Steampunk breathes new life into entertainment
Gerhard Mohrmann's love of whiskey and his passion for welding and making furniture prompted him to establish the Steampunk Factory, as well as the Steampunk Bar & Lounge, which opened its doors on Friday.Steampunk is a subgenre of science fiction that borrows heavily from concepts of fantasy and retrofuturistic technology. The aesthetic values associated with the steampunk genre mainly display parts of cars and machinery from the 19th century that were powered by steam, and are also influenced by fashions from other periods such as the Victorian era, he says.
"Years ago I redid my motorcycle under a tree in my yard, but it was a struggle with the dust and the leaves and then already I thought if I could rent a warehouse with some friends, it could work. The idea took shape and I thought it would be nice if we could have a braai and a fridge with a few drinks. I wanted to make a 'man cave'," Gerhard says.
Later, when his son Bernhard was left without income, he decided it was the ideal time to realise his ideas.
Gerhard rented two warehouses - one in which furniture, masks and hats are created and decorated so that they are reminiscent of the steampunk aesthetic. The other warehouse has been filled with several of his creations and is now a unique hangout in the capital where visitors can enjoy jazz and the blues as well as an excellent whiskey.
Gerhard says he orders whiskeys from abroad when he travels overseas for work.
And now customers can enjoy this whiskey at the Steampunk Bar & Lounge. "We are in Namibia, so there will also be Afrikaans music," says Gerhard.
About two years ago, he started hosting whiskey-tasting events at his home for friends and acquaintances. It was here that his concept has gained momentum.
"My braai at home had a bar, so I invited people I knew over for whiskey-tasting nights, but you can't just bring everyone into your house.”
In June 2022, Gerhard asked himself why he wasn't getting the ball rolling and immediately started looking for a space in which his ideas could be channelled.
"We worked for almost a year to set everything up. It took eight months to get our fitness certificate and then another four months to get our liquor licence," he says.
His big dream is that the Steampunk Bar & Lounge will be a unique place where patrons can enjoy a good whiskey and a great evening out," Gerhard says.
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