PANAMA HATTIE'S
North Palm Beach, Florida
1984
The site was adjacent to a bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway. It was therefore hidden from the street by the long bridge ramp. The solution to the street identity for this small building (5000 sq. ft.) was to make it very tall. A massive brick fireplace and steep, high, pink standing seam metal roofs got that done, and the fireplace set the theme for an intimate bar and lounge. A dining mezzanine above provided a low scaled ceiling over the bar and overlooked the lounge and massive fireplace on one side and the lower dining on the other. The main floor dining was on two levels, the lowest of which opened to the outside deck and the Intracoastal Waterway by way of large wood frame windows that hinged upwards by rope and pulley.
Outside dining decks were extended several times to keep up with the demand of customers wanting to get as close to the water as possible. The main deck was eventually covered with a pipe and vinyl structure, and an additional covered bar was added on the bridge side.
The tone of the interior, in addition to the structural and spatial excitement, was tropical and very colorful.