Canberra's transportable bar and gallery combination has moved to the Kingston Foreshore in a joint initiative to enliven the precinct.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Canberra Lab, a collective of architects who developed the pop-up shipping container bar, the Two Before Ten team and Englobo Group will host ''sip and chill'' sessions at the Aurora Residences from Friday night.
The bottom floor of the apartment block will be opened to a crowd on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons in an opportunity to experience the views across Lake Burley Griffin from the $60 million development.
Englobo Group managing director Terry Shaw said the idea had formed as a way to celebrate Canberra's centenary but also enliven the precinct while the commercial spaces were being completed in Aurora Residences.
''I think people for a long time have been wanting to experience the vibe of what living at Kingston Foreshore will mean,'' he said.
Crane operators successfully manoeuvred the pop-up bar and gallery containers between apartment buildings into place on Thursday afternoon.
Mr Shaw said the ''By the Water'' series was a dynamic concept that would feature art work and design, live music and entertainment as well as the refreshments on offer at the bar.
Two Before Ten events manager Lachlan Moulton said the pop-up bar had been popular at previous locations and events, including the International Music Festival and outside the Gallery of Australian Design for the centenary.
He said the ''sip and chill'' sessions were the perfect collaboration between the three groups. ''We looked at this place and thought where else in Canberra would the bars pop up that has such good atmosphere, that's new, that's cool, that's young - it's probably the best location it could possibly be,'' Mr Moulton said.
''These guys are looking at activating the precinct and that's exactly what we're good at, we're good at creating a vibe.''
''Walt'' the pop-up bar and ''Mazz'' the pop-up gallery are the creations of Canberra Lab and are named after Walter and Marion Burley Griffin.
Spokesman Ronan Moss said the whole idea of the shipping container conversions was to activate the sleepy places in the city and make them busy like they should be.
By the Water will take place at the Aurora apartments on Friday from 5pm and Sunday from 2pm, and will run at these times for three weeks.