Classic Modernity: Treff bar reinvented

Whether it's used as a noun or verb, the word "lounge" simply means "relax" to practically anyone. And in a city that's progressively bustling as Cebu, it's kind of hard to find the perfect place for such a desire. Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino brings us a new destination, a temporary escape from the city rush, choking traffic and draining bright lights.

Last August 2006, Waterfront Hotel, Lahug, reopened its updated plush bar. What used to be known as "Treff Oyster Bar," is now the Hotel's official bar and lounge that serves ingenious gourmet bites and a wide selection of wines and spirits, not to mention, "the" ideal place to be to comfortably unwind with friends or colleagues.

"TREFF" is derived from the German word "Treffen" which means "to come upon by chance or arrangement; to come into conjunction with; to join; to come to the notice of the senses; to experience; to meet." And a likely crowd such as the yuppies-young urban professionals -as a targeted market best suits this trés chic ultra modern locale.

Treff is proud to uncover contemporary design elements that are distinct to the Waterfront brand's lifestyle concept. The architect, Anton Mendoza, managed to craft a design embracing the laid-back tranquil lifestyle of a typical Cebuano. With an area of 148 sq. meters, he achieved a very spacious setting, much thanks to his glass and metal articulation of a modernist style, at the same time adding to its distinctiveness in terms of design. The glass encasement, having a ceiling height of 19 feet (5.80 meters.) imparts a unique effect at nightfall, providing an open and natural backdrop of the alluring night sky, seamlessly extending the indoors out. The outdoor lounge seating emphasizes that private laid-back atmosphere while allowing a different panorama of the city.

Set at the second floor of the hotel, Treff is a very stunning contrast from the traditional contemporary style of Waterfront. Looking at it brings to mind Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House in Illinois, one of the most prominent examples of modernist architecture, considered unprecedented in its day. His famous motto, "less is more," transcending the conventional design at the time, is similarly conveyed in Mendoza's take on Treff.

Philippe Starck is a well-known French designer and probably the best-known designer in the New Design style. His designs range from fabulously designed interiors to mass-produced consumer goods such as toothbrushes, chairs, and even houses, a few of which were incorporated as design elements for Treff, namely "La Marie" - a poly carbonate, plexi glass chair and the "Prince Aha" stool - its design erases the distinction between seat and base, each becoming the other when the stool is turned upside down. These seats complement the warm tones of the accent walls of Wenge wood with aluminum inlays, as well as the light sandstone flooring.

The brand of moodlighting used to express an exuberant feel to the interior of the restaurant is ARTEMIDE, dubbed modern Italian lighting, and is a lamp company from Italy.

As Raul A. Barreneche would put it, "even though modern architecture was born in the cold, gray climate of Bauhaus, Germany, and de Stijl, Holland, it has enjoyed a rich tradition in the tropics. To him, modernism's inherent openness and abstract language made more sense in the sunlight and warmth of these regions than in the chill of European continents. Treff bar and its architecture exude a unique combination of modern architectural forms in the Philippines' tropical setting, rewarding aesthetic contemplation, and effectively illustrating a metaphor for mainstream modernism.

Treff is open everyday from 6:00p.m. to 2:00a.m. Happy Hour everyday: 6:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. 50 percent off on all cocktails and beers. Acknowledgments: F&B Marketing Communications Manager Kaye G. Luym, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, Lahug, Cebu City. References: Barreneche, Raul A. "Tropical Modern,"copyright 2003, NY City. | www.greatbuildings.com