Ellis Design Studio designs new luxurious private member’s club space at 3Arena

Upstairs at The 1878 is an exclusive new private members club set within the iconic 3Arena, Dublin. Commissioned by Live Nation Ireland, Ellis Design Studio has designed a luxurious reimagining of the dramatic 4th floor space within the landmark 13,000-seat venue, which is among the top ten busiest music arenas by ticket sales in the world.

This private members club at Dublin’s iconic 3Arena – a Live Nation Ireland venue – is designed for music lovers and industry insiders, offering an unparalleled pre-and post-concert experience.

The interior design provides the perfect precursor to the drama and excitement of the arena experience, paying homage to the pioneers of Modernism and mid-century Irish abstract art. The design for the space is a celebration of two trailblazing Irish women at the forefront of these creative fields, contemporary artist Mainie Jellett (1878-1976) and designer Eileen Gray (1879-1944).

The design for the venue blends the refined mid-century elegance of Gray’s lacquered, iridescent aesthetic and the pioneering abstract expressionist spirit of Jellett, one of Ireland’s first and foremost cubist artists.

High-level executives from AO Arena, Arena Riga and first direct Arena Leeds attending the 2024 SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition – hosted at Dublin’s Croke Park Stadium last month – were treated to an exclusive VIP tour of 3Arena.

Alan Ellis, Founder, Ellis Design Studio, commented:

The design for the interior seeks to capture a tension between the lustrous, modernist designs of Eileen Gray and the cubist, geometric aesthetic found in Jellett’s work. Fusing Gray’s early experiments with decorative screens, lacquerwork and glasswork with Jellett’s predilection for bold colour and expressive forms.

From the moment guests step inside, members are immersed in a world of tactile luxury, characterised by rich textures, vibrant colours and exquisite details. Design details have been carefully considered to weave a clear narrative thread throughout the space.

The venue features a bold mix of mid-century-inspired furniture and finishes, and a spectacular Modernist-inspired feature back bar with illuminated rose tinted mirror and reeded glass, fluted timbers and antique brass detailing. Custom designed bar-top lighting and a vibrant lacquer-inspired coral-hued bar top create a dramatic focal point within the space.

The cubist work of Jellett inspired the expressive design of the carpet, whilst references to the work of Gray are found in the dramatic polychromatic screen details celebrating her most famous and opulent lacquer creations. The ribbed curvilinear form of the banquette seating is inspired by Gray’s iconic Bibendum armchair.

A refined yet vibrant palette, plush velvets, patterned fabrics and dramatic translucent screens all add to a sense of theatricality, reflectivity & lustre, creating a venue which is quietly decadent and wilfully glamorous.

Source & imagery, courtesy: www.ellisdesignstudio.co.uk 

Ellis Design Studio

Ellis Design Studio is a multi-award-winning Interior Design studio specialising in hospitality interior design projects. The studio was founded in 2017 with a team who have extensive experience across restaurants, bars, 4 & 5-star luxury hotels, private members’ clubs and experiential / competitive socialising venues.

Ellis Design Studio weaves together clear design narratives in their work through an artisanal approach, focused on meticulous detailing and beautiful craftsmanship. The Studio works with a range of experts with experience across a vast array of fields including lighting & furniture designers, fine artists, ceramicists, glassblowers metalworkers and artisans to name a few. Consequently, their work is imbued with a sense of provenance, uniqueness and a carefully crafted element of storytelling.

The Studio has been shortlisted and won several prestigious design awards for its work in the hospitality sector including winning and being shortlisted for a Design Week Awards, SBID International Design Awards, Restaurant & Bar Design Awards and LIV Hospitality Design Awards.

Ellis Design Studio has worked with Live Nation on several projects, including The Premium Club, and spaces within The Bord Gais Energy Theatre.

1878 Club

The 1878 Club is a luxurious and exclusive Private Members Club at 3Arena, Dublin. The 1878 Club is named after the year the original stone Depot building was constructed. The venue is set over 4 floors with members given access to luxurious surroundings, a private entrance, complementary tickets and priority access to shows.

The 3Arena

The 3Arena was built on the site of the former Point Theatre. The original building was used as a rail terminus for the Midland and Great Western Railway Company. The 13,000-capacity amphitheatre is consistently named one of the top 10 busiest venues in the world.

Sports Venue Business launched the SVB LIVE series of events in 2023, featuring Global Networking Events & Webinars, and the SVB LIVE Conference & Exhibition. The 2024 edition was held at Croke Park, with an opening night at Aviva Stadium; some 240 high-level execs from across the global sports and entertainment sector were in attendance.