Beyond the explicit economic and social benefits of migrating from a rural to an urban area, there are several latent and elusive causes behind the attraction of metropolises. The documented historicity of such regions, the concurrent atmosphere of ambiguity and wonder amid populous zones, a variety of curated experiences for people of all ages and the illusion of an abundance of both resources and adventures easily accessible within the city, help create a delectable potpourri for urban residents. This experience further elevates when one encounters niche and less populous congregations and events that, despite happening within an adequately accessible city, are hidden away within nooks and discretely positioned buildings. Apart from granting an aura of exclusivity, the discovery of such spaces further adds to the charm of city life by providing a protected, less-frequented, private zone that introduces the new city to migrants and longtime residents alike.

Almost all of those who have moved away from their towns and cities to reside, work or study in larger metropolises have, perhaps, found themselves further intimated with the city upon encountering elusive bookstores and stalls, authentic culinary experiences within bedraggled sheds, labyrinth-like lanes that lead to age-old buildings or subterranean niches that reveal disparate communities. These serendipitous encounters within elusive quarters are often what helps make a home out of a new city. Further, these spots, when seated in historic locations, capture the interests and imaginations of the residents with their archaic charm and contemporaneous evolution.

A recent architectural intervention in Munich’s old town by German architect Fabian Alexander Wagner (founder of Buero Wagner) comprises the conception of a similar nook in the middle of the German town. Wagner designed a small rum bar within an old vaulted cellar dating back to the 16th century. Located amid the old town in Munich, Germany, the small rum bar, Campana del Rey, is a quaint space reserved for those seeking a quiet evening within this historic site. The bar is located near the older city wall of Munich and only a few metres from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the historically relevant Hofbräuhaus restaurant. Titled in reference to the owner’s name, Campana del Rey exemplifies mindful restoration and adaptive reuse within a centuries-old structure, in the middle of a historic town. The resultant bar design, with some traces of the previous structure visible and with little to no ornamentation, serves as a minimalist space ready to host contemporary gatherings and get-togethers.

Once inside the bar, it is difficult to imagine the kind of streets and buildings that lie beyond its threshold. With its rich textural surfaces, the bar presents an immersive experience within its quarters. The warm-toned lighting, directed from railings installed below the ceiling, further helps create lights and shadows that can easily engage visitors, ushering them to yield their alertness in favour of the stirring atmosphere of the bar.  Whilst a space reserved for drinks, the bar manages to grant an intoxicating experience with its ambience, too.

The rum bar is located on the second basement floor of a small residential building. Initially a mixed-use structure, the upper floors have undergone several phases of conversion. Over the years, the building was also restructured such that it was rebuilt from the second floor upwards and extended downwards to include a third basement.

The vaulted cellar, within which the rum bar now exists, was earlier used for storage. This floor also witnessed certain additions and extensions over the years, most of which were left intact (for the new rum bar), retaining the authentic character of the 16th-century cellar. Since the cellar was only around 1.7 metres high, the architects extended the vertical span by excavating and later, adding brick supports and new underpinned walls. During this expansion, the benches, bar and tables were also installed against the floor underpinnings, serving as both furniture for the bar and the foundation for the building. “Guests and the building thus sit on the new foundations, which carry and support the building,” Wagner shares. This feature, along with the vaulted ceiling, creates a clear separation between the downward extension and the original historic building fabric.

The pre-existing brick structures were retained on site. Several layers of plaster were, however, removed from its surface to allow the original raw look to be visible. Even as the usage of newer materials such as concrete, aluminium, black leather and red marble grant the space a contemporary form, the thick brick walls and vaulted ceilings, both of which are left uncovered, take one back to its original mien. In areas where there exists the risk of exposure to moisture, these brick surfaces are clad and protected under natural stone. "The visible broken edges of the stone block meant that there were no offcuts and the entire stone block could be processed without loss,” the German architecture practice shares.

While heating and ventilation services are placed below the floor of the bar, other services are installed under the concrete ceiling in the bar area. The original vault, on the other hand, is kept free of installations except for lighting and sound. Apart from the fixed furniture within the bar, several two-seater and three-seater bar stools made out of aluminium are placed. These stools were manufactured as counterparts to the metal piping systems. Black leather has been used to upholster the chairs and the concrete seats, as well as in the form of a curtain at the front end of the bar. Made from leftover and offcuts from upholstery production, the leather pieces conceal passageways and a shelf within the bar.

The seating arrangement within Campana del Rey is done in a manner such that different communicative seating areas can be created. While some areas are designed for slightly intimate and quieter gatherings, others are arranged to facilitate conversations between friends and strangers alike. The bar area, too, is devoid of any barrier. Large in size and centrally placed, the flat table is designed to promote immediacy and communication between the visitors and staff members and amongst visitors themselves.

Campana del Rey not only exemplifies the discrete installation of a rum bar within a residential building but also shines a light on the mechanisms and processes that can be utilised to maintain historic authenticity against contemporaneous aesthetics while ensuring a sustainable building process. Lastly, it succeeds in carving a nook (within a busy city) that is welcoming, intimate and hidden, granting one a private, quiet and secret spot in the heart of urban chaos.

Project Details

Name: Campana del Rey
Location: Old Town, Munich, Germany
Architect: Buero Wagner
Design Team: Fabian A Wagner, Louise Daussy, David Lachermeir
Area: 75 square metres
Year of Completion:2024