Unit F ~ECONOMY > ABSOLUT BAR ABSOLUT BAR the next ENTERprise, two austrian architects design the ABSOLUT BAR for the Unit F office for fashion permanent installation The relationship between the superb Swedish spirit brand and the world of art, design and fashion is legendary. Since 1985, when Pop Art artist Andy Warhol painted the unmistakable bottle, art in all its forms of presentation became a new way of expression for the cult label. Since then over 500 reputed and upcoming artists have created their personal interpretation of the bottle that has already become an icon. The majority of these commissioned works became part of the world wide ABSOLUT ART Collection, which is managed by one curator in New York and Paris, respectively. There are continuously exhibitions and presentations of the pieces of art at the most demanded sites of the world. ABSOLUT VODKA has been active in Austria since 1997. Although Austria is only a tiny market on the world-wide ABSOLUT map, Austrian artists and designers have repeatedly managed to contribute to international and Austrian projects. Helmut Lang, for example, was the first Austrian to design a model dress for ABSOLUT VODKA, which was photographed by the star photographer Helmut Newton for the campaign ABSOLUT NEWTON. Daniel Swarovski and his designer-in-chief Rosemarie LeGallais have impressively contributed to the project ABSOLUT ZODIAC with their crystal edged hat. The Austrian architect Hans Hollein has been the favourite partner for ABSOLUT in the pan-European art-project ABSOLUT ORIGINALS. His collage ABSOLUT HOLLEIN has attracted international attention. In 1999 the young Tyrolean media artist Christoph Hinterhuber created an interactive Cyber-Bar for the project fast forward - fashion in the media of the 90s taking place at the Vienna Künstlerhaus. At the most recent pan-European ABSOLUT art-project ABSOLUT LIGHTS with the on-line discussion forum ABSOLUT TALK (www.absolut.com) two Austrian art specialists, Hubert Klocker and the light-artist Brigitte Kowanz were asked for contributions. Considering the long-standing commitment of ABSOLUT in the fields of art, design and fashion it made sense for ABSOLUT to “creatively” contribute to the innovative project of the new design-platform Unit F. This contribution had to be compatible with the world-wide activities and guidelines of ABSOLUT and at the same time had to be an integrative element of the existing Unit F concept. This was the only briefing given by ABSOLUT VODKA to the two Austrian architects Ernst J. Fuchs and Marie-Therese Harnoncourt of nextENTERprise when the design and realisation of the ABSOLUT BAR was commissioned. The ABSOLUT BAR will be a permanent component of the Unit F premises. Once more Austrian creators were invited to get inspired by ABSOLUT VODKA and to realise a specific piece of art with their own means and form of presentation. During the past twenty years of export-activities ABSOLUT VODKA has become number three on the list of favourite liquors world-wide. Today it is available on more than 125 markets all over the world. Essential for the exemplary success of this brand are the overwhelming creative marketing concept and the strict compliance with highest quality standards. ABSOLUT VODKA is produced only in Åhus in Southern Sweden.