Photo by Dmitry Suvorov
The (real) challenge in design often lies not in merely reproducing a familiar image, but in reinterpreting it in a recognizable way, creating something new and unique. It is from this approach that Substance | Bar & Billiards Club in Moscow was born: a contemporary billiards bar with a retro aesthetic, where materials and stylistic elements—such as wood, vintage touches, and a green/burgundy color palette—are reimagined through an experimental design language.
Designed by the Amsterdam-based firm KIDZ, the project does not merely recreate a bygone style but distorts and reimagines it through unconventional choices, manipulation of light, and the integration of technical and decorative elements. The goal? To maintain a welcoming atmosphere while establishing a strong and distinctive identity.
The center of the space is occupied by a mezzanine featuring a non-orthogonal shape that defines the character of the environment and organizes its spatial dynamics. It is precisely from this structural element that the lighting design unfolds, a key element in shaping the soul of the venue where light is capable of transforming perception: it not only illuminates but also establishes hierarchies, indicates directions, and alters the atmosphere.
Light as a Design System
Light is one of the main elements of the KIDZ studio’s project: it is the brush that sketches the space, the creator of sensations and the director of the environment. For example, integrated directly into the structure of the mezzanine through lightboxes embedded in the beams, it serves not only a lighting function but becomes part of the architecture.
These lighting elements are designed to change color, shifting from red to blue and on to warmer tones like orange, and this alters (to varying degrees) the atmosphere of the space. Depending on the light and the tones, the environment appears warmer, cooler, or more intense. This is not a conventional system, as it is not confined to its primary function—that of illuminating—but, thanks to technical and technological innovations, it crosses partitions, integrates into the walls, and helps to expand or alter the perception of the environment. Light thus becomes a tool capable of creating an immersive and ever-changing space while remaining true to its underlying essence: retro.
Materials, Geometries, and Spatial Construction
Rounding out the project’s narrative is the selection of materials, colors, and structural elements. Wood paneling extends selectively from the walls to the floor, fostering material continuity, while the wall sconces above the pool tables are arranged irregularly to create a luminous setting for the players. The base palette consists of a variety of grays applied to the walls, which gradually intensify from the entrance toward the bar to create increasing depth as one moves forward.
Even vertical elements such as columns are concealed or realigned to create a continuous, fluid spatial rhythm without interruptions. In this setting, the technical components—often hidden—become part of the narrative: the air ducts, redesigned with a flat-oval shape, transform into distinctive visual elements that contribute to the strong industrial accent.
Retro style reinterpreted through light
The result is a cohesive and recognizable space, where one can enjoy playing pool or spending an evening with friends, rooted in retro imagery yet reinterpreted with a contemporary twist. Light is not merely a support element or an ornament, but the device that organizes and transforms the environment and its perception, making it dynamic, eye-catching, and evocative of a familiar yet renewed aesthetic—in both form and content.
