The Bent Inn and Pub
Boutique Hoteliers Open New Genre Defining resort in Downtown Las Vegas and Call Upon AH Built to Make Magic.
See what owner Mark Hunter had to say about working with us.
The Challenge
The Bent was three months from opening. The main building would uniquely combine a registration area with the main bar and pub. This called for innovative design and feature elements that would define the space. Architecture plans included a large center island surrounded by the 360° bar counter. But what would sit on that island and be brand defining the moment anyone walked through the door? The owners didn’t know exactly what they wanted. The collaboration began. A.H. BUILT would design and build something on brand and truly original.
The Process
The “Bent” brand and color palette were established, but beyond that, A.H. Built was starting with a blank canvas. Working closely with owner Mark Hunter, they experimented with movement, lighting, color, and perspective all the while keeping in mind the functionality, and necessities of a running bar. Upon final design approval, work began in A.H. Built’s Los Angeles shop. Communication was maintained through the build, to ensure milestones were hit and the smallest of details were handled in anticipation of a seamless installation
Ninety percent of A.H. Built’s work had been completed when a significant change to the dimensions of the island countertop was made. This required a rapid last-minute redesign. Build revisions were quickly devised and implemented due to the solutions-focused nature of A.H. Built. None of the original magic was sacrificed.
The Result
The Bent Inn and Pub experience begins when you open the front door. You are welcomed by the warmth, color, and animation of the neon “Happy Hour” sign that greets you like a friendly wave hello. Sitting below is the big “worn industrial" metal and LED backlit “Bent” sign as the backdrop to the registration desk. On the backside of the Bent sign are step shelves that hold the various spirits. The steps are lit by more LEDs and frosted acrylic panels that light the bottles from below. Suspended above the shelves, five glowing, bubbling liquor bottles complete the design It’s a stunning visual, no matter where you are in the bar. During the day it’s fun and fabulous. At night, it surrounds people in the aura and the magic that is the Bent Inn & Pub.
