Golem wraps Dive bar in red velvet that retains guests' imprints

Paris-based design studio Golem has completed Dive, a subterranean cocktail bar in London's Marylebone district, featuring interiors clad almost entirely in soft red velvet. Founder Ariel André explains that the design celebrates wear and tear: glossy surfaces are meant to scratch, while velvet walls and floors retain the imprint of bodies. The venue is split into two zones: a luminous bar area with smooth finishes and convex mirrors, and a darker lounge reached by descending steps. Structural arches contain flexible seating with loose cushions that guests can reposition. A dedicated DJ booth sits beside the owner's vinyl collection, and the lounge functions as a listening room with tailored acoustics. Non-gendered bathrooms are arranged around a central banquette and concealed by a one-way mirror. Golem also created custom quart-de-lune tables that combine to seat up to eight. André founded the studio in 2021, working across architecture, art, and design.