Satelliet-Browns has announced the winner of the Student Design Challenge 2009.

The firm, one of the country's leading furniture supplier to the leisure industry, challenged interior design students from all over the UK to design a modern bar by taking their pick of the spectacular range of furnishings in the firm's new UK Catalogue.

University of Glamorgan student Rebecca Groves won the competition with her ultra modern entry, The Matrix Bar.

Rebecca's futuristic design includes a 'wall' of green laser beams and a 15ft high piece of modern sculpture made up of tub chairs welded together.

Satelliet-Browns MD Harvey Ockrim said: "Rebecca's entry really stood out in a very strong field, and not just because of its stunning visual effects.


"She listed her influences as the Oscar winning sci-fi thriller the Matrix and architect Daniel Libeskind's unique angular designs for buildings like the Jewish Museum.

"It's an unlikely combination, but you can see them in her work, and the end result is a bar that stops you in your tracks."

Rebecca's futuristic Matrix Bar will influence the construction of the New Designers Bar at Bar 09, at Earls Court 2, London on June 23 & 24.

Harvey Ockrim added: "The team building the New Designer Bar will face a real challenge incorporating Rebecca’s concepts, and I can't wait to see the end result."

This year’s Student Design Challenge attracted 24 entries from universities and colleges around the country.

The students had to design a modern lounge bar and furnish it from the current Satelliet-Browns catalogue.

Among the furnishings Rebecca chose were: the Athos 2-seater lounge sofas, Feyt 2-seater lounge sofas, Wow luminous low stools, Eros tub dining chairs, Flute chrome table bases, and Inox Multifunctional Glass Tables.

Rebecca said: "I was absolutely thrilled to win the Design Challenge. Some of my ideas sound really off the wall, but I think they are practical as well as eye-catching.

"The wall of green laser beams for instance creates a mental barrier to the outside surroundings, whilst still allowing physical access into the bar."

Now all Rebecca needs is for Keanu Reeves, star of the Matrix to drop in for a drink when her designs become reality during Bar 09.

(GK/JM)