Façade, circulation, dance floor, light and brand identity. How we design exclusive nightclubs that work as a business, with the case of Momento on Marbella's Golden Mile.
In nightclub design, an exclusive venue wins or loses in a very short time. The first few months decide whether a venue becomes a landmark or just another name on the list, and much of that decision is made by guests before they even walk in, when they see the façade, the queue or the photos other people have posted. Once inside, what counts is the energy of the dance floor, the comfort of the bars, the quality of the sound and the feeling of being somewhere with a personality of its own. All of that depends on design.
At Archidom Studio we design leisure and hospitality spaces, including nightclubs, restaurants and beach clubs in Marbella, Madrid and other destinations. In this article we explain how we approach the design of an exclusive nightclub from three angles, architecture, lighting and identity, and we illustrate it with Momento, the night club we designed on Marbella’s Golden Mile.
Nightclub design that serves the business
Nightclub design has to serve the operation. A spectacular room that forces waiters to cross the dance floor with their trays, concentrates the queue at the neighbours’ door or leaves the VIP area far from the action loses money every night.
That is why, on commercial projects, we act as architects, interior designers and also brand and operations consultants. We know how a nightlife venue works and we design the whole atmosphere so that the space performs, sells and pays back the investment as quickly as possible.
Architecture: circulation, dance floor and zones
The entrance. Arrival is the first moment of the experience. The façade, the canopy, door control and the cloakroom must handle a lot of people in little time without losing the sense of exclusivity.
The dance floor at the centre. The dance floor holds the energy of the night. Its size, its position relative to the DJ booth and its relationship with the bars and VIP areas define how the crowd moves and how the atmosphere is perceived from anywhere in the room.
Bars and VIP areas. Bars need to be easy to reach from the dance floor and directly connected to storage. VIP areas must overlook the dance floor while still feeling private. That balance between visibility and intimacy is one of the factors that most influences the average spend.
Service routes. Restocking, cleaning, security and staff need their own circuits that never cross the guests’ path. A layout mistake is paid for in every single service.
Acoustics and surroundings. Sound has to fill the room with quality and stay inside it. Insulation from the neighbours and interior absorption are designed from the outset, because they affect the structure, the materials and the ceilings.
Lighting: by day and by night
Lighting in a nightclub works on two layers. One is show lighting, which follows the music on the dance floor. The other is architectural lighting, which shapes the space, creates routes, highlights materials and sets the mood of each zone. When both are designed together, the venue keeps its character even in the quietest moments of the night.
There is also a third dimension that many nightclubs forget: how the building looks from outside. A venue that goes unnoticed by day and becomes a beacon at night has already won half the battle. The façade can work with light just as the interior does.
Identity: the element people remember
Nightclubs that become landmarks have something that identifies them at first sight, an element that appears in photos, that people talk about and that makes them impossible to confuse with any other venue. At Archidom we always include elements that give each project an exclusive, iconic character, designed for that place and that brand.
That identity is rooted in the place. Drawing inspiration from the landscape, the history of the area or the culture of its audience helps create a venue with roots, harder to copy and easier to remember.
Momento, Marbella: a distinctive building by day and an emblem by night
Momento is a night club on Marbella’s Golden Mile. It covers a site of 1,778 m² with 631 m² built, and we were responsible for its architecture, commercial design and interior design.
The project is divided into three areas with clearly different atmospheres: the party room, with a dance floor of more than 400 m², the terrace and the outdoor restaurant. This division allows the venue to work at different times of day and night, from dinner to the party.
The existing building is disguised with a metal skin of 150 by 70 centimetre panels, 5 millimetres thick, which wraps the entrance and acts as an entrance canopy. Its perforations in the shape of circles, ellipses and ovals let the interior light escape at night, and its texture recreates the shades of La Concha, the mountain that identifies Marbella. The result is a distinctive building by day and an emblem by night.
To give Momento its iconic element we invented the “umbrellas”, decorative pieces that organise the spaces and connect the interior and exterior fluidly. They are the venue’s signature, and an example of how a design element can order the layout and build the brand at the same time.
Nightclub design and leisure architecture anywhere
Momento is part of a broader track record in leisure, hospitality and nightclub design. We have designed beach clubs such as Playa Padre, La Reserva Beach in Sotogrande and Ocean Club, and from our Madrid office we develop restaurants and nightclubs. Outside Spain we currently have a restaurant in Paris and projects in Morocco and Saudi Arabia under way.
We work with small teams that follow each project from concept to opening and coordinate architecture, interior design, lighting, engineering, costs and construction. That way, the idea presented to the investor is the same one the public finds on opening night.
Frequently asked questions about nightclub design
What should you consider in nightclub design?
Guest and staff circulation, the position of the dance floor, the bars and VIP areas, acoustics and insulation, architectural and show lighting, and an element of identity that makes the venue recognisable.
Why is a nightclub’s façade important?
Because it is the guest’s first impression and the image that circulates on social media. A façade that works by day and transforms at night, like Momento’s perforated metal skin, turns the building into part of the brand.
Can an existing building be turned into an exclusive nightclub?
Yes. At Momento we wrapped the existing building in a metal skin that completely changed its image.
Does Archidom Studio also help with the venue’s business model?
Yes. On commercial projects we also act as brand and operations consultants, and we design so that the venue performs, sells and pays back the investment as quickly as possible.
Where does Archidom Studio design nightclubs?
We have offices in Marbella and Madrid and work wherever we are commissioned, both in Spain and abroad.
Let’s talk about your next venue
If you are opening a nightclub or want to renovate the one you have, our nightclub design team can help you define a concept with its own identity and turn it into a space that works from the very first night.
Contact our studio and tell us about your idea.
You can also see more of our work on Instagram.
