Celebrating the euphoria and togetherness found when speeding around a dancefloor on wheels, Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace in White City, London, is based on the legendary roller-skating rink of the same name established in 1979 in Los Angeles.
The rink, live music venue, diner and skate shop channelled the original hedonistic hotspot known as ‘Studio 54 on wheels’ – founded by Ian ‘Flipper’ Ross and loved by the likes of Prince, Nile Rodgers, Cher and David Bowie.
The West Hollywood Flipper’s was a home for people of all cultural backgrounds and this vision remained for Flipper’s London. Design considerations needed to offer up both escapism and community, capturing the freedom of movement, spirit and mind found at the original rink.
With full access to the Flipper’s archives, we were able to incorporate many of the design elements central to the LA venue, reusing graphics in the signage and artwork. Photographs of famous guests and newspaper clippings were collaged in large print across the bar, and seating units shaped as 79 and 81 (the dates the venue was open) continued this motif and made space for skaters to lace up.
To reflect the fact Flipper’s was a melting pot of people, music and cultures, we took an ‘anything goes’ approach to inspiration, drawing together everything from punk to meditation to allow the character of the first venue to reemerge. The Grade-II listed industrial building with concrete floors naturally reflected the raw, grungy aesthetics of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
A thin ‘floating’ timber flooring system in stained beech made for an iconic black rink that was easily adaptable for the venue’s use as an events and gig space. Mirrored panels on the rink barrier amplified the atmosphere by doubling the lights, skaters’ movements and LED screen visuals.
The Lizard Lounge – a viewing deck and private area – offered an elevated view of the skating space and four palm trees delivered a bit of kitsch LA. A 200-capacity diner and cocktails experience called the Hotdogs & Caviar Diner was nestled under a huge ceiling-mounted Flipper’s Logo in neon lights.
