‘s buzzing inner sanctum. The contemporary interior design is created by architects Wibisono Soegih and Stephanie Tatimu of Jakarta-based practice Isso Architects.
The chosen aesthetic effortlessly mimics the intimate atmosphere of wine bars in Europe with a palette of dark hues, captured largely by dark-stained timber and raw stone. The setting of Le Papi is anchored by not one, but two bars—one dedicated to culinary artistry, and another slightly smaller one for mixology and fine wine. Both bars come with stools, but are also surrounded by tables and chairs seating two or four, in addition to a large communal table seating eight. Additionally, ample seating can be found on the expansive veranda for an aperitif or after-dinner drinks. Overhead, a cleverly designed trapezoidal timber skylight demarcates the two bar sections, while also allowing in natural light by day and transforming into a subtle architectural feature by night, enhancing Le Papi‘s intimate vibe. To balance the rich, intimate tones of both bars, a series of windowpanes lines one side of the room, opening up to the veranda and the lush backyard. This architectural feature not only allows more natural light in, but also offering a visual counterpoint to the dark, textural interior, while also establishing a connection to Le Papi‘s garden. © superfuture
Le Papi
Jalan Darmo Permai Selatan I 50 (Dukuh Pakis)
Surabaya 60226
WhatsApp +62 815 15351166 (reservations)
Publishers Note
Just to be clear – superfuture® is a design blog and not a political commentator. No surprise there. The scope of our content has always been global and borderless, however that can often mean covering projects in countries where we will not agree with the politics or actions of those countries. In a world that’s as screwed up as ever right now, the focus of our support is to those designers, architects and other creatives who aim to make the world a more liveable one – as opposed to people that try their hardest to destroy it. So if a project hits our desk and we like it based on its design credentials, we may choose to publish regardless of its location or creators nationality. superfuture® has always been inclusive and hopes for all current wars, aggression, violence, hate and extremism to end.
