July/August 2013
Good enough to eat A family home in Quebec Toronto’s magical Momofuku Hitting the sweet spot at Fritzy’s Best new stuff for the kitchen
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July/August 2013
Official publication of the Interior Designers of Canada
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COVER — 22 Terrace as semi-outdoor retreat, by Montreal designer René Desjardins. Photo by André Doyon
Contents FEATURES 42
To Taste ALL IN THE FAMILY — 22 Just north of Montreal, veteran designer René Desjardins creates a cool, calm and kid-friendly interior for La maison du boisé. By Rhys Phillips
DEPARTMENTS
STACKED— 29 Within architect James K.M. Cheng’s huge glass “ice cube” looming over Toronto’s University Avenue, The Design Agency creates the multi-level Momofuku restaurant. By Leslie C. Smith
THE GOODS — 14 The “in” kitchen The latest in suites and systems, faucets and fridges, ovens and more. By Michael Totzke
SUGAR HIGH — 36 Toronto-based Prototype Design Lab locates the sweet spot at Fritzy’s, purveyor of “frozen yogurt & tasty treats.” By Leslie C. Smith
LAST WORD — 42 In stitches Branding Toronto’s Patria restaurant the Biography Design way. By Michael Totzke
INSIDE — 9 WHAT’S UP — 10
14
WHO’S WHO — 40
July/AUgust 2013 CANADIAN INTERIORS 7
July/August 2013 VOL.50 NO.4
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80 Valleybrook Drive toronto, oN M3B 2s9 telephone 416-442-5600 Facsimile 416-510-5140 Canadian Interiors magazine is published by BIG Magazines LP, a division of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd. Tel: 416-442-5600, Fax: 416-510-6875 e-mail: info@canadianinteriors.com website: www.canadianinteriors.com Canadian Interiors publishes seven issues, plus a source guide, per year. Printed in Canada. The content of this publication is the property of Canadian Interiors and cannot be reproduced without permission from the publisher. Subscription rates Canada $38.95 per year; plastic wrapped $41.95 per year (plus taxes) U.S.A. $71.95 US per year, Overseas $98.95 US per year. Back issues Back copies are available for $10 for delivery in Canada, $15 US for delivery in U.S.A. and $20 overseas. Please send payment to Canadian Interiors, 80 Valley brook Drive, Toronto, ON M3B 2S9 or order online www.canadianinteriors.com For subscription and back issues inquiries please call 416-442-5600 ext.3543, e-mail: circulation@canadianinteriors.com, or go to our website at: www.canadianinteriors.com Newsstands For information on Canadian Interiors on newsstands in Canada, call 905-619-6565 Canadian Interiors is indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index by Micromedia ProQuest Company, Toronto (www.micromedia.com) and National Archive Publishing Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan (www.napubco.com).
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Inside
Culinary delights “Not much meat on her, but what’s there is cherce.” so says spencer tracy as Brooklyn sports promoter Mike Conovan of Katharine Hepburn’s sportswoman Patricia “Pat” Pemberton in the 1952 comedy Pat and Mike. the same could be said of this issue: on the slender side, yes, but nourishing nevertheless. gracing the cover is, in the words of associate editor Rhys Phillips, “an elegant interpretation of a historic seigneurial manor’s summer kitchen, a semi-outdoor retreat during warm summer months after one of Montreal’s long cold winters.” Delicious, as is the rest of the La maison du boise’s cool, calm and kid-friendly interior – concocted by veteran designer René Desjardins – including the main kitchen, “the true heart of the house.” you’ll find Rhys’s piece, “All in the family,” on page 22. Associate editor leslie C. smith serves up two “courses”: the Design Agency’s inventive, all-across-Asia interiors for the multi-level Momofuku restaurant in toronto (“stacked,” page 29); and Prototype Design lab’s sweet set-up for Fritzy’s, purveyor of “frozen yogurt & tasty treats,” also in toronto (“sugar high,” page 36). says leslie, “I was fascinated by the way the designers of both Fritzy’s and Momofuku raised the level of sensory excitement through a variety of visual cues: energetic lights and candy colours on the one hand, sheer spectacle on the other.” My last Word in this issue examines Biography Design’s main branding initiative for Patria, a spanish restaurant in toronto: a two-level, cross-stitch mural that is a marvel of design and execution (“In stitches,” page 42). Rounding out the issue’s culinary package is my roundup of great new stuff for the kitchen (”the ‘in’ kitchen,” page 14). Bon appétit. c I Michael totzke mtotzke@canadianinteriors.com
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What’s Up
Three men and a Bunkie 608 Design’s Evan Bare (top) joined forces with Nathan Buhler (above) and Jorge Torres (left) of BLDG Workshop to form the Bunkie Company - responding to a need for overflow living in cottage country and the city.
JULY/AUG Eye on IIDEX Building on the success of last year’s collaboration, the IDC (Interior Designers of Canada) and Architecture Canada | RAIC are again co-presenting IIDEX Canada, a.k.a. Canada’s National Design + Architecture Exposition & Conference. For the past 29 years, IIDEX Canada has been the country’s most comprehensive expo and conference for the design, construction and management of the built environment. Offering trade professionals – working in all areas of design – the latest products, education and networking opportunities, IIDEX Canada promises to be bigger and better than ever in 2013. The show’s multidisciplinary focus continues to expand with the addition of the International Union of Architects/Public Health Group (UIA/PHG) Forum to IIDEX. This is the first time the prestigious international forum has been held in Canada, with speakers from 26 coun10 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/AUgust 2013
tries and an expected attendance of 200 leading architects and designers. To complement the influx of healthcare design professionals, IIDEX has enlarged the Healthcare Design Expo for 2013. IIDEX comprises eight additional expos-within-theexpo, covering a multitude of subjects: Lighting, Hospitality Canada, Architecture Canada, Landscape Architecture, Textile Design, Retail Design, Workplace Design and Material World. Brand-new attractions abound in 2013, including the half-dozen major ones outlined in these pages.
“The Bunkie”” is the world debut of a full-scale functional Bunkie at IIDEX. Designed by the Bunkie Company’s Evan Bare (of 608 Design), Nathan Buhler and Jorge Torres (both of BLDG Workshop), it’s a fusion of furniture design and architecture. The Bunkie’s interior maximizes the potential for small spaces by designing for three modes: Sleep, Play and Open. With a construction methodology that allows it to be entirely prefabricated as a complex jigsaw puzzle and shipped flat-packed to site, this Bunkie is a highly functional, transformative space in
elegant form. “IIDEX Woodshop” is a timely response to the devastation caused by the emerald ash borer to ash trees in Toronto. The exhibit draws attention to the issue, placing an emphasis on its cause due to globalization. Further, it showcases creative ways to use a material that would otherwise end up in landfill – with prototypes by 10 established and five emerging Toronto-based designers, collected through a juried competition. Confirmed designers include Brothers Dressler, Heidi Earnshaw, Rob Southcott Studio, Karen King Continued on page 12
Left Mason Studio investigates “glamping.” Right A piece by Brothers Dressler, taking part in “IIDEX Woodshop.”
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What’s Up
Clockwise from centre Glenn Pushelberg and George Yabu; Ilena Weitzman; Charles Renfro; Luca Nichetto; David Webster; A. Conger Goodyear House (1939) by Edward Durrell Stone, photographed by Andrew Moore.
Continued from page 10 and Scott Eunson Studio. “IIDEX Glamping” examines that hot new trend, a blend of glamour and camping, prized by those who want to commune with nature but not quite rough it. Toronto’s Mason Studio offers a custom-designed, interactive campground: an urban getaway fusing the great Canadian outdoors and the modern comforts of the great indoors. “Déjà Vu” by Tracy Pepe is a sensorial exhibit that shows the viewer how to experience a space with his or her eyes, nose, mouth fingers and ears: “smelling colour, seeing music, hearing shapes and feeling taste.” Pepe, creator of 2012’s innovative “YSmell Project,” is the principal of Nose Knows Design. 12 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/AUgust 2013
The subtitle for “Modernism at Risk” is “Modern solutions for saving modern landmarks.” Sponsored by the World Monuments Fund with support from Knoll, it features an exhibit of large-scale images by noted photographer Andrew Moore and interpretative panels with five case studies exploring the role designers play in preserving Modern landmarks. All five are fascinating: ADGB Trade Union School (1930), Bernau, Germany, by Hannes Meyer and Hans Wittwer; A. Conger Goodyear House (1939), Old Westbury, New York, by Edward Durrell Stone; Grosse Pointe Public Library (1954), Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, by Marcel Breuer; Riverview High School (1958), Sarasota, Florida, by Paul Rudolph; and Kent
Memorial Library (1972), Suffield, Connecticut, by Warren Platner. The “International Pavilion” expands for 2013. For the second year, it features leading Italian and international export-ready brands not represented in Canada or North America. More than 25 companies from Italy and Europe will launch their products at IIDEX this year. The pavilion itself is designed by Milan/Toronto architects Enrico Glauco Cleva and Sara Viarengo; it includes over 2,000 square feet of exhibit space, a lounge, an exhibit of Moleskine’s new Millbook photobooks, and Swipe Design Books. The four “IIDEX Keynotes” this year are particularly well chosen. Delivering the Design Keynote (“The Power of the Dream Team”) is Luca Nichetto, founder, Nichetto & Partners in Venice, Italy. Collaborating with a wide variety of Italian and international companies, Nichetto produces award-winning work ranging from furniture and interiors to glassware and textiles. He will share his insights on successfully collaborating with key allied pros, which he refers to collectively as the “Dream Team”: architects, interior designers, product designers and lighting designers. Delivering the Architecture Keynote (”Looking; Glass”) is Charles Renfro, partner, Diller Scofidio + Renfro in New York. Renfro is partner-in-charge of numerous projects by the acclaimed architecture firm. He will show how glass has become the single most influential material in the contemporary city, taking listeners on a bottom–up journey through two of DS+R’s notable projects undertaken within existing New York buildings: The Brasserie, located in the Seagram Building – perhaps the
best-known glass building in the world; and the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Delivering the Healthcare Keynote (“A Call to the Action Through the Power of Design”) is David Webster, partner, IDEO. Webster will show how his global firm – which takes a human-centred approach to helping clients make a difference for patients, the people in their lives and healthcare professionals – looks at health and wellness through a broad lens. In addition to the physical space, he looks at many other dimensions of the user experience, including digital aspects, service, communications and products. The Hospitality Keynote (“Checking Into the World: Innovative Hotel Design with George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg”) takes the form of a discussion with the partners of design firm Yabu Pushelberg and Ilana Weitzman, editor-inchief of Air Canada’s enRoute magazine. With offices in New York and Toronto, Yabu Pushelberg creates timeless designs worldwide; since its first hospitality project with Four Seasons in Tokyo, the firm has been pushing the boundaries of hotel design around the globe. The design duo will explain how strategic design can help hotels evolve to meet the needs of today’s traveller. All this plus hundreds of innovative products and services; a full roster of awards ceremonies and exhibits; CEU-accredited seminars; receptions, tours and other networking opportunities. Hope to see you there: please drop by the Canadian Interiors booth. Held at Toronto’s Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, IIDEX Canada runs Sept. 26-27. For more information, visit iidexcanada.com. c I
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GATEWAY
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The Goods
The “in” kitchen
Precisely Panasonic Canada is introducing a new suite of kitchen appliances: a high-performance Induction Cooktop and a Built-in Convection Oven. The cooktop features a sleek black surface with electrostatic glass touch technology and brushed stainless-steel frame. When turned on, its cooking zones and control panel glow a vibrant blue. The convection oven features a state-of-the-art twin-fan system with an additional heating element, so hot air is continuously circulated to maintain a consistent temperature; eight cooking modes help ensure the desired results. The oven’s electrostatic touch control and temperature display also glow blue. panasonic.ca
The latest in suites and systems, faucets and fridges, ovens and more. —By Michael Totzke
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Metris
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With five distinct faucet heights, Metris is as versatile as the ways we use water. Varied faucet heights empower the user with a range of possibilities. Metris allows you to find the faucet height that suits your individual needs — from washing your hands to washing your hair. Hansgrohe has a name for this extra personal space: ComfortZone. Discover Metris at hansgrohe.ca.
Š 2013 Hansgrohe, Inc.
Comfort at all levels.
The Goods
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1-Two tones The new Fuse Collection from Delta Faucet provides colour in unexpected places, with its split-finish, pull-down kitchen faucet. Fuse’s stainless-steel finish is paired with Cracked Pepper, Chili Pepper or Snowflake White accents. deltafaucet.ca
3-Reaching out Designed by longtime Dornbracht collaborator Sieger Design, Pivot is the latest addition to the German company’s Tara Ultra series. Deck-mounted and ideal for kitchen islands, the articulated combination faucet and pot filler has an unusually long arm projection. dornbracht.com
2-Quiet, please The new Bosch 800 Plus dishwasher is touted as “the quietest dishwasher in North America.” As sleek as it is silent and built to last (thanks to the strict standards of German engineering), the 800 Plus encompasses a flexible third rack that can free up space in lower racks. Design options include recessed handle, bar handle, flush handle and custom panel. bosch-home.ca
4-Modern art Moen’s new Align suite – comprising single-handle standard and pull-down kitchen faucets, plus pull-down bar/prep models – was designed with the style-savvy Gen Y-er in mind. Sleek and streamlined, Align faucets feature high-arc spouts that are complemented by geometric handles. Available in two finish options: Chrome and Spot Resist Stainless. moen.ca
5-High profile THG’s Primo Cuisine collection, with its practical high-arc design, provides the maximum clearance for larger pots and pans. Primo Cuisine encompasses six faucet models, offered in polished chrome or matt nickel. thgstyle.com
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The Goods
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1-Quack, quack Says famed Finnish interior designer Eero Aarnio of his Duck Timer for Alessi, “The idea of a bird figure used as an egg timer is a familiar concept because of the natural association between the two. My idea was to bring a fun and modern touch to this concept, and design an egg timer that would go well in any kitchen and maybe even brighten up a rainy day!” Available in yellow, black or white. alessi.com
2-All in one Boffi’s On/Off mono-block kitchen has been tweaked and refined, offering a more flexible design. The unique worktop area is concealed by folding doors, which open upward electronically. Designed by Alberto Colonello, On/Off can be complet18 CANADIAN INTERIORS JULY/AUGUST 2013
ed using taller modular units (mounted on the floor) and with other standard kitchen units (such as large-style North American refrigerators). The self-standing structure is made of 40mm-thick melamine-coated panels covered in white laminate. boffi.com
3-Italian dressing Diesel and Scavolini, two key proponents of Italian style worldwide, have joined forces to create the modern and modular Diesel Social Kitchen. It’s characterized by large sizes and simple, natural materials – wood, steel and glass – aged with special vintage treatments and processed together with metal. Shown here: a straight-line composition with tall fridge unit and base units of oak, in Indigo Tempera. scavolini.com
4-Perfect fit Bulthaup’s award-winning b3 drawerorganization system is based on simple linear planes, functional prisms and high-quality accessories. Each drawer interior is fitted with notched wood planes (available in five different woods, laid vertically or horizontally), into which the user can insert metal prisms and containers, wood knife blocks, glass jars, plates and storage containers – all easily changed at will. bulthaup.com
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The Goods 1
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1-Hot prospect Available in stainless steel or black glass, Wolf’s 30-inch E Series Built-in Oven features dual convection fans and 10 cooking modes. The built-in design allows the front of the oven to be installed flush with surrounding cabinetry – for a neat, integrated look. All models feature a tubular handle. subzero-wolf.com 2-Ice, ice baby Whirpool’s 5.0 cubic-foot Double Wall Oven uses a rear fan and a third 2,500watt heating element to distribute heated air more efficiently. Fitting seamlessly into a cabinet cutout, it’s part of the new Whirlpool White Ice collection (including wall oven, ranges, cooktops, microwaves, 20 CANADIAN INTERIORS JULY/AUGUST 2013
refrigerators and dishwashers), offering a break from uniform white, black and stainless steel. whirlpool.com 3-Big hearted The T9000, Samsung’s roomiest refrigerator, offers a variety of smart organizational features to help make the most of its large capacity. The refrigerator component, located on top for greater convenience, isn’t partitioned – opening up more space. samsung.com 4-The future is now LG’s new (deep breath) Smart ThinQ Super-Capacity 3-Door French Door Refrigerator, with 8-inch Wi-Fi LCD screen, allows you to monitor and control
it anytime, anywhere, using special apps (including LG’s own Food Manager app, as well as Memo, Google Calendar, Photo Album and Weather apps). Among the many useful features: the LCD screen tells you what’s inside and what’s about to expire. lg.com 5-Slim & trim Sub-Zero’s integrated products have no visible hinges or grilles, making them indistinguishable from the cabinets and drawers around them. The Sub-Zero 700TCI Refrigerator/Freezer features an upper-cabinet refrigerator with freezer storage drawers, as well as an icemaker. Its 27-inch width is ideal for the spacechallenged kitchen. subzero-wolf.com
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To Taste
All in the family Just north of Montreal, veteran designer René Desjardins creates a cool, calm and kid-friendly interior for La maison du boisé. —By Rhys Phillips
22 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/AUgust 2013
Photography by André Doyon
Above The core for this elegant yet child-friendly house is its doubleheight living room complete with a Bianco Carrara marble fireplace and overlooked by a second-storey mezzanine defined by a glass balustrade. Top right Violet chairs by Antonio Citterio for Maxalto "add an indispensable touch of dissonance," says the designer," much like grace notes in an overly serious score."
It has been at least three decades since the upstart heretics of postmodernism openly challenged the then-entrenched modernist theocracy. the battle that pitted Meis’s “less is more” against Robert Venturi’s “less is a bore” raged for a relatively short period as po-mo was appropriated into bland corporate architecture and irony proved a limited muse. But all was not in vain. Out of the debate came a realization that architecture was not about some zeitgeist but about creating appropriate tools to assist real human beings to dwell successfully. scale, texture, colour, materiality, a sense of place – even whimsy and historical continuity – emerged as legitimate underpinnings of successful contemporary design. the result has been the rise of a delightfully eclectic architecture and interior design that both represents its time and place while frequently borrowing, without irony, from what has worked in the past. Just such a project is La maison du boisé, a major house interior realized by veteran Montreal designer René
July/August 2013 CANADIAN INTERIORS 23
This page An expansive kitchen is the true heart of the house. White and grey walls and cabinets dominate, set off against dark chestnut flooring, but with a playful jolt of colour in the "hard-candy" mosaic backsplash. Opposite With its Spanish cedar panels and stone tiles, the semi-rustic terrace can be considered an elegant interpretation of a seigneurial manor's summer kitchen. State-of-the-art barbeque appliances sit in front of a glistening wall of one-inch-square stainless-steel tiles.
Desjardins for a young and decidedly growing family’s home on beautifully treed land just north of the city. the result is modern but not minimalist, sophisticated but solicitous to the playfulness of young children, and reserved in its neutral hues but alive with flashes of colour. Despite its contemporary core, there is more than a hint of classical framing in the moldings, entablature and coffered ceilings. Harmonious silk-grey walls play off rich dark sucupira (Brazilian chestnut) floors 24 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/August 2013
throughout. His approach, Desjardin says, dances between tired traditional design’s fondness for clutter and sterile minimalism’s “anorexia of design.” such an approach comes naturally to the seasoned designer whose initial degree was a Masters in Philosophy before his dislike of academic teaching sent him back for a design degree from the university of Quebec. “I have never paid attention to momentary fashion,” he tells me. “I like to listen to my heart.” But beyond this romantic ideal, he confesses, his philosophy
training has aided in achieving a balance in which aesthetic decisions can be analyzed, discussed and eventually explained rationally: “It is an approach that over time has encouraged clients to trust the decisions I make as a designer.” these particular clients, Desjardins says without restraint, were perhaps the easiest he has ever had. At the same time, the couple, both working pharmacists, also had very clear objectives. she wanted colour; he sought timelessness, “a design that would last indefinitely.”
But the overwhelming concern for both was how the house would accommodate children. At the start of the design process, there were two with one on the way; but this has now mushroomed to three – plus twins expected soon! Family was paramount. But for Desjardins, a child-friendly house is not about producing cloyingly cozy space stuffed with objects and overburdened with colours. “What do children need?” he asks rhetorically and answers promptly: “They want space with
the room to run and jump.” The core for this elegant yet child-friendly house is its double-height living room complete with a Bianco Carrara marble fireplace and overlooked by a broad, second-storey mezzanine defined by a glass balustrade. But it is the striking floor-to-ceiling glazed wall that pulls in the colours and textures of the site’s splendid natural landscape that truly animates the space. The children are more than welcome to use this “great room” as a play area in which, he says, the stylish Italian Flex-
form sofas can act as forts or in the service of other capers. A slim wood rocking chair, reminiscent of classical Danish design but crafted in Quebec, is the preferred spot for breast-feeding under the soft glow of Hope, Luceplan’s new globe chandelier. The living room gives onto a formal dining room equally defined by cool whites and greys but most significantly by two glazed walls opening to the trees. But the true heart of the house is the adjacent kitchen. While reminiscent in its July/AUgust 2013 CANADIAN INTERIORS 25
expansive size of traditional Quebecois kitchens that served as the family’s social vortex, it is a sleek and modern iteration save for a touch of traditional ceiling moldings. Again, white and grey walls and cabinetry dominate, set off against dark, rich chestnut flooring, but with a playful jolt of colour in the “hard-candy” mosaic backsplash. A huge quartz-topped island with five upholstered stools from Herman Miller seems poised to eventually accommodate five kids bent over their 26 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/AUgust 2013
homework, while mom and dad prepare dinner with built-in, high-end appliances from Bosch, Sub-Zero and Wolf. Or, they may play a board game around the large kitchen table surrounded on three sides with padded banquettes and tucked into a nook overlooking the terrace. The terrace itself can be considered an elegant interpretation of a historic seigneurial manor’s summer kitchen, a semi-outdoor retreat during warm summer months after one of Montreal’s
long cold winters. But just to be on the safe side, this quasi-rustic space with Spanish cedar panels and stone tiles has a heated ceiling, screens against bugs, transparent windscreens and state-ofthe-art barbeque appliances. The last sits in front of a glistening wall of one-inchsquare stainless-steel tiles. Philippe Starck’s ubiquitous Louis Ghost chairs in mauvish Plexiglas counterpoint a large, very weighty wood farm table. The intent, says Desjardins, is to generate a “contrast
This page and opposite top The child-welcoming theme extends to the parents' second-floor bedroom, with a large furnished area tucked into a corner with glazed walls opening into the trees. All artwork in the house is from the province's vibrant art scene, including the very large scratchboard piece by Quebec artist Stephen Spadzuk. Opposite bottom In the master bathroom, sleek partitions of plum frosted glass (concealing the water closet and shower) "add a youthful blush to the Grigio Fior di Pesco marble," says Desjardins.
of strong/delicate, smooth/rough and massive/transparency [that] yields an exemplary modernism that stands the test of time.” the child-welcoming theme extends to the parents’ second-floor bedroom, with a large furnished area tucked into a corner with glazed walls opening into the trees. like the rest of the house the colour scheme is quiet, the floor rich sucupira and the ceiling coffered, albeit with a cheeky chandelier. But the corner lounge
with its contemporary yet comfortable seating is intended for snuggling through story time. the bedroom also boasts a very large scratchboard artwork by Quebec artist stephen spadzuk. While this graphic work of etched images introduces only muted colour, other artwork in the house, all from the province’s vibrant art scene, is a key vehicle for introducing the client’s insistence on strong splashes of colour. using art, along with exposure to the
outside, is the designer’s preferred approach to introducing colour. this has been extended, however, to three glass panel doors of blue, yellow and plum in the bathrooms as well as violet Maxalto chairs in the dining room. La maison du boisé succeeds as an expression of an apparent oxymoron: child-friendly elegance. c I
July/August 2013 CANADIAN INTERIORS 27
93 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 77 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 96 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 80 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 65 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 99 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 84 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 68 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 19 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 02 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 87 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 71 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 19 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 05 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 90 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 74 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 19 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 08 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 93 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 77 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 19 1997 97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1 1982 982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 96 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 80 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 65 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 99 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 84 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 68 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 19 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 02 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 87 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 71 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 19 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 05 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 90 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 74 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 19 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 08 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 93 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 77 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 19 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 96 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 80 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 65 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 99 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 83 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2 2003 003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 67 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 19 1987 87 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 01 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 86 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2 2006 006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 70 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 19 1990 90 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 04 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 89 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 73 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 19 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 07 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 92 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 76 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 19 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 10 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 95 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 79 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 19 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 64 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 19 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 98 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 82 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 20 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 67 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 19 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 01 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 86 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 70 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 19 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 04 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 88 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 72 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 06 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 91 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 75 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 09 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 94 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 design magazine 78 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992Canada’s 1993 1994 longest-running 1995 1996 1997 1998interior 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 and offi cial magazine of the national association 97 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 81 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995of1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001is2002 2003 2004 its 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 interior designers, IDC, celebrating 66 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 50th anniversary with a very special 00 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 November 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 85 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 issue, featuring a 50-year retrospective 69 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 of 1969 Canadian design. 03 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 88 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 72 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 06 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 For 1996 advertising please contact 91 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001mspreer@canadianinteriors.com 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 75 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 09 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 93 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 20011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 77 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 011 2012 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994
50th Anniversary Issue
To Taste
s
tacked
1973 1974 1975 06 2007 2008 2009 991 1992 1993 1994 1976 1977 1978 09 2010 20011 2012 94 1995 1996 1997 1979 1980 1981 1982 1964 1965 1966 97 1998 1999 2000 982 1983 1984 1985 1967 1968 1969 00 2001 2002 2003 985 1986 1987 1988 1970 1971 1972 03 2004 2005 2006 988 1989 1990 1991 1973 1974 1975 06 2007 2008 2009 991 1992 1993 1994 1976 1977 1978 09 2010 20011 2012 94 1995 1996 1997 1979 1980 1981 1982 1964 1965 1966 97 1998 1999 2000 982 1983 1984 1985 1967 1968 1969 00 2001 2002 2003 985 1986 1987 1988 1970 1971 1972 03 2004 2005 2006 988 1989 1990 1991 1973 1974 1975 06 2007 2008 2009 991 1992 1993 1994 1976 1977 1978 09 2010 20011 2012 94 1995 1996 1997 1979 1980 1981 2012 1964 1965 96 1997 1998 1999 1981 1982 1983 1984 1966 1967 1968 99 2000 2001 2002 984 1985 1986 1987 1969 1970 1971 02 2003 2004 2005 987 1988 1989 1990 1972 1973 1974 05 2006 2007 2008 990 1991 1992 1993 1975 1976 1977 08 2009 2010 20011 93 1994 1995 1996 1978 1979 1980 011 2012 1964 1965 96 1997 1998 1999 1981 1982 1983 1984 1966 1967 1968 99 2000 2001 2002 1984 1985 1986 1968 1969 1970 01 2002 2003 2004 986 1987 1988 1989 1971 1972 1973 04 2005 2006 2007 989 1990 1991 1992 1974 1975 1976 07 2008 2009 2010 992 1993 1994 1995 1977 1978 1979 10 20011 2012 1964 95 1996 1997 1998 1980 1981 1982 1983 1965 1966 1967 98 1999 2000 2001 983 1984 1985 1986 1968 1969 1970 01 2002 2003 2004 986 1987 1988 1989 1971 1972 1973 04 2005 2006 2007 1989 1990 1991 Photography by Bob gundu 1973 1974 1975 06 2007 2008 2009 991 1992 1993 1994
Within architect James K.M. Cheng’s huge glass “ice cube” looming over toronto’s university Avenue, the Design Agency creates the multi-level Momofuku restaurant. —By leslie C. smith
e
July/August 2013 CANADIAN INTERIORS 29
You can’t miss Momofuku, both figuratively and literally. Launched in October 2012, the four-stage noodle-bar restaurant, part of a New York/Sydney micro-chain run by celebrity chef David Chang, sits in a huge, bevelled glass “ice cube” (designed by architect James K.M. Cheng) protruding cheekily from the northeast side of Toronto’s new Shangri-La Hotel. Looming over the downtown boulevard of University Avenue, it stands apart from its staid surroundings of neat grass strips, by-thebook buildings and commemorative statues to the Boer War. Although technically located at 190 University Avenue, everyone
oodle
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ar
b
30 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/AUgust 2013
knows it as the place with the stainless steel dragon outside. This huge, 33-foot-tall, 65-foot-long outdoor sculpture stands at the base of the building and rises partway up the glass cube: a writhing, twisting, silvered vine somewhat resembling the mythical Chinese beast, covered in scores of leaf clusters that on closer inspection reveal themselves as a swirling flock of rock doves (a.k.a. pigeons). Named “Rising” and created by Chinese artist Zhang Huan, its showy presence plays counterpoint to the actual restaurant entrance, which is small, to one side and minimal in impact – just a white oak double
Below The main-floor Noodle Bar consciously references the U-shaped gallery on the second floor and the squared-off, communal seating of old Chinese caravan inns. “Ramen-noodle” walls and a rust-patina steel bridge and bulkheads, along with angular Escher-inspired stairs, stir up extra visual attention. Right A designer’s schematic etched beside the elevator indicates the positioning of Momofuku’s four entertainment areas stretched over four floors.
door with an artificial “live edge” wave down its centre. Designers Anwar Mekhayech and Allen Chan, co-partners with Matt Davis in the Toronto-based studio The Design Agency, appear to have riffed on the sculpture’s name and organic-yet-not-organic styling, bringing these elements into play in Momofuku’s 6,600-square-foot interior as well, along with a single stainless-steel pigeon carefully placed by the artist himself above the second-floor gallery. In particular, the pair built the space’s four separate entertainment areas upwards in aspiration, starting with the everyday accessibility of the main-floor Noodle Bar; moving up to the shoji-screened Nikai bar/lounge; and, finally, reaching the stunning apogee of the third-floor Daisho¯ dining room and Shoto ¯ ¯ open-concept kitchen. These Japanese names, along with the chain’s saucy title (Momofuku means “lucky peach” in Japanese – but sounds like July/AUgust 2013 CANADIAN INTERIORS 31
aisho¯
d
32 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/AUgust 2013
This page Wooden shoji screens done up in an offbeat Mondrian pattern can be used to separate the second-floor, public-access gallery from private parties in the Nikai bar/lounge. Jazzy white-oak strips, with open slits here and there for a peek-a-boo effect, give Nikai an energetic vibe. Opposite Patrons in - are the third-floor Daisho treated to the novelty of a huge oak-finned cube floating above their heads, plus an unimpeded, panoramic view of downtown Toronto. Excel chandeliers and floor lamps, resembling a string of Japanese taiko drums, provide a softened glow during the daytime and dramatic lighting at night.
ikai
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something else in English – and pays homage to Momofuku Ando, the TaiwaneseJapanese inventor of instant ramen) are part of what you might call the ”SpanAsian” influence noticeable in both the restaurant’s food and its design. The Noodle Bar’s square, double-height dimensions, with communal seating below and stairways on two sides leading to a bridged,
U-shaped gallery above, consciously reference old Chinese caravan inns, the kind to be seen in such movies as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and The Inn of the Sixth Happiness. The idea of cubes stacked within cubes – especially prominent in the third-floor dining area – echo the stepped pagodas of Korea, chef Chang’s own home country. And the ribs of white
oak veneer that encircle the third-floor interior floating cube, along with the wooden strips decorating the walls and ceiling of the first two storeys, suggest giant ramen noodles, a staple food throughout the Asiatic region and a growing one in North America. The kitchen – or rather kitchens – is king here, and Chang was instrumental in their design and placement. Each floor has July/AUgust 2013 CANADIAN INTERIORS 33
its own open cookery (a fourth, back-of-thehouse kitchen sits secluded on the basement level), making meal preparation part of the sensory entertainment. The thirdfloor Shoto ¯ ¯ dining area is the most intimate instance of this: islanded behind the Daisho¯ bar in what is essentially a high-gloss black cube, chefs work a central galley, handing off freshly made tasting-menu dishes to patrons seated at the surrounding
black-granite counter. But, ultimately, it is Daisho¯ dining room out front, with its 40-foot-tall glass face turned towards University Avenue, that truly impresses. Inside this ice-cube container floats another huge cube (within which, incidentally, lies the hotel’s swimming pool). White paint and horizontal white oak ribbing visually decrease its bulk. More white oak used as bottom
panelling provides a human-proportioned dropped ceiling over the bar, while still leaving diners with a stunning panoramic cityscape and the impression that they too are floating over the downtown scene. c I
hoto ¯ ¯
s
-Taste of the town Shoto sits on the other side of - wine-fridge wall, Daisho’s a glossy, black-granite inner sanctum encasing an open chef’s gallery. Guests seated on high Catenary bar stools from Brooklynbased Token are invited to imbibe while sampling a daily tasting menu.
34 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/AUgust 2013
To Taste
Sugar high Toronto-based Prototype Design Lab locates the sweet spot at Fritzy’s, purveyor of “frozen yogurt & tasty treats.” —By Leslie C. Smith
36 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/AUgust 2013
Photography by Alex Soloviev
Sweet! The tunnel-like space offered Prototype Design’s Brenda Izen only 800 square feet to play with. She painted and lino-tiled it creamy white and light grey, then added a strong punch of candy-apple red and bright turquoise, the store’s logo colours, in stools and countertops. Scores of backlit plastic strips set in random streaks along the walls and ceiling, vividly coloured in fuchsia, apple green, azure and orange, offer a rush of exhilaration.
July/AUgust 2013 CANADIAN INTERIORS 37
small is all right with Prototype Design lab. the 11-person office, headquartered in toronto, does handle large industrial assignments but, says associate Brenda Izen, the Prototype team particularly relishes small-scale projects, “because we can control and custom-design all the elements.” One such project was Fritzy’s, a family-operated yogurt shop that opened in 2012 on spadina Road in toronto’s tony Forest Hill Village. the pre-existing space offered the young design lead only 800 square feet to play with – footage that ran in a long, narrow line from store-front to back. looking at this shotgun configuration, and thinking over the client directive for “a fun place where young high-schoolers could go on a date,” Izen found four images reoccurring to her, images that she presented in photo form to the owners: “the first was a sort of psychedelic effect, similar to blurred traffic patterns in a long exposure. then images of candy, a carnival, and an old-time soda-fountain counter.” these themes were deliberately turned loose in a modernistic mash-up of motifs, with custom steel-and-Corian tables and chairs running down one side of the shop’s
38 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/August 2013
centre aisle and a powdercoated steel counter down the opposing side, kitschy red diner stools bolted in place along its length. the tunnel-like space, painted and lino-tiled creamy white and light grey, received a strong punch of candy-apple red and bright turquoise – the store’s logo colours – in the “carnival booths” of rectangular countertop with overhead return that made up, respectively, the back service bar and front eat-in area. “Everything was built to be interlocking and linear,” Izen says. “It’s a narrow, straight space, almost like a tube, and I wanted to accentuate that feature.” Adding greatly to this effect were scores of backlit plastic strips, vividly coloured in fuchsia, apple green, azure and orange, set in random streaks along the walls and ceiling. A metallic mirrored wall at the back of the shop reflected these lights into infinity. With a focal point fixated beyond the furthest reaches of the shop’s interior, customers couldn’t help but be mesmerically drawn in towards the self-serve frozen yogurt machines and bulk candy dispensers at the very back. these kinetic, almost frenetic, streaks of coloured light were designed to give
rise to several curious sensations: general exhilaration, a vague disorientation (“It gives you a bit of a high, like a sugar rush,” says Izen) and, most of all, the feeling that you’re careening through space, as if on a carnival ride. thus, perhaps, the reassuring anchorage of stools bolted to the floor. It was a great place, and one that had already attracted attention from the design press. then the owners decided to move their family business to Aurora, just north of toronto. Fritzy’s yogurt on spadina has since morphed into a Freshii vegetarian franchise and the decor, including the light streaks, has gone green, too. Fritzy’s yogurt on Wellington street East, Aurora, has tried hard with Izen’s help to recreate the gaudy, hyper atmosphere of the original. But without the original’s awkward-to-work-with-yetultimately-worthwhile tubular dimensions, a bit of the fun has gone missing in action. c I
Tripping Four reoccurring “images” inspired the final design: psychedelia, candy, a carnival, and an old-time soda-fountain counter.
listen up All keynotes talks are free and presented in the Keilhauer Keynote Theatre.
Healthcare Keynote:
DAVID WEBSTER
IDEO Partner Global Health + Wellness Practice THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 11:00AM–12:00PM
Design Keynote:
LUCA NICHETTO
Luca Nichetto Design Studio, Stockholm Nichetto & Partners, Venice
CANADA’S NATIONAL DESIGN + ARCHITECTURE EXPOSITION & CONFERENCE
IDC & RAIC PRESENT
IIDEX CANADA
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 4:00PM-5:00PM
Architecture Keynote:
CHARLES RENFRO Principal Diller Scofidio + Renfro
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 11:00AM–12:00PM
Hospitality Keynotes:
GEORGE YABU + GLENN PUSHELBERG Partners, Yabu Pushelberg
Moderator: Ilana Weitzman Editor-in-Chief, Air Canada’s enRoute Magazine FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2:00PM–3:30PM CANADA
IIDEXCANADA.COM #IIDEX13 HAPPENING AT THE DIRECT ENERGY CENTRE, TORONTO
SEPT 26–27, 2013 PRODUCED BY PRODUCED BY
Who’s Who
1
2
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DIAMOND’S SOIREE SPARKLES Ever since Stonehenge, the longest day of the year has spurred party-givers into action. Diamond Schmitt Architects (DSA) hosted its annual Summer Solstice Party on the 28th – my, how tempus fugits! – at Evergreen Brick Works.
4
The longest day —Text and photos by David Lasker
LOUBOUTIN LOOMS LARGE
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40 CANADIAN INTERIORS July/AUgust 2013
5
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Don’t bother scheduling your wedding reception, corporate bash or bar mitzvah at the Design Exchange’s Trading Floor for the next little while. The place has been utterly transformed by the most lavish exhibition the DX has ever mounted, “Christian Louboutin at the Design Exchange” – a travelling show from London’s Design Museum about the stellar shoe designer that includes 250-plus shoes, sketches and a facsimile of his Paris atelier. 1—Identical-twin fashionistas Samantha and Caillianne Beckerman of Beckerman Bite Plate Blog flank the guest of honour – affably agreeable about posing for photos with his euphoric, thronging fans. 2—Interior decorators Steven Sabados and Chris Hyndman, stars of CBC TV’s Steve and Chris. 3—Dustin Aceti, graphic design for Evanov Radio Group; and Andrew Yee, Club Monaco stylist and Ryerson fashion student. 4—Creative principals Neil Johnson and Alex Chapman of interior design firm Union 31 bookend Toronto Police Service constable Garvin Khan and Iona Greenham, showroom manager, Klaus by Nienkämper. 5—Deborah Longhurst and Colleen Baldwin, principals at interior design firm Straticom, flank Catherine Fels-Smith, VP, finance and operations, and Carol Wilding, CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade. (Baldwin and Wilding are showing off their red-soled Louboutins.)
preview, © Cyril Lagel. SAFI organisation, a subsidiary of Ateliers d’Art de France and Reed Expositions France
1—Deepe Randhawa, building systems manager, Bridgepoint Hospital redevelopment, PCL Constructors; Erica Hancox, project co-ordinator, DSA; Margie Zeidler, head of Urbanspace Property Group, which owns and operates two heritage buildings in downtown Toronto (401 Richmond St. W. and 215 Spadina Ave.); and John O’Keefe, principal at acoustics firm Aercoustics. 2—Penny Arthurs, president, Chelsea Gardener, and her husband, Harry, former York University president; Helena Grdadolnik, associate director of architecture firm Public Workshop; and Drew Sinclair, principal of city planners Planning Alliance. 3—Montreal Gazette and National Post music critic Arthur Kaptainis; Toronto Star entertainment columnist Martin Knelman; and Canadian Interiors contributor Adele Weder, curator of the Ron Thom exhibition on view at the West Vancouver Museum. 4—Eponymous threesome: DSA partner Jack Diamond; Ira Gluskin, partner in Gluskin Sheff, the wealth-management firm (where they don’t let you walk in the door unless you have over $3 million to invest); and Harry Rosen, honorary chairman of Canada’s best-known haberdashery. 5—Mira Goldfarb, director, Sarah and Chaim Neuberger Holocaust Education Centre at the Sherman Campus in the Lipa Green Centre; DSA partner Donald Schmitt; City of Toronto chief planner emeritus Paul Bedford; and Jenna Barrie, project co-ordinator, DSA.
preview, © Cyril Lagel. SAFI organisation, a subsidiary of Ateliers d’Art de France and Reed Expositions France
Home collections 6-10 SEPT. 2013 PARIS NORD VILLEPINTE www.maison-objet.com The show for home-fashion
Trade only Visitors: Promosalons Tel. +1 514 861 5668. crey@promosalons.com
Last Word
In stitches
Biography Design – a multi-disciplinary design consultancy based in Toronto – has a knack for collaboration. Some of its most satisfying ongoing collaborations have been with Hanif Harji of Icon Legacy Hospitality and Charles Khabouth of Ink Entertainment, who, respectively, run some of the city’s most exclusive restaurants and nightclubs, including La Société Bistro, Weslodge, F-Stop and Uniun – all of which Biography has had a hand in branding. Which brings us to Patria, a Spanish restaurant in the heart of the Entertainment district co-owned by Harji and Khabouth, and the very model of Biography Design’s branding expertise. To make flesh the idea of “La patria” or “homeland,” of “feeling rooted and feeling at home,” Biography came up with the notion of a permanent installation. Collaborating with Commute Home, who designed Patria’s 42 CANADIAN INTERIORS JULY/AUGUST 2013
Branding Toronto’s Patria restaurant the Biography Design way. —By Michael Totzke
interior, Biography conceived and created a cross-stitch mural that would occupy two levels of the restaurant. “We always encourage clients to look beyond the obvious and reject the mundane,” says Marlo Onilla, Biography Design principal and design director. “Of course, taking on a project of this magnitude can present its challenges.” That’s putting it mildly. The entire mural took over two months to complete, involving 485 hours of labour and numerous individuals to execute, headed by designer Laura Carwardine. It features more than 17,000 stitches spread over 21 separate custom copper 4-by-8-foot grids; made of hand-cut jersey strips, each stitch had to be
tied individually onto each panel. Colours ranging from deep reds to vibrant blues reflect the Spanish culture, as does the image of a traditional flamenco dancer on the wall underneath, adding a muted, mysterious element. Flawlessly executed and a marvel to behold, the mural inspired extra little design fillips: crosshatched graphics on plates, along with hand stitches on menus and uniforms. Sweet and subtle. You might say Biography Design keeps Patria’s patrons in stitches. c I
Photos: top and right inset by Giulio Muratori; left inset by Even Hutchison
Interior Design by SSDG Interiors Inc. Photography by Ema Peter Photography
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