Club Numero Uno recently opened its doors again following a vast refurbishment and landscaping project which was entrusted to art director Carlo Schembri.
Fresh from his most recent projects, namely the design of the stage and props used during Pope Benedict's visit to Malta and the interior decoration and art direction design of Domestica's new showroom, Mr Schembri and his team were responsible for the redesigning of most of the popular summer night club which boasts no less than two new areas, three dance floors, two pools and more than 80 meters of new bars.
"Few people are aware that Club Numero Uno is considered as one of the largest open-air nightclubs in Europe," Mr Schembri said. "Working on this project was quite demanding but also very rewarding as re-designing and re-creating an ambience for Malta's biggest party club does not happen very often.
"The project was extensive on many levels and we had to keep all the various aspects of the venue in synch - from the various bar areas, the dance floors, the landscaping, the installation of new bars and the new lighting and sound equipment. One dance floor also features a giant wigwam. This project involved an estimated investment in the region of €750,000 - a show of confidence by the club's management in Numero Uno as a destination and in Malta's growing clubbing scene."
When asked if it's more difficult these days compared to the 80s for a nightclub's concept and design to play a crucial role in its success, Mr Schembri said that "the nightclub business has undergone a lot of changes in the past few years. The current design of nightclubs has changed too in a way that reflects the changes in this business. Gone are the days of neon lights and massive dancefloors. Spaces are more contained and the idea is to recreate ambience that resembles that of a cool hotel lobby."
He also said that the intimate knowledge of a club's customers make design decisions easier and what made sense in past years did not necessarily make sense in today's club scene. "I have been designing nightclubs for over 13 years now and have been personally involved in five different venues so I am aware of this business not only from a design point of view but also from an operational one.
"For the first few weeks one does his best to impress patrons with the overall product offer such as the service, reception, music, ambience and the overall profile of the audience that the club is attracting. But after these first few weeks of novelty are over, one finds out that the real challenge does not lie in the amount of money invested in the venue but in seeking to leave a great impression, an experience and a lasting memory to be remembered by all customers. I feel that this is what counts most and the overall design of a night club venue has a great role to play in ascertaining this target.
"Bathrooms are another important aspect within the complete design context of a nightclub, for a number of reasons. As a designer, my main responsibility is to design these spaces in a way that offers the intimate space that patrons require. In doing so, a designer discovers a fine line between the design of bathrooms in line with the overall design concept of the venue and designing a space that is intimate but at the same time safe, discreet and secure.
"When designing a nightclub, one needs to take into consideration the flow of the crowd. Constant flow needs to be ensured especially in a venue where patrons are constantly walking and moving around, meeting people and conversing. This has to be enabled without hampering the overall flow and access throughout all areas. In my designs, I seek to create spaces that work, that translate in a good return for the investor. So as a designer, the way I position the various bars, the dance areas and the bathrooms has to respond to this constant flow," he said.
Mr Schembri believes the ultimate success in the design of a club may be gauged by the positive ways that patrons respond to the venue. A club needs to be able to transmit a collection of sensations in a conscious way that trigger the patron to enjoy his visit as an experience that is complete. The club has to make the patrons feel they can let their hair down, that whatever the experience, be it magical or theatrical, they find it easy to have a drink, chat, be in company, be able to relate to the various zones within the nightcub and mix with the crowd.
"As a designer, I have to be very careful to cater for the various safety requirements that venues like these carry with them. In crowded places, the floor is the least visible and people tend to forget that there can be steps and other ventures. These have to be clearly and effectively illuminated to avoid unnecessary inconvenience especially when one considers that many people who usually wear glasses do not wear them in such venues. As already outlined, constant flow of crowds has to be ensured and clear signage for access points and exits need to be in place."
On design trends, he said that the latest in night club design recognises the important fact that patrons at these venues are the show and everything that surrounds them such as the music, the surroundings, the recreated ambience and the other patrons are all accessories that serve in making him or her feel more important and special.
"Patrons at these venues seek attention - as the designer of the night club, I am the one who is placing these patrons at the centre of my attention and ultimately that of the venue itself."