Pique Bar

The setting for one of Vinicius de Moraes' iconic songs, Itapuã Beach in Salvador, Bahia, will have a new attraction related to the poet from Rio de Janeiro. Seeking to bring to light the Bahian “Vina”, as he was affectionately called, Bar do Pique, conceived by Vinicius and his wife Gessy Gesse back in the 1970s, will have a new version designed by the Superlimão office. The tribute will take place in the year that Vinicius de Moraes would have turned 110. Originally located in a small house in Itapuã, the new Bar do Pique is now in the former residence where Vinicius and Gessy lived, and revives the address's vocation for hosting and celebrating gatherings. At the time, the couple would welcome illustrious friends there, such as the painter Calasans Neto, the writer Jorge Amado and other icons of Brazilian culture. The historical context, in fact, yields interesting facts that contribute to the creation of the atmosphere. Visits from friends, for example, were essential for the ‘baptism’ of the bar, according to what Gessy told the Superlimão team during the research process. If ‘Pique’ was synonymous with excitement for the group of artists, for Gessy it had a different meaning. “She loved everyone’s company, but she longed for a little peace and quiet. So, for Gessy, the name was a subliminal message, as if to say: ‘get away from my house and go to a bar’”, says Inaiá Botura, the project coordinator. Now, with the bar, new visitors will be able to drink their beer or drink with the same perspective of Itapuã Beach that the artists had, strolling “with their gaze forgotten at the meeting point between the sky and the sea”, as Vinicius and Toquinho say in “Tarde em Itapuã”. Elements that refer to this experience make up the ambiance. Messages, poems and drawings left by visitors that occupied the walls of the original bar were replicated in the new Bar do Pique to transport the public to the bohemian atmosphere of the 1970s. The decor, made with old bottles, whale bones rescued from the coast and ornaments in general, was inspired by the stories and photos shared by Gessy during the meeting with the architects of Superlimão. Overlooking Itapuã Beach and next to the couple's original pool, with tiles designed by Udo Knoff, the bar has organic features inspired by the waves of the sea and the curves of the guitar, Vinicius' passions. Its design passes through different heights, at times presenting itself as a counter and, at others, as a bench. Carved in stone, the curves of the bar/counter/bench bring people closer together and allow for more connections between customers, while the cladding in reclaimed wood from local boats references the vessels anchored on the coast. In addition to providing opportunities for meetings, the element also delimits the bar’s areas according to the defined program. The space serves the pools, but also functions as a waiting area for the hotel restaurant, and as a place to bring drinks in and out of the pool area and restaurant. “During the development of the project, we were lucky enough to have a drink on the house’s balcony, listening to Gessy tell stories about Vinicius and his friends. Now, with the bar ready, everyone can have this experience,” says Lula Gouveia, partner at Superlimão.