A fluid approach: Roth Bar takes pride of place at Basel's Les Trois Rois

On the occasion of Art Basel 2015, modern and contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth has installed a fully-functional, specially-crafted bar in the lobby of the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Basel.

(Image credit: Harold Cunningham)

By Rosa Bertoli

published 16 June 2015

in Features

Few spots in Basel are as legendary as Les Trois Rois, a grand hotel on the banks of the Rhine that dates back to 1681. Usually a major haunt for the art and design community that meet for the annual Art Basel fair, this year the hotel was actively involved in the artistic spectacle in the form of Roth Bar – a fully-functional pop-up designed by Björn, Oddur and Einar Roth (the son and grandsons of German-born Swiss artist Dieter Roth) and organised by the Zurich-based gallery Hauser & Wirth. Located in the hotel's foyer, the bar is a collage of found and discarded objects: a three-dimensional iteration of the artist’s works.

The concept was initially conceived by Dieter Roth in the early 1980s, as an ever-changing installation. In 1997, he demanded that a Roth Bar was installed at Hauser & Wirth for his solo show there – a dynamic space where every beer bottle served became part of the installation, and conversations were recorded and archived. Developed as a travelling exhibition, the bar has since been installed in Zurich, Reykjavik and Milan.

To celebrate its Basel stop-off, Thomas Huhn, Les Trois Rois' chef de bar, has created a cocktail in honour of the artist, his work and his family – ‘Le Roi Roth’ is a heady concoction of vodka, Lillet and Cointreau.

The bar at Roth Bar, Basel, Switzerland. — Entitled 'Roth Bar' and designed by Björn, Oddur and Einar Roth, son and grandsons of German-born Swiss artist Dieter Roth, the operational installation will be open for the duration of the fair.

The back bar at Roth in Basel, Switzerland — The concept was initially conceived by Dieter Roth in the early 1980s, as an ever-changing installation.

Piano and DJ Box at Roth Bar in Basel, CH — In 1997, Dieter Roth demanded that a *Roth Bar* was installed at Hauser & Wirth for his solo show there – a dynamic space where every beer bottle served became part of the installation, and conversations were recorded and archived.

Vodka based cocktail at Roth Bar in Basel, Switzerland — To celebrate its Basel stop-off, Thomas Huhn, Les Trois Rois' *chef de bar*, has created a cocktail in honour of the artist, his work and his family – ‘Le Roi Roth’ is a heady concoction of vodka, Lillet and Cointreau.

Roth Bar sign at Roth in Basel — Few spots in Basel are as legendary as Les Trois Rois, a grand hotel on the banks of the Rhine that dates back to 1681.

Bar area at Roth bar basel — Developed as a travelling exhibition, the bar has since been installed in Zurich, Reykjavik and Milan. *Courtesy of Dieter Roth Estate and Hauser & Wirth*

ADDRESS

Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois
Blumenrain 8
Basel
Switzerland

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.