Operation nightclub
If a dress code is in force at a club, good design should also be a requirement for any owner. HN club-hops from Vegas to the ME in search of show-stopping aesthetics worth noting
Today’s nightclub guest is looking for opulent design, cutting edge technology, an immersive environment and diverse offerings. Here are the top forward-looking ideas from Shawn Sullivan, partner at Rockwell Group, the design firm which drew the lines of Hakkasan Group’s OMNIA, the world’s number one nightclub at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas
1. It’s a journey, not a destination
Nightclubs should contain a surprising journey, with discovery around every corner. At OMNIA, we thought about the organic flow of the club, creating different points of observation and interaction, and a path through the space that never backtracks on itself.
2. Mind-blowing technology
Technology is integral to music and nightlife, but it should not exist without a purpose. We integrated it into the architecture, furniture and lighting at OMNIA, making it part of the DJ’S toolkit.
3. Layered luxury
Yes, drinks will be spilled, but that does not mean that clubs cannot be luxurious spaces with texture and craftsmanship.
4. Big can be small
By necessity, nightclubs are enormous spaces, but the best of them can feel intimate on sold-out nights, as well as quieter ones. A variety of lighting strategies at OMNIA bring down the scale, such as the kinetic, 10,000 kg chandelier, which can be lowered and raised.
5. Big can be grand
We have studied European concert and performance halls and were inspired by their spectacle, as well as how special they make guests feel. At OMNIA, we wanted to recreate that sense of being in an opera box, but, of course modernized, for the nightclub experience.
6. Analog is great, too
For all the experiences that new technology can provide, the best clubs still rely on beloved rituals: the choreography of bottle service and confetti canons, which are oldschool theatrics.
7. The general admission guest has as much fun as the VIP
Nightclubs are fun if everyone is having a great time. At OMNIA, we placed the biggest general admission bar steps behind the DJ booth so that guests would feel like part of his or her entourage.
8. Take it to the roof
A night at a club can be a long, intense experience. It’s good to provide a range of spaces, so that people can take a break or have a quiet conversation. At OMNIA, we continued the club to the roof, adding cabana structures, stepped platforms and a panoramic view of Las Vegas.
9. Celebrate the DJ’S craft
Nightclubs should enhance DJS’ abilities to create immersive, sensory and celebratory experiences.
10. Make it memorable
Interiors should be driven by multiple opportunities for documentation. A night at a club should be an experience worth remembering and reliving through social media.