2024 DCC Award Winner

Mi Vida, Hyde Concrete, Pasadena, MD

First Place: Countertops, Furniture, Firepits, Under 5,000 SF

Hyde Concrete was contracted to craft a unique bar, server stations, and a matching host stand for Mi Vida, in the popular Penn Quarter of Washington, DC. A focal point of the vibrant restaurant, the customer-facing main bar was designed with an intricate decorative profile, textured surface accents, and a color palette to complement the cool restaurant.

As noted in Dwell magazine, the expansive bar adds to the “dynamic yet refined design language…marries sophistication and fun into a true embodiment of the Mi Vida experience.”

Architects desired an organic shape with textured surface accents and an intricate edge profile. During the design phase, we were presented with an elaborate four-inch molding as the desired edge profile. We used the straight molding as a plug to make rubber edge molds to facilitate the curved shape of the bar. The pieces had many tight elements that made casting very difficult. The elaborate edge required considerable post-casting handwork, time, and attention to fill the tiny casting voids.

Mi Vida’s main bar is a 156+SF rectangular precast bar with a lowered ADA section and recessed drink rails. The glass fiber-reinforced concrete bar tops boast textured veining throughout the surface. These accents were voids created in molds (see progress photos), then filled imperfectly, honed, and sealed to create the feel of an ‘arroyo’ or river washout. The elaborate edge is four inches tall and runs the entire 60+ feet of customer-facing bar counter. Great attention to detail was needed to ensure the edge profile crossed over the joints perfectly.

The result is a stunning marriage between casting complexity and hand-textured finishes that provide Mi Vida’s clients with a fantastic and tactile experience at the bar. The architects are thrilled: “The bar serves as a central feature that draws the eye and integrates seamlessly.”