Gold Furniture Design · 2026
The Cuban Bar Cabinet
- A' Design Award 2026 Gold Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Uslu Design Studio
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 35,520
- Verification code F199E3D060 · Verify this award
About The Cuban Bar Cabinet
The Cuban is a bar cabinet designed for storage and social use. A humidor lined with cedar wood is integrated into the cabinet structure, providing a controlled environment for cigars, while the interior holds whiskey. The curved doors are made of flexible plywood with a high gloss lacquer finish, and marble is applied to the top surface. The upper surface can also be used as a deck for turntables and music equipment. Internal cable channels and power outlets allow several devices to operate through a single connection. A digital system controls humidity and lighting.
Alp Usluduran's The Cuban Bar Cabinet emerges from a distinguished lineage of ceremonial furniture that transforms utilitarian storage into theatrical experience, continuing traditions established by eighteenth-century European cabinet-makers who elevated the drinks cabinet to an art form worthy of aristocratic salons. The work demonstrates remarkable sensitivity to the phenomenology of revelation and concealment, employing the opened doors as framing devices that choreograph a moment of discovery and anticipation. The designer's chromatic decisions appear carefully calibrated to evoke associations with established luxury codes, the deep burgundy exterior suggesting aged leather, fine wine, and the patina of gentlemen's clubs, while the warm amber interior illumination recalls candlelit intimacy and the golden hour of evening gatherings. Technical accomplishment manifests in the seamless integration of multiple functional zones within a unified aesthetic envelope: the spirits section with its elegant striated backdrop, the crystal display with its museum-quality illumination, and the humidor compartment with its specialized climate requirements all coexist harmoniously. The circular apertures punctuating the doors serve multiple functions simultaneously, operating as decorative motif, visual preview of contents, and playful reference to gaming symbolism that connects convivial entertainment with material pleasure. The softened corners and rounded edges throughout demonstrate ergonomic consideration while introducing a mid-century vocabulary that positions the work within recognizable design heritage. Material juxtapositions between the lacquered exterior's reflective surfaces and the natural wood tones within create a sensory journey from formal presentation to organic warmth. The plinth base, rendered in pale cream, provides both literal grounding and chromatic relief, preventing the deep red from overwhelming while suggesting architectural foundation. One might observe how the work invites contemplation of hospitality rituals, the ceremonies of sharing, and the objects we designate as worthy of beautiful housing. What personal treasures and shared moments might such a cabinet witness and safeguard across generations?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Cuban is a bar cabinet defined by its dual role as both a storage piece and a social focal point. It integrates a humidor, while its upper surface serves as a DJ deck, accommodating turntables and music equipment. Designed for interaction, it organizes objects and activities around itself, becoming a central element within the space. High gloss lacquer, stainless steel and marble create a refined and distinctive presence.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Bar cabinet with integrated humidor and multi functional top surface. Interior lined with Alpi engineered wood veneer, humidor fully clad in cedar wood. Elazığ Vişne marble used on top surface and high contact areas. Integrated digital control system for humidity and lighting. Internal cable management and power outlets allow operation of multiple devices through a single connection. Dimensions approx.: 900 W x 550 D x 1000 H mm.
- Tags
- Bar Cabinet with Humidor, Bar Cabinet, Liqour Cabinet, Luxury Furniture, Statement Furniture, Collectible Furniture, Disco House, Uslu's Disco House, Uslu Design Studio, Uslu Architects
- Production Technology
- The Cuban is produced using flexible plywood to form curved cabinet doors. A layered finishing process is applied, including a fabric based preparation to prevent cracking before high gloss lacquering. Interior surfaces are finished with Alpi engineered wood veneer. The humidor system, developed with Brone, is integrated into the cabinet structure, including cedar lining and humidity control components. Electrical systems and cable channels are custom integrated during assembly.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was twofold. Conceptually, it involved translating abstract ideas such as rhythm, atmosphere and character into a coherent seating form, balancing expressive geometry with ergonomic comfort and structural integrity. Interpreting and reconstructing a cultural atmosphere that was not directly experienced, as a designer from a different generation, required an additional layer of research, imagination and reinterpretation.
From a production perspective, the project faced significant constraints due to limited initial production volume, making it difficult to engage manufacturers. As an independently developed project for SaloneSatellite and Alcova, it required self managed resources and fabrication. The complex curved geometries necessitated mold based solutions, increasing initial costs. Additionally, producing in Turkey under high taxation and import constraints led to elevated material costs, requiring direct sourcing of certain materials from Europe. - Project Duration
- The project started in Istanbul in August 2025 and was completed in March 2026. It is presented as part of the Disco House collection during Milan Design Week 2026, with its official debut at Alcova Milano 2026 and SaloneSatellite 2026.
- Operation Flow
- The Cuban is designed to bring people together around it. Experienced from multiple sides, it functions as a bar and display from the front, revealing its contents as the doors open. From the back, its top surface can be used as a DJ deck for music playing. It offers a controlled storage environment for whiskey and cigars, with digital control of lighting and humidity, while also elevating their presentation. It becomes both the source of music and a central point of interaction within the space.
- Research
- This project is based on a conceptual and experiential design research exploring the relationship between music, space and human behavior. Developed as part of the Disco House collection, it proposes a scenario for living where each object embodies a distinct character. The research builds on two core ideas: the invisible relationship between music and architecture, translated into spatial form, and the liberated, glamorous nightlife culture of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Through observational analysis and prototyping, the design investigates how atmosphere can be transformed into form, ergonomics and material expression.
- Inspiration
- The inspiration for The Cuban comes from the social dynamics of nightlife, where certain figures gradually take control of the atmosphere. It reflects a character that begins discreetly, creating curiosity, then reveals itself through opening elements displaying whiskey and cigars. Its upper surface is conceived as a DJ deck from the back, while acting as a display and bar from the front, combining visual presence with function.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Yesim Ozugeldi, The Cuban, 2026
Image #2: Photographer Yesim Ozugeldi, The Cuban, 2026
Image #3: Photographer Yesim Ozugeldi, The Cuban, 2026
Image #4: Photographer Yesim Ozugeldi, The Cuban, 2026
Image #5: Photographer Yesim Ozugeldi, Fashion Styling Merve Kusmenoglu,The Cuban, 2026 - Patents
- Copyright belongs to Uslu Design Studio, 2026.