In the beginning of 2023, I lived in New York City for 4 months where I quickly discovered club culture.I specifically liked to frequent a venue called House of Yes where friends and I would spend hours each weekend dancing, laughing, and most importantly, connecting.
When I came back to Cincinnati, I missed having this culture in my life. Clubbing in New York was a way for me to escape my everyday life and be the most free version of myself.
I kept thinking to myself...
Why isn't there anything like this in Cincinnati?
CLUB CLAU
Once upon a time, we DID have this.
Club Clau was THE club in Cincinnati in the early 2000’s.
A-list celebrities would come from all over to experience Club Clau, including Justin Timberlake, Nick Lache, Ashley Simpson, Snoop Dogg, and Steve-O.
When talking with a former patron of the club, she talked about its themed nights, its wild energy, and the fact that there was a line out the door every. single. night.
But most importantly, she talked about how free the space felt. Everyone dressed, danced, and had fun however they wanted. No one was worried about what might show up online the next day.
"FOR THE GRAM"
While social media was originally created to be a space for friends to share their lives with each other and build connection, it has devolved into today’s largest marketing platform with an endless supply of customers. And companies aren’t the only ones doing the marketing. The everyday people using these apps have begun marketing themselves to the world in search of more views, more likes, and more acceptance.
Why are clubs so different now?
The Current Market
ALICE is a bar in OTR that opened in 2022.
While the venue is filled with unique and exciting visuals that get people talking, the bar itself can often fall short on the customer experience.Their dancefloor is rarely full, the drinks are priced high for Cincinnati, and even the website is difficult to read and navigate (bottom left photo).
Despite all of this, people can’t seem to stop posting about it online.
We have become so obsessed with showing people where we are, that we have forgotten why we are there in the first place.
Most companies care more about how their business is viewed rather than how good their business actually is.
Digital Natives
As a generation that grew up with unfettered access to the internet, we have lost the ability to be fully alive.
We spend the time we ARE engaged with the world, half-amused, socially anxious, and focused on our own needs.The internet has become our real lives, and interactions with people on the outside have become our escape.
Because of this, Digital Natives have a deep craving to experience the life they never got the chance to live - a life where they are allowed to be carefree, to not have to worry about what may or may not show up online tomorrow.
"pics or it didn't happen"
Local Blight
There are dozens of historic buildings in Cincinnati that fall under the abandoned and at-risk categories within city limits. We have already seen what can be made of some of these buildings through the gentrification of neighborhoods such as Over the Rhine and Short Vine.
It is tradition in this town to restore and repurpose what is already here, rather than try to build something completely new in its place.
St. Mark's Church
Located just a 10 minute drive from the University of Cincinnati, the cornerstone of St. Mark’s Church was laid in 1914 and opened to the community in 1916. The building served as a parish for over 1,200 families at its height in the 1950’s, but ultimately due to construction and the city’s evolution, closed its doors to the community on July 25, 2010. It has been empty since.
Why a Church?
For thousands of years, the Catholic Church has served as a place of sanctuary for all who enter its doors regardless of where you come from. It is a space that represents community, love, and acceptance.
However, the most glaring exception to this acceptance is and
always has been the LGBTQ+ community.
Because this community was never welcomed, they created their own sanctuary: The Club.
In the mid 19th century, a cultural movement began called Ballroom. Started initially by black and Latino members of the LGBTQ+ community, the Ballroom Scene aimed to give a home to people who felt rejected by the rest of the world.
Out of this movement came dozens of cultural developments such as vogueing, drag shows, and the rise of house music. In fact, many modern day nightclubs have roots in the Ballroom Scene.
Though the LGBTQ+ community was and still is repeatedly shunned from the church and communities alike, they have chosen to embody the true meaning of sanctuary through their spaces, welcoming all who enter.
Redevelop the abandoned St. Mark’s Church as a nightclub to bring a sense of community and carefree joy to the younger generations in the Cincinnati area.
Moodboard
classic beauty
reformation
elegance
reflection
light
modern contrast
The Defining Moment
When standing here in person, you are able to fully understand the grandeur and awe of the space, and it creates a reverence for anything that might occur inside its walls. The entire space will be built around this view.
Floorplan Ideation
User Journey
No Photo Policy
In order to preserve the guest’s experience, no photos will be allowed inside of St. Mark’s. All guest’s cameras will be covered with custom stickers at the door, and anyone seen tampering with the stickers or taking photos inside will be asked to leave immediately. No exceptions.
Though these are single use, they are cost
effective, highly customizable, easily adaptable for different phone types, and largely unobtrusive to the phone’s owner.
This is your chance for a carefree, ego-free,
and device-free night. Don’t waste it.
The Entrance
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Elevator brings guests to top of balcony for entry, providing them with an unobstructed view of space and grand entrance down staircase
Set of two grand staircases for elaborate entrance and greater appreciation of existing architecture. Also controls flow of traffic.
Organ pipes are moved to back wall of main bar. Repurposed into keg taps for beer, and doubles as an aesthetic touchpoint.
Large, round bar located under staircases. Maximizes available space and provides intuitive wayfinding for guests.
Creating the Dancefloor
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Large draped curtains create dramatic framing of the dancefloor and dj booth while providing acoustic dampening and division of space
Semi-translucent secondary curtains line hallways to separate high-energy dancefloor from low-energy seating areas and bars
Stage for guests to dance on and see over crowds. Provides ground-level separation of entrance and dancefloor
Fluted glass attached to back of stage. Eludes to the movement on the and energy on the dancefloor through the dancer's silhouettes for patrons on the other side.
Stained Glass Icons
In keeping with the theme of worship, the original stained glass windows in the church will be replaced with new, custom art of historical icons of LGBTQ+ community. These people are the "saints" of the queer community, and will be represented as so, further blending the idea of traditional and modern sanctuary.
Mission Statement
We believe in the power of disconnection. You were destined for things that can’t be measured in gigabytes.
We created this space as an altar for the life you are supposed to be living.
We dedicate this house of worship to the existence of you.
Club policies
No photos.
We know our club is dope. It’s why you waited in line right? But we’ve created a space that transcends a camera. A flash would only dampen your experience. Anyone caught taken photos will be removed immediately, no exceptions.
This is a safe space.
No sexual harassment of any kind is tolerated within our club. If something happens to you or someone in your party, find our staff to report it, and we will make sure the individual is removed and not welcomed back.
Be whoever you want to be.
Inside these walls, you are invited to celebrate whoever you truly are. Racism, homophobia,
sexism, and any other type of discrimination are not welcomed in our house. So make yourself comfortable - you’re home.
Dance like no one is watching.
Because they aren't ;)
rendered in Unreal Engine
Check out the final space!
(Best if viewed with sound)
