Saint Louis, USA
Designed entirely in SolidWorks, the Observation Bar is a site-specific installation tailored to an octagonal room overlooking the Snowmass–Aspen valley. The design responds to both the high-alpine environment and the constraints of its placement within a private estate, resulting in a modular, precision-engineered concept intended for longevity. Fabricated in St. Louis, Missouri—nearly 8,500 feet lower in elevation—the fully solid wood construction carefully accounts for material expansion and contraction.
Accessed through narrow corridors and multiple stair flights, the bar inhabits a vaulted, eight-sided sanctuary reserved for the owners and their family. Its circular geometry echoes the architecture of the room, with an extra-deep, continuous arm rail forming an unbroken ring that encourages intimate, communal interaction rather than fixed commercial seating. The bar front integrates linear and organic geometries, including a convex compound curve that adds five inches of knee clearance for a comfortable, unobstructed “belly-up” experience.
For The Observation Bar project, Martin Goebel of Goebel & Co. Furniture crafted custom pieces from American Black Cherry and brass, blending rich wood tones with metallic elegance.
The arm rail is 5-axis CNC-carved from solid, wide-plank 4-inch stock, allowing the wood grain to flow seamlessly from rail to bar top. Ornate brass foot rails and warm, integrated LED downlighting complete the composition, balancing craft, performance, and refined alpine luxury.
About: Founded in 2011 by President and Design Director Martin Goebel, Goebel & Co. Furniture is a vertically integrated American company in St. Louis, blending digital design, automated manufacturing, and old-world handcraft to create premier furniture and home goods. Bench-made in small batches or one-offs from the finest materials, our original concepts elevate residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces worldwide. Our renovated 105-year-old facility fosters a holistic culture with natural light, plants, and fresh air, ensuring products that enhance daily life.
