- Classics and Modernism in Julian Tahov Style
The phenomenon of Sofia at night is "Sin City" - the one of a kind entertainment centre, situated in the heart of the capital city at Hristo Botev Blvd., is a unique complex. Its grandeur begins with the impressive three-floor building in socialist classical style with the typical pilasters, mimicking the ancient Greek columns on the façade and reaches the avant-guard project and interior design by designer Julian Tahov. Many people comment on the effect achieved and compare it to the "new seven miracles of the world" with the vanished Babylon tower and the gardens of Semiramis. We are talking of a provocative style, called by Tahov himself “Timelessness”. We are talking about an atmosphere which captures your attention and makes you dream. Your head is full of all kinds of thoughts which arouse exaltation and admiration for the power of art. Your imagination strives to finish the eyes only see – glossy wood, glass, aluminium, leather, fur, and replicas of Michelangelo's frescoes, a lot of light. A masterful play with shapes – squares, stripes, meanders, and with colours – red, black, silver, and white. A game of contrasts – warm and cold, light and dark, glossy and frosted, classical and modern.
With this attractive and daring designer's project Julian Tahov sets the goal to master the vast space and create a modern interior with classical elements. With a sense of elegance the provocative designer uses fur and leather on the walls, ceilings and furniture, eliminating any kind of paint and thus he becomes the only one not only in Bulgaria "but also in the world", as Kathleen Foley says for the "Sofia Echo". Julian Tahov works very decisively with dark colours; the light and the decorative elements give us a brave modelling achieved by expanding and diminishing volumes and spaces. The graphic style of the leather and fur stripes combined with aluminium, gloss wood and mirrors is varied by the exquisite colour accents, mimicking Renaissance paintings, friezes on the ceiling and the walls. Tahov draws from classical principles presenting the in a new way, he makes the interior intensified by details. The glass doors style was influenced by the standard classical table doors, but now they are friezed with frosted meander. All this looks even more beautiful at night due to the soft light of the little moons on the ceiling, emphasised by elegant red and black tables with meander friezes and the shining red walls with black stripe pattern. The designer skilfully redecorates the big space of the main hall in the centre by placing a shining glass platform, decorated with classical meanders. Right above it there is a cupola of shining fragments from a replica of the "The Doomsday" fresco emphasized with a decorative shining frieze from aluminium and MDF. In the centre of the cupola we can see the logo of the designer - a mythical hero with snakes around his head, closed in a circle by a meander, symbolizing eternity.
The VIP room is separated from the main hall by a group of stairs, which ensure a thorough view of the entire club. Part of the boxes are in the shape of a rainbow. A majestic classical fresco towers above them, emphasizing with hidden lighting, discreetly displaying the transparent wall of frosted stripes.
Using replicas of Renaissance murals helps the designer reawaken a feeling for the past in the modern spirit of the interior which makes the visitor admire the magic of art. The round ceiling in the VIP room represents a classical composition, again covered with frescoes, replicas of Michelangelo's works, emphasized by modern materials and a lot of light. The furniture is made of black fur and brings about exceptional comfort and a feeling of generosity. The cosy atmosphere is complemented with decorative lamp shades from Julian Tahov's designer's collection.
In the lobby bar we see a new interpretation of the classical wainscoting, this time featuring stripes (red leather, MDF, dark graphite, gloss), wooden squares in dark graphite and red, decorated with meanders, emphasized by the soft light from the moons. The cylinder-shaped tables have shining upper surface and thus the glass on them seems to shine. The rigid rhythm of the stripes and the squares is diversified by a bar shining with white light, decorated with black meanders. A classical fresco rises behind it.
the elegant café "Mistral" prides itself on its aesthetics and charming nature in monochrome (dark brown and champaign colour) with little red accents. The sofas from Julian Tahov's collection are in brown leather with beige fur cushions. The tables are in dark brown, decorated with silver meanders. The ceiling's covered in decorative leather pillows at a background of white leather. The walls are in brown and white leather stripes. The leather blinds on the windows and the glass door give the place a most luxurious look.
Jt's approach to designing the toilets was extremely lofty featuring walls in white and black leather, lit by elegant triangular brackets, shining glass sinks and light leather furniture from Julian Tahov's collection. The walls look like chain-armours. The romantic atmosphere achieved provokes different feelings in every visitor. The need for more space is a problem but the designer uses mirror walls and mirror black ceiling with discreetly emphasized joints between the different modules. The ladies' toilet is in red and black, with mirror walls which optically make the space look bigger. The men's room is entirely in black, with mirror walls. The glass doors, the elegant meander and the lamps in muted blue light add even more mystery. The store selling flowers, jewels and cigars also carries the designer's clearly artistic and stylish feel. The shining furniture, upholstered in white and black leather comes from Julian Tahov's collection and is especially interesting.