BOOTH

Located in the heart of Taipei, BOOTH redefines the gastro-pub as a cultural incubator where dining, music, and creativity converge. Conceived by its musician-proprietors, the venue merges a refined restaurant with a professional recording studio, creating a rare hybrid environment that can shift seamlessly from intimate dinners and social gatherings to live DJ sets and small concerts.

The entrance sets a theatrical tone. A recessed doorway frames the signage like a stage curtain, while a foyer of high-standing tables creates a moment of pause and exchange before guests enter the main hall. Inside, a looping circulation ensures fluid movement, making transitions between casual drinks, celebratory banquets, and larger cultural events natural and effortless. This adaptability is central to the project’s identity, supported by movable furniture and lighting systems that modulate from warm dining scenes to vibrant full-spectrum neon atmospheres.

Sound is the soul of BOOTH. Two vintage JBL 4350 loudspeakers from the 1970s, each weighing over 100 kilograms, dominate the bar within reinforced cabinetry. Paired with vinyl turntables and a professional DJ console, they generate both visual gravitas and high-fidelity nostalgia. The recording studio, discreetly hidden within the plan, achieves remarkable acoustic isolation, offering artists a silent sanctuary to capture inspiration at any moment, even when the outer space is alive with energy.

Material choices reinforce the semi-retro aesthetic: green glazed bricks echo railway tiles, marble tabletops edged with wood recall traditional craftsmanship, and Italian decorative plaster enriches the walls with painterly depth. The nearly 3.7-meter-high ceiling heightens spatial openness, while angled windows provide privacy without sacrificing light. A glass-enclosed salon and semi-circular banquettes add layers of intimacy, creating spaces for both collective energy and quiet conversation.

Ultimately, BOOTH is more than a restaurant. It is a living tableau of Taipei’s urban culture, a place where gastronomy, music, and creativity intertwine. By positioning itself as a modern cultural salon, it offers not just hospitality but a stage for artistic expression, expanding the possibilities of interior design and redefining how social and creative life coexist.