Abstract
H.R. Giger, an artist frequently recognized for his design presence in the Alien movies, created numerous bars that seek to rebel against current trends of relaxing escapism. They encourage anxiety rather than comfort, and force patrons to be accountable for their actions. An examination of architectural therapy, bar trends, anxiety, and spatial construction yield a consistent support of the artist’s history and intent. By analyzing the artist’s life and influences, as well as his body of work, this paper submits the Giger bars are the culmination of his spatial design efforts, which began with two-dimensional images and moved into three-dimensional furniture and set design, incorporating the uncanny and the sublime with his hyper-realistic horror aesthetic.