Renovating a historic building without completely changing its essence is not an easy task. GANA Arquitectura knows this all too well, as they tried their hand at restructuring Cheers, a bar in the heart of Malaga whose patio spills into the plaza of the Catedral de la Encarnación. There were general changes made to the interior in order to make the spaces more flowing. The architects’ choice to keep part of Cheers intact, concentrating only on the dining room, was a winner. They made the space more modern by using glulam to create a decorative screen, and a coloured lighting system that changes shades, creating different atmospheres. The dark wood bar and furnishings were maintained, and the different spaces have a mix of wide, pale hardwood flooring and traditional ceramic inserts as their unifying factor. Cheers continues to be a lively destination for Malaga’s nightlife; as the sun goes down over the city centre’s streets, and they fill with people looking for friendship and fun, a stop in Plaza del Obispo is obligatory!