Uni is a 12sqm cocktail bar in Lisbon’s old town, designed as a single, focused experience. There’s one entrance, 9 seats, and one central element: a ceremonial bar station that invites guests to gather around and take part in an immersive moment of mixology.
The project is a collaboration between bartender Constança Cordeiro, architecture studio XXXI.studio, and Behind Bars. Constança came to the table with a strong vision for how she wanted to work. The architects had a clear idea of how the space should feel. We worked closely with both, shaping the custom station to meet a unique blend of practical requirements and aesthetic intention.
(Photography by Lourenço Teixeira de Abreu)
The station itself, sculpted from foam and rubber by Softrock, resembles a volcanic rock, cut horizontally to reveal its hollow interior. It sits in the center of a space defined by contrasts: raw and refined, natural and futuristic. Around it, the perimeter dissolves into a curtain that softens all boundaries. Above, a glowing canvas ceiling developed in collaboration with artist Manuel Tainha, gives the impression of diffuse daylight.
The result is a space that doesn’t follow conventional expectations. Inspired by film, light, and material research, Uni is part bar, part performance where the layout, station, and drink program all work together to create a singular, sensory experience.
The process
Behind Bars joined a rare kind of process where the bartender's workflow and architectural storytelling met in one sculptural form.
Where a bartender’s vision, architectural detail, and bar design come together perfectly.
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