A new bar in the heart of Mexico City’s vibrant Condesa neighbourhood, Sona does not serve up cocktails. Instead, sound is its fare. Devised by creative lead Luis López (or Lulo) in collaboration with architect Erik López of Épico Estudio and construction specialist Marcela Segovia of panorama, the space turns passive listening into a conscious act, where music and sound become an immersive and multi-sensory experience.
Inspired by both early-20th-century Japanese jazz kissa’s (listening cafés) and American composer and accordionist Pauline Olivero’s theories of Deep Listening, the 245-square-metre venue is located in the semi-basement of a 1960s building and accessed through a set of glass and black metal doors that lend a sense of curiosity to the streetscape. Inside, the space is orchestrated into three parts — threshold, tea area and listening room (plus a flexible gallery area for exhibitions, activations and events) — and follows a museographic logic. The sensory experience begins almost immediately at the entrance, with a slightly lowered ceiling creating a subtle sense of compression and live audio from the Macaw Sanctuary in Costa Rica streaming through sculptural ODA speakers phasing out the frenetic pace of the city.
From here, one enters the tea area, or interlude space, where raw concrete walls instill an authentic historic warmth and textural richness. When the crew behind Sona first acquired the site, it had been segmented by interior drywall partitions that closed it in and blocked views throughout. Once those were removed, the exposed concrete left an impression that informed the design. “Everything is raw because of that,” says architect Erik López. “When we saw the concrete with layers of paint and colour, we thought it was beautiful.” Original pressed-glass windows add to the effect and offer an obscured view to the street beyond.
The tea area is anchored by a custom-built, faux-concrete central bar, which serves as a reception and information desk and a tea service station. To ensure that sound remains the focus, Sona has no alcoholic beverages for sale, instead offering a curated selection of Japanese teas as “part of a ritual that enhances the contemplative nature” of each listening session. A linear lamp by local lighting design workshop Nuumbra Estudio provides focused lighting over the bar, while warm-toned LED tubes installed along the concrete beams cast indirect illumination that helps soften the atmosphere. Set on panorama-built wooden benches and tables, objects and wares by Mexican creators are showcased throughout like museum pieces; semi-industrial stainless-steel shelving by Album Goods displays books available for sale.
When partaking in a sound session, guests can store their phones and other belongings in the custom-built lockers and grab a pillow, blanket and eye mask before entering the screen-free listening room. The architect worked closely with Ethan Bourdeau (of New York’s Bourdeau Acoustical Design), who created the acoustic treatments that line the walls and integrate the audio system. “They all look the same from the outside,” says López of the panels, “but inside they are different.” In fact, there are three compositions: one that absorbs frequencies, one that reflects them and one that is “transparent” and conceals the speakers while emitting sound; the acoustic treatment includes Dolby Atmos spatial audio technology and a Devon Turnbull-designed OJAS analog stereo system. The ceiling here is equipped with a central light source that displays colour gradients that can be calibrated to match and enhance the music.
Whether visiting for a full listening session or popping in for a cup of tea, Sona offers a unique respite from the city — one that presents an opportunity to unplug, slow down and focus on an experience.
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