Canadian Interiors July August 2017

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Got To Get Away Three Canadian firms doing great business abroad Showstoppers from Milan and Malaysia

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07/082017 Features

26 WHAT’S COOKING? From Wi-Fi-compatible stoves to built-in coffee machines, today’s kitchens are ripe with style. Compiled by Shannon Moore

31 TAKING ON THE WORLD More and more Canadian firms are branching out into international design. Toronto’s DesignAgency exemplifies this trend. By Leslie C. Smith

37 AWAY WE GO! Studio Munge has been consistently wowing international travelers and local urbanites alike with a refreshing combination of interactive hospitality programs and innovative design. By David Lasker

43 LOOKING EAST CHIL designs hospitality experiences both here and abroad by applying a boutique approach while leveraging global resources. By Martha Uniacke Breen

48 HISTORY REPEATING Lemay and Provencher_Roy design a hotel extension to a historic structure in Montréal. By Shannon Moore

Regulars

12 CAUGHT OUR EYE 17 SEEN Highlights and insights from MIFF 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, and Salone del Mobile in Milan. 52 SCENE 54 OVER & OUT At each of the Drake Hotel properties, John Tong’s One Arm Stool plays a starring role.

COVER – For DesignAgency’s latest Momofuku, located in The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, guests are immersed in a linear wood room, juxtaposed by circular interventions and reflective surfaces. Photo by Nikolas Koenig

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July | August 2017 / V54 #4

Senior Publisher

Martin Spreer

416-441-2085 x108 Editor

Peter Sobchak Art Director

Roy Gaiot

Assistant Editor

Shannon Moore Associate Editors

David Lasker, Rhys Phillips, Leslie C. Smith Contributors

Martha Uniacke Breen, Enrico G. Cleva, Sara Viarengo Cleva, Michael Totzke Customer Service / Production

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inside

Reaching Out

In this issue we talk to a number of Canadian design firms who are doing exciting hospitality projects in international locales, and an interesting through-line emerges in those conversations: that Canadian designers are well-adapted to working with international clients because, as Alessandro Munge explains, it “starts with being an excellent listener,” a trait I believe is born of our ingrained respect for diversity of all types, both physical and immaterial. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -It reminds me of a keynote address given by The Honourable Ratna Omidvar, Senator for Ontario and founding Executive Director and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Ryerson University’s Global Diversity Exchange, at the two-day Impact Summit 2017 in early May, where these common themes of migration, culture, and diversity were explored. “In my life I have possessed three passports,” she said. “The first I was born into, the second I married, but it is this third one [her Canadian one] that I value the most, because in a sense, I have earned it. It has given me freedom, opportunity, voice. I look at my children, who are a strange and wonderful mix of the many cultures in our lives: Indian, Iranian, German and Canadian. They identify with all their different identities, but they are mostly Canadian.

They are just as comfortable eating hot dogs and sushi, cheering baseball and cricket, watching Hollywood or Bollywood. They and their crowd date, marry and hang out with people from all backgrounds. And when they go to work, they work alongside Chinese, Japanese and Irish and their bosses are women. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “We have learned in this city to live side by side in peace, even if it has meant that sometimes the height of a mosque dome or a church spire is lowered so that the homes of local Chinese residents can maintain Feng Shui. We have put aside some bylaws to enable women in Thorncliffe Park to build an outdoor Tandoori oven, where they now come out in swarms in the summer, bake bread and create social bonds with other bonds. We have re-deployed a public swimming pool as a fishing pond, so that young immigrant children can be introduced [to] the joys of fishing. How we build, regulate and structure our public spaces matter. They can become spaces of exclusion, or places for inclusion.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The projects in this issue make me think of Senator Omidvar’s “big idea” for Canada 150: at some point this year we have dinner with someone who is from another place, a different class, or has a different view of life. “The idea is not to agree and become one large happy family,” she says. “The idea is to open pathways to dialogue.” I like it, because designers already create those kinds of spaces, and it can help cultivate the core essences that not only made Canada’s first 150 years so special, but more importantly the next 150. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - •

Peter Sobchak

psobchak@canadianinteriors.com

com

Next time in

International Furniture Fair of Singapore 2017

Nobu Downtown

We explore the International Furniture Fair of Singapore (IFFS) to uncover the best and most original in South East Asian high-end design.

Montréal-based Pascale Girardin added her distinctive ceramic touch to one of New York’s newest restaurants, Nobu Downtown, co-owned by Robert De Niro.

Kips Bay Decorator Show House As part of this year’s Kips Bay charity program, Powell & Bonnell designed the entrance, foyer and gallery spaces fea­turing the works of several Canadian artists such as Harley Valentine, Thrush Holmes and Zac Ridgley.

LCBO Eglinton

and Dunfield

II by IV Design’s new Urban Infill concept for the LCBO is

meant to get the most out of high-density urban areas and provide solutions to design, construction, operational efficiency and delivery challenges.

The Loft Located in Calgary’s Guardian Towers in Victoria Park, The Loft by Amanda Hamilton Interior Design features an evolving curated collection of retail goods to bedeck a consultation and private event space.

Pick up the next issue of

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to see our roundup!

7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

caught our eye

Harsh Reality The Royal Ontario Museum’s powerful new exhibition, titled The Evidence Room, examines the chilling role architecture played in constructing Auschwitz. Designed by Waterloo architecture professors Donald McKay and Anne Bordeleau and first unveiled at the 2016 Venice Biennale, the exhibit features reconstructions of key objects plus ephemera central to the construction of the death camp. www.rom.on.ca

Roll With It Designed in a collaboration between RUX and Stickbulb, and unveiled during NYCxDESIGN, Ambassador is both a large-scale sculpture and optical illusion. The eight-foot tall, self-supporting arc radiates ethereal light from 300-year-old redwood beams salvaged from a demolished water tower in Manhattan. Reflected by a mirrored base, the arc appears as a 16-foot diameter circle meant to evoke the grand scale of the redwood tree itself. www.stickbulb.com CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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Bottoms Up! With David Feldberg’s passions split between contract furniture (Teknion) and wine (Stratus Vineyards), overlapping the two seems somehow inevitable. Enter Karim Rashid, who was asked

by Feldberg to apply his prolific product design sensibilities to the lowly wine bottle. The result is Decant: a deconstructed, stratified bottle design that mirrors (like the vineyard’s name) the geological complexity of the soils from which the wine is grown. Filled with a 2014 unfiltered Cabernet Franc on its lees, this marks Stratus’ debut unfiltered wine.

The layered glass of the bottle creates a slipresistant handle and serves as a decanter for the naturally forming sediment. www. stratuswines.com

Wheel of Life The Rockwell Group asked designers at Larose Guyon to create a distinctive piece of interactive art for the EMC2 Hotel’s lobby in Chicago. Finding inspiration in the zoetrope, a forerunner to cinema invented in 1834 by William George Horner and Simon von Stampfer, Larose Guyon created 44 pairs of laser-cut copper wings arranged inside a large wheel which is cranked by hand, an action that gives movement and thereby life to an otherwise motionless display. www.laroseguyon.com

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7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

Coinciding with Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation, the 375th anniversary of Montréal and 50th anniversary of Expo ‘67, 2017 also marks the launch of two uniquely Canadian, ambitious and original design events taking place in Montréal and Toronto.

Expo for Design, Innovation & Technology (EDIT) www.editdx.org

Toronto September 28th - October 8th, East Harbour (formerly the Unilever soap factory) EDIT, by the Design Exchange in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is a 150,000-sq.-ft. design and technology exposition taking a broader look at what design means for all of us in the form of curated exhibits, compelling talks, and inspiring installations. Instead of just looking at structures and interiors, EDIT takes a more daring approach by showcasing how design can help solve existential problems of developing countries hindered geographical by inaccessibility, with clever and often low-cost design solutions. EDIT is broken into five curated expositions, each created to showcase how technology, problem solving and design are affecting change in even the most remote parts of the globe. Rounding out the event is a speaker series entitled Making Change which will feature David Suzuki and Scott Dadich, the former CEO of WIRED and director of the hit Netflix series, Abstract: The Art of Design.

World Design Summit, Expo & Congress (WDS) www.worlddesignsummit.com

Montreal October 16th - 25th, Palais des congrès de Montréal

World Design Summit’s objective is to challenge designers to rethink their role in society and challenge policy makers, manufacturers and society at large to rethink design as a powerful tool for achieving global sustainable development goals. 15 provincial, national and international professional associations and federations are supporting the WDS with the ultimate goal of showcasing environmentally sustainable, economically viable, socially equitable and culturally diverse design solutions throughout the world.

WDS will feature over 30 keynotes and up to 1,000 speakers for a multi-disciplinary design congress. More information is available at www.worlddesignsummit.com/congress/themes-topics. 500 international companies and 30,000 trade professionals are expected to visit the Expo pavilions from countries such as China and Brazil, as well as industry leaders and innovative manufacturers who will showcase the latest and greatest in state-of-the-art design solutions.

World Design Summit

MONTRÉAL OCT 16–25, 2017

Wor Desi Sum

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INTERNATIONAL 1 9 7 6 - 2 0 17

PA M P LO N A S E R I E S | W W W. H AVA S E AT. C O M

seen

Rising Tide of Talent

By Enrico G. Cleva & Sara Viarengo Cleva

Zigozago | Lagoon Designed by Baldessari e Baldessari, the Zigozago’s backrest looks like two different sections, joined by zigzag stitching, a detail both aesthetic and functional as it becomes the fastening element for the upper section cover, which comes in fabric and colour combinations inspired by the hues of lagoons. The shell’s ribbing is inspired by natural geometry such as that found in the veining in leaves. www.lagoon.com.tw

Papillon | Lagoon Inspiration for this chair comes from the environ­ment in which the designer, David Wang, grew up. In a mountainous island surrounded by the sea in Taiwan, there are almost 400 species of butterflies, and the structure of the seat back recalls a butterfly basking with its wings opened. www.lagoon.com.tw

Lolla | Oasis Furniture Industries Sdn Bhd. Designed by Sujaklosophy, the Lolla concept creates a Willy Wonkastyle gumdrop wonderland, where teamwork forms naturally and creativity juices flow endlessly. Lolla is versatile enough to fit into all kind of office settings ranging from breakout areas and public seating to libraries or cafés. www.oasis.com.my

It’s not a sea of rattan anymore. MIFF 2017 shows a country and industry that is celebrating the creative spirit of design and uncovering young talent to support and grow Malaysia’s thriving furniture sector.

Furniture export is one of the most important activities in Malaysia’s growing economy. Malaysian manufacturers have always produced for the mass market, exporting furniture with great price points to the world’s biggest furniture chains, and with North America as one of their most important markets. Given this international reach, the Malaysia International Furniture Fair (MIFF), organized by global b2b events specialists UBM, is one of the most relevant shows for international buyers as well as companies that exhibit in Kuala Lumpur for the southeast Asian market. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Alongside many mass-market products, mainly from Malaysia, but with a broadening international range, the show is growing a sense of local design. Many initiatives are supporting the creation of a national design industry, to sustain a sector with businesses able to compete in the global markets. The show, the government and local furniture industries are strongly investing in the creation of a young generation of Malaysian designers able to leverage the national manufacturing capabilities to create furniture with an international taste but with a local character. - - - - - - - - - - •

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seen

Wall hook | Chang Fu Precision Co. Seen in the Taiwanese Furniture Manufacturers Association pavilion, the unique styling of these wall hooks, designed by Steven Wang, are inspired by architectural patterns such as arched windows and doors in landmark European structures, and perform double duty as wall decoration and hangers. www.changfu-ind.com

Huli Tafel | Eonmetall Group Bhd The Huli Tafel

by David Ooi of 180° Design offers a clean working space that includes a movable LED light that follows the table edge. It just needs to be lifted up to turn on. The lighting structure comes in white steel and the desk in laminate wood. www.eonmetall.com

Lole Hanger | Eonmetall Group Bhd Kent Goh of 180° Design wanted to do something simple: turn conventional steel racks into new design objects.

The Lole Hanger is able to double up the hanging space with three different level height hangers.

Alur chair | Shahril Faisal Like the natural flowing system in rivers, branches or veins, these elements hold particular shape and structure. The concept of “nature efficiency” is replicated in the construction of the Alur chair by utilizing the flexible characteristic of rattan which allows for minimal yet resistant structure, resulting in a graceful flow of lines.

Designed by Shahril Faisal, this prototype was made within the Tanggam initiative, launched by the Malaysian Timber Industry Board to select, promote and market designers and furniture products at an international level.

www.180degreedesign.com

www.shahrilfaisal.com / www.tanggam.my

CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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Pua Kumbu console table By winning the 2016 Pusaka-Unimas Furniture Design Competition for her console table, Norazrin Binti Rashid was invited to exhibit it at MIFF. The long and narrow table carved from solid Acacia wood is inspired by a traditional ceremonial cloth pattern known as pua kumbu made by the Iban people living in Borneo, a pattern meant to evoke peace and serenity.

Vdimsum table and Rabbit Barstool | Woodot Woodot commercialize original furniture designs made by Malaysian students, such as the Vdimsum table and Rabbit barstool, both designed by students from Southern University College.

The company’s idea is to have a new starting point in a country that produces good wood furniture. The Vdimsum, for example, uses the traditional Chinese dim sum dish as a table top, to allow people to display whatever they want in the cavity between the glass and the container. www.woodot.de

Xera | Artmatrix The inspiration for this chair concept comes from the southern European sunflower family Xeranthemum; its silvery flower heads with purplish tubular flowers are a symbol of eternity and immortality. Xera is built from individual components and most of the parts are made of polypropylene and nylon gloss-filled material, making the entire chair highly recyclable. www.artmatrix.com.my

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7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

COSENTINO CENTRE CALGARY 10301 19th St. N.E., Unit 101 Calgary, AB T3J 0R1 587.538.8301

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COSENTINO CENTRE QUEBEC 240 Chemin des Ursulines Stanstead, QC J0B 3E0 819.564.2123

COSENTINO CENTRE TORONTO 80 Kincort Street Toronto, ON M6M 5G1 416.247.9090

COSENTINO CITY TORONTO 665 Caledonia Rd Toronto, ON M6E 4V8 647.350.6009

COSENTINO CENTRE VANCOUVER 152-8518 Glenlyon Pkway Burnaby, BC V5J 0B6 604.431.8568

seen

The WOW Factor

The only thing missing from an orgy of design excess witnessed during Salone del Mobile and the satellite exhibitions throughout Milan this past April were Oompa Loompas dancing and singing warnings at dazed attendees.

Invisible Outlines | Nendo Last year it was manga chairs. This year is was an exhibition that questions the very existence of items by manipulating outlines in various ways, challenging viewers to find recognizable order in the visual chaos. www.nendo.jp

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7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

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seen 1 Tekio | Santa & Cole Designed by London-based Anthony Dickens for the Barcelona-based lighting brand, Tekio, a name derived from the Japanese word for “adaptation,” consists of the transformation of ancient Japanese craft–paper shades into a contemporary LED lighting system. www.santacole.com 2 Amable | Paola Lenti Paola Lenti premiered its new collections in a massive new venue on via Orobia perfectly suited for their excellent outdoor lines, such as the Amable stackable outdoor chair by Victor Carrasco. The structure is made of varnished stainless steel, the shell of molded plastic, and a covering made of Paola Lenti’s signature Rope cord, sewn with a spiral-like pattern. www.paolalenti.it

3 Li-Da | Roche Bobois For some reason Jean Nouvel calls it his “Chinese table,” but Roche Bobois calls it Li-Da probably in reference to the pivoting-top dining table being entirely made in Daquacryl, a 3-mm thick PMMA veneer on particle board. www.roche-bobois.com 4 Aria Gold by Zaha Hadid | Slamp Zaha Hadid brings the grandeur of her large-scale buildings to a quotidian lamp, making it the exact opposite of quotidian. 50 different polycarbonate layers surround the central light source in perfect construction, transforming light into sculpture. www.slamp.com 5 Lamborghini | Riva 1920 Here is an interesting combination: Riva 1920, Automobili Lamborghini and Karim Rashid all got together to create a new collection of furniture characterized by solid walnut, black leather and lines meant to evoke the car maker’s need for speed. Even the names: Klip desk, Finesse bookshelf, Klutch chair, Speed table, and Dynamik sofa (shown). www.riva1920.it

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6 Rotazioni | cc-tapis Designed by Patricia Urquiola, the Rotazioni rug (Italian for “rotations”) plays on the repetition of overlapping cylindrical forms that emphasize the circle as the matrix of the design. A scale of pastel colours and chromatic contrasts create a clever three dimensional effect. www.cc-tapis.com 7 Ines | Kasthall Kasthall’s iconic Moss rug now has a sister in the new Ines. Like its sister, Ines is a tufted long-pile rug that combines thick wool yarn with shimmering linen. Experimental paper folding, fashioninspired mood boards, Charleston dresses and voluminous, fringed textiles were the inspirations for designer Maja Johansson. www.kasthall.com

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1 Banana Lamp | Seletti The resin and glass Banana Lamp slips out of the Un_ Limited Editions, a new project from Seletti and Studio Job that attempts to make design democratically accessible (read: more fun!) to a wider public. www.seletti.com 2 Isole | &tradition Two designers from different cultures, Luca Nichetto and Nendo, co-created the modular Isole by exchanging ideas inspired by Japanese poetry. The outcome, named after the Italian word for “islands,” comes in a variety of configurations, including versions with and without an “island” arm cushion. www.nichettostudio.com

3 Lune | Fritz Hansen Lovers of Danish design rejoice! Republic of Fritz Hansen and Jaime Hayon bring you a new sofa concept: the modular Lune. Born out of Hayon’s Ro and Fri chair design concepts, Lune is based on the same curvy design philosophy, wrapped in layers of goose and duck feathers to make you never want to get up. www.fritzhansen.com 4 Nef | EMU Outdoor furniture specialist EMU released three new families of products in Milan, including the Nef chair line by French designer Patrick Norguet. Inspired by the graphic idea of the networks that made up the original structure of hot air balloons, Nef employs interwoven polyester cords stretched around an aluminum form. www.emu.it 5 Liv | Piaval Swathed in soft shapes: this is the design concept behind Liv by Swedish designer David Ericsson. Broad, padded armrests sit on a frame made from ash and beech wood, cloaked in a variety of upholstery finishes. www.piaval.it

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6 Saetta | Henge Among Henge’s many novelties, the Saetta table encapsulates the company’s experimental work with new materials, with its top featuring the new Silver Brown, a black stone contaminated by a lighter grey veining, and legs characterized by a bronze sand casting, similar to an antique manufacturing technique. www.henge07.com 7 PopJob | Mirage Bursting from the minds of Studio Job (Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel), PopJob is an antidote to the endless imitations that ceramic flooring seems trapped in. Bored with fake wood or cement? Want a range of bright, super glossy colours with intense pigmentation? This is the floor for you. www.mirage.it 8 O Rocker | Moooi Talk about taking something literally! Marcel Wanders envisions a giant rocking O-shaped seat as big as a person (and his ego) and available in various colour nuances, it certainly, well…rocks. www.moooi.com 9 Canal Chair | Moooi Inspired by a historical ship that dominated the Mediterranean waterways for centuries, the Canal Chair by Luca Nichetto resembles the bow of a boat and displays striking compositions of matching or contrasting textiles. www.moooi.com 10 WireRing | FLOS Scattered amongst FLOS’s vast collections by acclaimed designers were a few new collaborations, including this oddity by talented Italian artist duo Formafantasma. An exercise in reduction and composed of two separate elements — a custom belt-like electric cable and an LED ring — the cable, which is often considered something to hide, is the focus. www.flos.com

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7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

What’s Cooking?

From Wi-Fi-compatible stoves to built-in coffee machines, today’s kitchens are ripe with style.

Compiled by Shannon Moore

CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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the goods

1 Home Connect Built-In Coffee Machine | Bosch Bosch’s new Home Connect Built-In Coffee Machine allows users to brew coffee at the touch of a button from their tablet or smartphone, creating a customized cup of coffee.

The machine can be installed without a direct connection to a waterline, and even features a grinding system for both light and dark roasts. www.bosch-home.ca

4 Rugged Concrete | Caesarstone Caesarstone has unveiled five new colours to its Classico and Supernatural collections for 2017, including a Rugged Concrete line that presents a shift towards industrial interiors. The rugged look is accentuated by its unique imperfections, achieved for the first time ever in a quartz material, while maintaining the ease of care and maintenance synonymous with Caesarstone. www.caesarstone.ca

2 Delivery Robot | PuduBOT Winner of a Red Dot: Best of the Best 2017 Award, the PuduBOT robot by Shenzhen Pudu Technology in China assists restaurant servers, delivering orders to tables and interacting with guests through facial expressions and audio. Using high-precision laser radar technology, the PuduBOT is available in classic black and white.

3 CUBI | AyA Kitchens and Baths Designed in partnership with Torontobased Partisans, AyA’s CUBI collection is a response to urban expansion and densification. The modular shelving and space divider enhances livability and optimizes functionality through a series of sculptural, cubic geometries.

Recognizing the individualistic nature of each homeowner, the units offer a customized approach to storage, walls, benches, cooking and dining surfaces, as well as trusses for planting or lighting. www.ayakitchens.com

5 Diesel Open Workshop | Scavolini Scavolini and Diesel have teamed up to introduce Diesel Open Workshop, a collection of industrial-inspired furnishings for the kitchen and bathroom. With modern structures made of metallic tubular iron, matte shades and aluminum details, the collection features wash basins, shelving systems, taps, mirrors and more. www.scavolini.com 6 Airfryer | Philips Philips’ new Airfryer uses TurboStar technology to facilitate air circulation and evenly distribute heat, allowing for frying, baking, roasting and grilling without the need for oil. Non-stick and dishwasher safe, the Airfryer requires no preheating, and contains timer, auto-shut off and temperature control options. www.philips.ca

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feature intuitive controls and modern designs. Available in single or double models, the stainless steel sinks have innovative buttons for controlling water flow, temperature and drainage, improving accessibility for a variety of users while enhancing its clean and minimalist design. www.hansgrohe.com 4 Kennon Sink with Neoroc | Kohler Kohler’s Kennon Sink is at once striking and durable, constructed using the composite material Neoroc that is engineered to resist scratches and stains. Able to withstand heat up to 750˚ F, the sink — which is available in single and double configurations — is constructed with built-in UV inhibitors to prevent fading. ca.kohler.com 5 Foodie Faucet | Danze Danze’s Foodie Faucet, available in chrome, stainless steel or satin black, features a 360˚ swivel, spring-action wand similar to products found in commercial-grade kitchens. The faucet head is designed to help avoid the transfer of heat when the water is hot, while the rubber nozzles help prevent the build-up of kitchen grime and hard water deposits. www.danze.com

1 SmartLine | Miele The versatile and multifaceted SmartLine units from Miele, offers the options of induction hob, barbecue grill, Teppan Yaki, gas ring, induction wok and countertop extractor. As an ensemble, they form a cooking centre with an appeal that aims to break down the boundaries between kitchen and living spaces. www.miele.ca

6 Revolving Column | Dada A concealed but accessible space, Dada’s revolving column storage system offers up to five shelves based on a central pillar, featuring a patented mechanism. The shelves rotate 360˚, allowing full access while effectively hiding the corner pantry when the door is closed.

2 InFino Drain System | Blanco Intended to prevent its users from reaching into dirty dishwater, Blanco’s new InFino Drain System is at once handy and smart. Acting as a button next to the faucet, the system opens and closes the drain externally, offering a high-tech mechanism in a variety of finishes and styles. www.blanco-germany.com 3 Kitchen Sink Combinations | Hansgrohe Developed with the Phoenix Design Studio in Stuttgart, Hansgrohe’s new built-in kitchen sink combinations CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

www.dada-kitchens.com

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7 Bottom Mount Refrigerator | Haier Haier has broken into the Canadian market, bringing with it a focus on the condo segment and offering a variety of appliances tailored to everyday small spaces. Its Bottom Mount Refrigerator,

the goods

for example, packs ample storage space in a seemingly compact package, with recessed or side pocket handles, a stainless finish, and 10.2 or 15-cu.-ft. capacities. www.haieramerica.com 8 Forma by Zaha Hadid | Alessi Forma, the last project for Alessi by the late great Zaha Hadid, is inspired by nature. Consisting of two elements — a sculptural black base holding a mirror-polished stainless steel grater — Forma has an ergonomic shape designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand.

The asymmetrical pattern of holes, like pebbles in a river bed, creates a unique and irregular grating texture. www.alessi.com 9 Eternal Collection | Silestone by Cosentino Silestone’s new Eternal Collection combines seven hues that pay homage to the world’s most sought-after marbles and stones. The collection is manufactured with N-Boost technology, a system patented by Cosentino that modifies the surface of the material at a molecular level and helps to attain a greater intensity of colour. The collection’s patterns are also repeated with precision during each round of production, maintaining the original essence of the design and ensuring consistency upon installation. ca.silestone.com

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10 Miniki Slimline | Miniki Tobias Schwarzer of Miniki has offered a design solution for small homes where the kitchen and living areas are combined as one. The Slimline is a multi-purpose kitchen system that resembles a module or sideboard, offering a full range of amenities while maintaining a discreet and elegant feel. www.miniki.eu 7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

unique, contemporary tables for discriminating designers info@cherrywoodstudio.ca 416.254.8974 cherrywoodstudio.ca CWS-Clja17-HP.indd 1

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TAKING ONTHE WORLD

By Leslie C. Smith

More and more Canadian firms are branching out into international design. Toronto’s DesignAgency exemplifies this trend.

In a nod to Vegas’s colour-fuelled gambling energy, as well as Momofuku’s peach logo, DesignAgency installed neon “slots” above the restaurant’s open-kitchen counter.

By Xxxxxxxxxx

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Momofuku Las Vegas’s private dining room shows off a sexy riot of Oriental red, including two wild-andcrazy macramé “dragons” hanging from the ceiling.

The Generator hostel in Venice presents an eclectic assortment of furnishings à la ancienne, a blown-glass chandelier that nods to the city’s craft ancestry, and a cheeky neon “fire” (fuoco) in the hearth.

CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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Colourful patterned floors, bottle green wall tiles, neon orange archways and a crush of red hanging Asian lanterns put the Generator Rome’s bar in stark contrast to other areas like reception or the café.

It’s an odd juxtaposition. While our southern neighbour builds walls both figurative and literal to isolate itself from the rest of the world, Canada is taking the opposite tack. We seem to be in an expansive mood these days, exporting more and more brands on a global basis, eager to form new connections and build new relationships abroad.

---------------------------------------------------Our design community is a definite part of this equation. International projects have become the norm rather than the exception for many Canadian firms. But just what is it that makes our work so appealing to clients beyond our borders? I sat down with the three principals — Anwar Mekhayech, Matthew Davis and Allen Chan — of Toronto’s renowned DesignAgency to discuss their recent international hospitality successes and the role Canada plays as a creative incubator. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To begin with, is there such a thing as a Canuck aesthetic? All three deny any overt manifestations, such as red-and-white colour schemes or the overuse of maple leaves. Perhaps it’s more to do with our closeness to nature and the general trend towards biophilia, or the representation of nature through tone and structural elements. In Portland, Ore.’s Duniway Hotel lounge, for instance, DesignAgency employed greenshaded glass, potted palms, terraria, and various images of birds to create a “natural” setting that whispers calm to our atavistic hearts.

---------------------------------------------------Then, too, perhaps our strength lies in our very lack of an overarching aesthetic, as well as our famed national lack of aggression. “We don’t have egos that drive our ideas,” says Chan. “We listen to our clients. We

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don’t impose our design concepts on their needs.” Mekhayech succinctly sums up their own firm’s versatility, as well as that of other Canadian companies: “We don’t paint with one brush.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - International clients also like Canadians because we are considered honest and nice, and thus easy to work with. Mekhayech adds cheekily: “And they love our cheap dollar.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For Davis, a further plus is Canada’s socialistic society, with its emphasis on the group rather than the individual: “We look at problems and consider all the users before making a decision.”

Yet individuality is a factor too. Our country’s multiculturalism, best represented by Toronto — long lauded as being the most diverse city on the planet — ensures a healthy mix of viewpoints and artistic traditions that end up offering something for everyone. This blend is echoed in DesignAgency’s three ethnically distinct partners, each possessing a unique vision but all working together towards a common goal. It is a sensibility that has placed them in good stead with their international clientele, bringing them multiple projects with such leading-edge chains as Momofuku restaurants and Generator hostels. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DesignAgency claims to have no signature style, but it is there, composed of subtle markers that you must look closely to see. The contextualism of each space, for instance, that lets the city’s unique sensibility shine through: the Moroccan screens and ottomans in Generator Paris’s upstairs lounge that pay homage to that city’s immigrant experience, or the farm-fresh finishes in its café that speak to a field-to-table gas7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

The main lounge in The Duniway Hotel hints at the city’s industrial past, rugged naturalism, and present-day artistic vibe. Custom touches like commissioned glass “windows,” a strap-wrapped ottoman, and a smattering of vintage chairs add interest to the space.

The Hyde Lounge is an 18,000-sq.-ft. nightclub-themed space in T-Mobile Arena, home of the NHL’s newest expansion team, the Vegas Golden Knights. Plush leather couches and lighting by Tom Dixon bedeck a space where guests have views either down on the action or out to The Strip.

CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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For Generator Stockholm, DesignAgency was inspired by the city’s history and strong sense of design to create a casual interior with a fresh Scandinavian look without emphasizing the blond wood and pale colours typically associated with Scandinavian design.

tronomy. The divergence can be profound from one project to another.

Take, for instance, the Duniway lounge’s emphasis on wood, leather, and industrial arts and crafts, versus the over-the-top sensor-ama of Las Vegas’s Momofuku restaurant. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Customization is another idiosyncrasy, a way to add small, telling touches to an interior’s story. Examples include the large, strap-wrapped ottoman in the Duniway, or Generator Stockholm’s store-bought Ikea chairs re-upholstered in vintage fabrics. Matt Davis admits he and his partners pay a lot of attention to such little details, and are always on the lookout for “a hook” — a found object, an antique piece or an interesting fixture —that makes a space memorable. Another characteristic of the firm is the way furnishings always seem to be strategically positioned, allowing windows and doorways to act as frames for eye-pleasing compositions.

Arguably DesignAgency’s best “obscure” attribute is the way its spaces achieve uncanny perfection in the balance of natural and artificial light.

---------------------------------------------------The three principals’ own backgrounds have helped them considerably in the hospitality field. When they were young, Chan and Mekhayech both held jobs in family-run restaurants, and Davis worked as a server.

In piecing together a restaurant or hotel, they instinctively understand the flow of customer and service operations, and can neatly bridge “cool quiet” areas, such as private dining rooms, with “hot active” areas, such as bars or open-kitchen counters. They even helpfully map out traffic patterns in red dotted lines on their schematics, so clients can see how guests and employees separate and come together. - - - - - - - -

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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Such expertise has led to a valuable collaboration with the Momofuku chain of noodle restaurants. The DesignAgency’s uber-cool eatery in downtown Toronto led to its assistance on the design branding of another location in Washington, D.C., and then to a new restaurant in Las Vegas, plus contracts for two more Momofukus in New York City. There’s also a hot new restaurant being planned for Fort Lauderdale’s The Dalmar, a retro-styled hotel under the Starwood/Marriot umbrella, another project that may lead to future contracts. The hotel, still in the process of being built, already owes its name and choice of typeface to DesignAgency, which has started officially offering clients a full slate of creative strategy, branding and graphics on top of architectural concepts and interior design. (“We were doing these things before,” jokes Mekhayech. “Now we’re charging for them.”) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Versatility, broad ability and a solid reputation, combined with a slew of awards and magazine articles, have given DesignAgency a “Can”-do attitude, strengthening the partners’ confidence for diving into international waters. The firm, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in Toronto in 2018, founded a satellite branch in Barcelona four years ago, and has just opened another office in Los Angeles. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Although modern communications technology means the partners don’t have to visit Europe or the West Coast on a regular basis, they do so anyway. “For us,” Davis says, “faceto-face relationships are at the heart of our business.” Such a nice, Canadian sentiment. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - • 7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

Join Canada’s A & D community for an evening of celebration @

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Canadian Architect and Canadian Interiors magazines are marking the 50th Awards of Excellence and the 20th Best of Canada Awards and are holding an Architecture & Design Party – a PARTi – to celebrate!

PARTi will be an exclusive gathering of architects and interior design professionals: a chance to celebrate, network, reconnect and mingle with industry peers and colleagues.

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7 – 11 p.m., November 29 (after Day 1 of The Buildings Show) The Storys Building 11 Duncan Street, Toronto

CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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Photography by MartinTessler / Imagine Photo AZ / Michael Stavaridis

AwayWeGo! Studio Munge has been consistently wowing international travelers and local urbanites alike with a refreshing combination of interactive hospitality programs and innovative design.

By David Lasker

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A model of a Boeing 777 in Air Canada livery perches on a shelf above the desk of Toronto-based Studio Munge founder and principal Alessandro Munge. But this isn’t a novelty he picked up at Toys “R” Us; rather, it was a gift from the airline after he had logged a million miles in the course of creating luxury hotels and iconic restaurants around the world. The trophy makes sense, because when he takes on a new project for an international client, he likes to get the lay of the land by visiting several of their locations. “It’s exploratory and discovery work, an opportunity to immerse yourself in the brand,” he says. “I do this quite a bit with chefs. I love that exercise.”

---------------------------------------------------For example, celebrity-chef client David Hawksworth’s eponymous Munge-designed eatery in Vancouver’s Rosewood Hotel Georgia is five-time winner of Best Upscale Restaurant in Vancouver magazine’s Restaurant Awards. To prepare for their next collaboration, the pair looked for foodie inspiration in London, Toronto and New CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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York. In the Big Apple alone they ate their way through 11 restaurants, “starting at 9 o’clock in the morning and ending at 4 o’clock in the morning. It just went on and on and on,” Alessandro recalls.

“Let’s hang together and share a glass of wine and break bread together. That’s how I get into your world when I start to design. I want to get into chef’s mind, chef’s world.”- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Why? “Because whatever he puts on the table has to relate to the interiors, so that the experience is holistic. How many times do you eat at a restaurant and you say to yourself, ‘Love the food, just don’t get this place, it’s ugly’; or, ‘What a gorgeous space, but, man, did the food miss?” I have no interest in that.

That’s why the business of what we do, especially when it comes to restaurants, is understanding chef. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “Doing so many different venues has taught me that you simply can’t take a singular approach to design when it comes to these spaces. Restaurants are unique because they [provide]

Previous page and left: A playful yet stylish wraparound graffiti mural

by Mexican street artist Oscar Flores (who earlier created a two-storey Day of the Dead mural at Munge’s El Catrin in Toronto) in Borracha Mexican Cantina, a casual-dining restaurant at Green Valley Ranch Resort near Las Vegas. Masculine rustic shiplap walls and herringbone ceiling make a suitably neutral backdrop for the jazzy, angular-patterned floor. Above: In the William Vale Hotel in Brooklyn, Leuca eatery offers Southern Italian cuisine and programmatic reminiscences of nonna’s house in the Old Country.

Right: At Green Valley’s Bottiglia Cucina Enoteca, a feminine, romantic take on Italian dining, dusty rose and blue-grey velvets contrast against floral watercolour pattern.

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7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

moments to escape, forget and journey into another world while you’re having dinner. I don’t believe that a restaurant we’ve done in New York City or Toronto can swap hands. I don’t believe that a project on [Toronto’s] King Street can live in the Distillery. I will study cities, I will study locations, I will study streets.”- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Alessandro was born in Germany and lived in Abruzzo, Italy, until the family moved to Toronto in the 1970s. After graduating from Ryerson University’s School of Interior Design, he joined hospitality and retail design powerhouse Yabu Pushelberg. Four years later, he and co-worker Sai Leung decamped and set up their own boutique, Munge Leung, which then rebranded two years ago as Studio Munge. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Alessandro’s better half, Grace Zeppilli, maintains a private office on the studio premises where she runs her art consultancy, GZ International. “She is without a doubt my secret weapon,” he admits. By collaborating with her, “We can control the curation in our projects. We can control the artwork, the accessorizing, so our clients can stay on point through our whole project experience.”- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For the fashionable year-old William Vale Hotel in Brooklyn, a five-minute subway CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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ride from Manhattan, Studio Munge had been brought in to handle the food and beverage areas. However, Alessandro said, “The client got really comfortable and started to believe in the philosophy of the narrative that we were putting forward,” and he wound up designing the public areas and guest rooms as well. Instead of taking a cliched cue from the industrial-warehouse neighbourhood’s post-and-beam and exposed brick décor, he asked his wife to run a competition for local artists. “I didn’t want to be contrived [or] thematic,” he said. Thus, the deliberately understated, neutral lobby, with art that expresses the spirit of the place as the focal point, and the generous quantity (up to four pieces) of original art in each guest room. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - So how did Alessandro rise from obscurity? It helped that this journal pronounced Munge Leung’s Interior Space: Designs for Living installation at the 2000 Interior Design Show as the “favourite of the four” in our review, and praised the three-yearold firm’s “flawless sense of balance, concern for individual comfort and strict attention to fine detail.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - However, the big break, he fondly recalls, came from a Toronto entrepreneur whose innovative boîte Stilife had rocketed Yabu Pushelberg to international prominence in 1987. “I always

Far left: The tensegrity structure-like assemblage of thin black metal arms and strip lighting above the reception desk evokes the building’s zigzag structural shell. Middle left: Gaps between the trapezoidal ceiling segments in the cove-lit lower-level ballroom conceal lighting and HVAC systems. Left: Mannahatta, a sculptural installation in saturated colours by local artist Marela Zacarías, serves as the focal point in the neutral-toned pre-function lobby, where only the grey swirls of the marble-clad staircase attempt visual competition. Right and above: The bold graphic pattern on the halftimbered walls adds drama and a sense of ritual to the corridor where hipsters line up to enter Westlight, the rooftop bar. There, the raked angle of the backs on the custom chairs conveys cozy comfort; the mesh screen hovering overhead adds a note of intimacy by reducing the tall room’s apparent height; and Mexican cement floor tiles warm up the modernist decor.

look for that one client who’s going to take us to the next point in our careers and for us it was Charles Khabouth.”- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In 1999, Bechara “Charles” Khabouth, the Lebanese Canadian nightclub owner, restaurateur, music promoter and hotelier who heads INK Entertainment, hired fledgling Munge Leung to transform “30,000 square feet at Guvernment, a former waterfront warehouse turned party palace, into the current hot thing. There were reports of 1,600 club kids turned away every weekend,” to quote from the Canadian Interiors 2002 Best of Canada Awards citation for Kool Haus, a club with 20,000 square feet of flex space, which was Munge Leung’s subsequent Guvernment gig. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This led to another lucky break. After developer Andrew Sasson, co-founder of Las Vegas-based The Light Group, visited Guvernment, he hired Munge Leung for a condo project on Sinatra Street, just off the Vegas Strip. “They really caught on to me and I’m still working with them; that would be 15-plus years. He’s gone through many world-class designers, without mentioning names, and fired them all.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “We have worked on about a dozen projects or so and he always brings a fresh, original and

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incredibly passionate approach to each project, creating incredible experiences for our guests,” says Andy Masi, co-founder and former CEO of The Light Group.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sasson had entered into partnership with MGM Resorts International, whose Las Vegas properties include MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Mirage and Bellagio. For the last-named hotel, Munge Leung was invited to create Lago by celebrity chef Julian Serrano, to replace Osteria del Circo, a circus tent-inspired fine-dining eatery dating from 1988, designed by the famed New York-based designer Adam Tihany. “On this row are some of the best restaurants and chefs because they all face the fountains. Philippe Starck did a restaurant, [David] Rockwell did a restaurant and Studio Munge did a restaurant. I was so excited,” Munge says with a laugh.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - At his level, Alessandro plays in a sandbox replete with outsize Howard Roark, Type A personalities. Yet he comes across as easygoing and simpatico. “That starts with being an excellent listener. I will sit and almost say nothing in the start of a relationship with a client and just suck up and absorb like a sponge.” With his stable of loyal A-list clients, Alessandro Munge’s star will surely continue to rise. - - - - - - - - - - - -• 7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

Architecture Construction Design Engineering Property Renovation

Principal Supporting Associations

2017

November 29-30 Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Building

Your design connection.

Our design community.

iidexcanada.com thebuildingsshow.com

Photography by: Red Door Group / Henry Lo, The Tomorrow Agency Inc. / Brandon BarrĂŠ, Brandon BarrĂŠ Photography

CHIL designs hospitality experiences both here and abroad by applying a boutique approach while leveraging global resources.

By Martha Uniacke Breen

L O O K I N G E A S T

It’s a time-honoured truth that travelling the world often has a profound effect on how you view home. It’s an interesting perspective from which to view the work of Vancouver’s CHIL Design. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CHIL’s highly atmospheric interiors have earned an impressive array of awards over the years, including several in 2016; its greatest-hits list comprises most of North America’s top hotel chains such as Toronto’s tony Shangri-La Hotel, and increasingly, sought-after destinations all over Asia. Yet with a team of just 20 at its home studio in Vancouver — which recently expanded to about 37 after taking over parent company B+H Architects’ Hong Kong satellite in November last year — CHIL has a small-shop modesty that is quintessentially Canadian. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - According to co-principal Adele Rankin (who steers the firm along with Paul Morissette), the company’s penchant for immersing itself in the history and iconography of the host location, the client’s brand, and the often very specific expectations of future guests, are basic to its Canadian DNA. It’s not so much about an identifiable style or look, she explains, as a particular way of approaching a project — a certain tractability, perhaps. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “I think about [Canadian-ness] a lot when I talk to international clients,” Rankin says. “There’s quietness to how we approach a first meeting, for example; we don’t come in with the idea that ‘this is how it needs to be done.’” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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Previous page and opposite, top: A cool, lighter-than-air feeling pervades CHIL’s design for Singapore’s Artemis Grill, where the skyline is a major component of the classic, modern Mediterranean-inspired design. Opposite, bottom: Artemis Grill’s private dining room features an end wall of natural greenery, an earthbound counterpoint to the spectacular view. This page, top: Myanmar’s storied textures of bronze, deep jungle greenery and precious jewels inspired the design of the RV Samatha riverboat lounge. Above left: Locally woven bedlinens and woodsy décor provides a counterpoint to the spectacular scenery beyond the cabin windows.

Above right: Traditional carving motifs crown the RV Samatha’s onboard restaurant, a co-partnership between tour operator Australian Touring Partnership and Luke Nguyen, Australia’s Jamie Oliver.

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7/8 2017 CANADIAN INTERIORS

Above: The Arc Restaurant at Vancouver’s Fairmont Waterfront is quintessentially western Canadian with its abundance of woods and natural light, perfectly complementing the seaside view beyond the curving windows. Light fixtures made from wood veneer strips, by the Spanish firm LZF, dance high above like a flock of fluttering seabirds.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rankin herself has a strikingly international background that makes her well-suited to her calling. Born in Scotland, she grew up in Oman and all over Canada before settling in Vancouver, where she earned her interior design degree. She joined CHIL when it was still a small department within an independent firm owned by the architect Richard Negrin. Negrin’s practice included a lot of work in the hospitality sector, and the team focused on providing interior design services as part of the architecture firm’s package. (“CHIL stands for Co-ordinated Hotel Interiors Ltd., but lucky for us, everyone soon just started calling us CHIL,” she laughs.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - After Negrin’s death in 2010, CHIL was acquired by B+H Architects, whose own hospitality work had begun to reach into the fast-expanding Asian market, after opening a studio in Shanghai in the early ’90s. After being rebranded as CHIL Interior Design, it began to expand rapidly both in Canada and increasingly in the East. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “It was fortunate for us to join B+H when we did,” Rankin says. “With them came the support of a global company, CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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but them — and us — had no desire to throw away the ‘boutique’ approach, this little niche of hospitality design we had developed.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Whether working in Vancouver for marquee projects like the Fairmont Waterfront, or on any of several Far Eastern projects currently on their drafting tables, including Primus Sanya in China and Hong Kong’s new residential-style hotel, The Humphreys, CHIL’s small size gives it a nimbleness that more bureaucracy-heavy firms might not match. For example, the Waterfront may be part of a big chain, but CHIL’s design approach was as unique as if it were a boutique hotel, giving it a uniquely West Coast feeling with natural wood and stone elements, and floor-to-ceiling windows in every room that make the view the undisputed star. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In Asia, a rapidly expanding and increasingly affluent population has transformed the entire continent as a sought-after travel destination. “What’s attractive about designing there is that it gives you the opportunity to flex your design muscles,” says Rankin.

“There’s a real value to the design process; it’s not as conservative as some North American cities, and the more the population travels, the more demanding they are in terms of expectations. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “Especially with the very high-end Asian hotels, we can bring them a lovely design portfolio with all our top hotel projects, but they may not think it’s quite luxurious enough. It may not be that less is more, but more is more. They want luxury that resonates.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - But then, one of the most intriguing projects they’ve tackled in the last few years actually wasn’t a hotel at all: it was a pair of luxury riverboats in Myanmar, commissioned by an Australian touring company. The story of how they acquired the job is as non-standard as the projects themselves. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “The CEO of the company stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront, and was so impressed with the design that he called Paul in the middle of the night,” she laughs. “He said, ‘I feel like God is speaking to me! You have to design my riverboats.’

We’d never even thought of designing a riverboat before! It’s really a floating hotel, so some things were familiar, but there was still a pretty steep learning curve: yes, it’s a floating hotel, but it’s still floating!”

---------------------------------------------------Also, a ship designed to ply a river has certain key technical differences from an ocean-going cruise ship: for one thing, it’s a lot smaller and makes a shallower draft; the two boats accommodate 72 and 60 passengers respectively. “So it requires a very different approach to the design. You have to fully immerse people in the culture, from the very first moment.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Designing a venue geared to locals requires a slightly different, though no less finely tuned, modus operandi. For the Artemis Grill, a rooftop bar in Singapore’s financial district, drawing on the host building’s reputation as an award-winning sustainable property, along with Singapore’s tradition of great rooftop venues, “We decided to take a kind of ‘Our Man in Havana’ approach, combining ultra-sleek design with natural stone, reclaimed wood and other sustainable features; it’s not overly manipulated.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Rankin concludes that it’s hard to make blanket statements about what constitutes “Canadian design,” given the diversity of the country. But perhaps it’s exactly that diversity, and ease with other cultures, that international clients are tapping into.

“Our approach is to celebrate the location, in a more low-key and collaborative way, rather than imposing our own Canadian style,” she says, Which, in itself, is a very Canadian way to do things. - - - - - - - - - •

history history repeating repeating

By Shannon Moore Photography by Joe Alboero/Fotografika

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Clockwise from left Od ut voluptatem nimaio bere commodis nobisquiat occusdae re cus alist vel mos quas est audaerum ero quaest faceped iciminvendam re sam idfrom qui above inihill accuptas abo. Haribus sae pa denia nonseque dolessitio berum quid min et eosintegration nonseque doluptiberro culla et que eligeni magnimi, Clockwise The new 11-storey addition is barely visible from the street, due to a successful into the cityscape.

George Stephen’s housevel ipsus, tataturis a verro de pre laMount volluptatur, sipa pres untist. rund.c The new hotel’s palette is manifested in grey, black and white tones, merging was theoptatec home of the prestigious private Stephen Club forad nearly a century. into coppery and metallic hues, reddish-brown marbles, and gold and silver finishes.

Lemay and Provencher_Roy design an extension to a historic structure in Montréal, originally owned by a Scottish-immigrantturned-baron.

A historic monument erected by railway pioneer George Stephen has been reimagined as a contemporary hotel in Montréal’s Golden Square and Provencher Roy, Le SquareMile.

Mile.Designed DesignedbybyLemay Lemay and Provencher_Roy, Mount Stephen connects a new, 11-storey structure in the rear to Le Mount Stephen connects a new, 11-storey structure in the rear the original mansion outout front.

Carefully introducing contempoto the original mansion front.

Carefully introducing contemrary accents, thetheextension porary accents, extensionensures ensuresthat that Stephen’s Stephen’s neo-Renaissance home — designed by architect William Tutin Thomas and built by J.F. Hutchison in 1880 — retains its character and charm.

-- -- -- - - - - - - -- -- -- -- --------- -- -- -- -- - - - - - - -- -- -- -- ------- -- -- -- -- - - - - - - -George -GeorgeStephen Stephen(1829-1921) (1829-1921)was was aa Scottish Scottish immigrant immigrant who who arrived in Montréal in his twenties. A figurehead of the financial community, he was appointed President president of the Bank of Montréal before devoting his efforts to the development of the railway system. On the eve of the 20th century, he was one of the richest men in North America, and would receive the title of “baronet” before becoming a baron as “Lord Mount Stephen” in 1891. - - - - - - - - - - -- -- -- -- --------- -- -- -- -- - - - - - - -- -- -- -- --------- -- -- -- -- - - - - The original Stephen house, which acts as the entrance to Le Mount Stephen hotel, served as a private residence until 1925. Two years later, the structure became home to a gentlemen’s club founded by businessmen in an effort to save the house from demolition. The club brought together Montréal and international elite, welcoming countless dignitaries before being purchased by the Tidan Hospitality & Real Estate Group in 2006. Recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada by the Historic Sites and Monu-

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Clockwise from left Od ut voluptatem nimaio bere commodis nobisquiat occusdae re cus alist vel mos quas est audaerum ero quaest faceped iciminvendam Clockwise left The lobby and counter located on the ground floor of the new wing sparkle with pale marble. Inculla all there are 90 units, including re sam id from qui inihill accuptas abo.reception Haribus sae pa denia nonseque dolessitio berum quid min et eos nonseque doluptiberro et que eligeni magnimi, vel nine laid out fortataturis personsawith reduced mobility: 69 rooms, 16 suites, four sky-lofts, and one Royal Suite. The original George Stephen House is home to Bar ipsus, optatec verro de pre la volluptatur, sipa pres ad untist. rund.c George, the newest restaurant from Oliver & Bonacini, with a menu featuring twists on U.K. classics. A core aim for Bar George was to bring light into the rooms previously darkened by the imposing original woodwork.

ments Board of Canada and classified as a “heritage immovable” structure by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, work began to preserve the building’s heritage in 2015. Today, the hotel has been recognized as one of three in Canada among the ranks of “The “The Leading Leading Hotels Hotels of of the the World.”

World.”------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------“We “We were deeply committed to this estate development projwere deeply committed to this realreal estate development project, ect, biggest the biggest we have ever undertaken,” said Yuval, Mike Yuval, cothe we have ever undertaken,” said Mike co-foundfounder the Hospitality Tidan Hospitality & Real Estate Group.

“We er of the of Tidan & Real Estate Group.

“We wanted to wantedthis to revive this site, heritage site, while endowing Montréal revive heritage while endowing Montréal with a with new a new jewel.”

The extension features angledglass glassroof, roof, marblejewel.”

The extension features an an angled decked reception desk and lobby, and an overall modern palette of beige, grey, black and white tones. Discreet historical reminders dress the space, including period furniture from the Stephen home judiciously placed in corridors and suites. In addition to a 5,000-sq.-ft. ballroom and 1,800-sq.-ft. meeting space, the hotel features 90 rooms, a gym, spa, sky-loft and more. more.-- -- -- -- - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- -- --------- -- -- -- -- - - - - - - -- -- -- -- --------- -- -- -- -- Perhaps the most striking elements of the original interior can be seen in Bar George. Metaphore Design was commissioned to create a restaurant with a unique design that would align with the vision of restaurateurs Oliver & Bonacini, while also balancing the challenges of designing a space for commercial activities in a heritage building. From the planning stage at the very beginning, a thorough spatial study had to be carried out knowing that each of the architectural interventions to be made to the building, however superficial, would require justifications and approvals from the Quebec Québec Ministry of Culture and Communications. The design was thus carried out so as to minimize the interventions on the existing architecture and as such the new elements were treated like islands in the center of the rooms. In the middle of what was once the Grand Salon, a magnificent elliptical-shaped bar is lit from a custom-made light fixture above. The dining rooms were also conceived in such a way that the tables surround a long banroom. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - quette, the central element of the room.As ifif repeating repeating history, Le - - -- -- ------- -- -- - - - -- -- ------- -- -- - - - -- -- -----As Mount Stephen welcomes travellers from all over the world today, just as Stephen did as a key figure in the construction of Canada’s transcontinental railway, over a hundred years ago. - - - - - - - - - - •

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Text and photos by David Lasker

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Caesarstone reveals at Waterworks

Caesarstone threw a party to launch five new designs of its quartz solid surfacing material at the Waterworks. The event was the last hurrah for the cavernous, Deco-influenced Depression-era building whose construction gave work to the unemployed. - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------------------------------------

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Photos by Yianni Tong

1—Caesarstone’s Sam Cinelli, Ontario regional manager; Elizabeth Margles, VP marketing; and John Filomena, marketing manager. 2—Gail Weininger, interior design partner, Julian Jacobs Architects; Sara Parker, account executive at flooring manufacturer Mohawk Group; the eponymous Julian, husband of Gail; and Pamela Tancock, territory manager at carpet manufacturer Stanton. 3—Figure3’s Susan Jefferson, senior team leader; Javier Saavedra, team leader; William Gray, Alivia Checchia and Srinalie Wijeyeratne, project designers; Sarah Manning, team leader; and Daniel Norwood and Jordan Brasil, project designers. 4—Veena Bhardwaj, sales consultant, Stone Edge, which designs and makes natural-stone kitchens; Kathy Marof-Geffros, account manager, Caesarstone; and Margaret Olah, president, Custom Designs by Kabinet Pro. 5—Great Gulf Homes’s Sarah Vescio, design consultant; James Willett, director of architectural development; and Lara Carey, design consultant.

Deep Impact

Over a two-day event held in May, the Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) and American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) addressed concerns such as migration, culture, and diversity in the built environment at the Impact Summit 2017.

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1—IDC staff, including Irma Kemp, Executive Assistant; Diana Mohabir, Finance/Business Manager; Tony Brenders, CEO; Therese Kasongo, Professional Development Coordinator; Scott Kettles, Business Development Manager; Barbora Krsiakova, Marketing Manager; Patrick Voisin, Communications Coordinator; Vesna Plazacic, Communications Manager; Pamela Bailey, Communications and Marketing Director.

2—Kay Brenders; Jon Penndorf; Michael Ungar; Richard van der Laken; and Ghaya Hassan on the Migration Panel. 3—IDC CEO, Tony Brenders; The Honourable Sen. Ratna Omidvar, C.M., O. Ont.; ASID CEO, Randy Fiser.

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Stratus at Teknion

Imagine a wine bottle designed by a Deconstructivist architect that was dropped from a great height and you’ll have some idea of the Karim Rashiddesigned container for Stratus Vineyards’s just-released 2014 Decant Cabernet Franc. Limited to just 110 cases and retailing at $95 a bottle, it stands apart from Stratus’s other, traditional-looking Burgundy and Bordeaux (tall- or slope-shouldered) bottles. Besides its undeniable sculptural presence, the quirky shape proves surprisingly functional: the stacked segments provide a comfortable hand grip, while the interior bumps decant the lees (wine sediments) when the bottle is poured. Design star Rashid, wearing his trademark white at the launch ceremony in Teknion’s Toronto showroom, grew up and began his career in Toronto and works for clients around the world. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1—Stratus’s Dean Stoyka, vineyard manager, and Carol Marotta, admin director, flank Milan-based, Issey Miyake-clad graphic designer Ginette Caron in front of Rashid’s new bottle. 2—Stratus winemaker J.L Groulx; industrial design star Karim Rashid; Stratus owner and Teknion president and CEO, David Feldberg; and wine critics David Lawrason and Michael Godel of WineAlign. 3—Teknion’s Scott Bond, CFO; Joe Regan, senior VP design and corporate marketing; and Scott Deugo, chief sales and sustainability officer.

Photos by Meschina

Milanese Street Party

Erupting in the middle of Salone del Mobile, more than 3,000 people invaded the streets of Milan to join Design Pride, a parade of floats, banners, music and performances sponsored by a plethora of design-related companies wanting to show support to young designers, local talent and craftsmen. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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1—Italian pop star Gaia Gozzi, who performed a set during the parade; artist Luciana Toledo Piza; and fashion designer Marcelo Burlon. 2—Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel, graduates of the Design Academy Eindhoven and co-founders of Studio Job based in Antwerp. 3—Rome-based film art director Luca Tommassini; Italian TV hostess and actress Paola Barale. 4—Communications and PR consultant Paride Vitale; prolific product designer and Creative Director of his eponymous firm, Stefano Seletti.

Photos by Ryan Emberley

Merchants for Men

Merchant Sons hosted a VIP launch event to celebrate their new store, which focuses on a combination of contemporary designs and thoughtful functionality that will appeal to the urban male demographic. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------• 1—The store itself is styled as an immersive lifestyle experience where customers can explore the products alongside bespoke and vintage furniture. 2—House and Home’s Kimberley Brown and writer Jeremy Freed. 3—Merchant Sons’ Moritz Bolle and Iris Fischer, from Blake, Cassels, Graydon LLP. 4—Sharp Magazine’s Peter Saltsman and Merchant Sons’ Greg Robson.

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One Arm Clapping

At each of the Drake Hotel properties, John Tong’s One Arm Stool plays a starring role.

By Michael Totzke

You could say John Tong’s One Arm Stool has legs. It was a key element in his refashioning as lead designer of 3rd Uncle Design of the Drake Hotel in 2004, which did much to make the deteriorating Queen Street West hotel hip again. It brought a taste of the Drake Hotel’s lounge to the dining room of the Drake Devonshire, in not-toodistant Prince Edward Country, which Tong — by then the principal of +tongtong — also designed to great acclaim. And it has turned up, in a new configuration, at the recently opened Drake Commissary in Toronto’s transforming Jungle Triangle. Set in a historic brick and beam condiment factory, between a brewery and a chocolate plant, the 8,000-sq.-ft. Commissary skillfully fuses a production facility that supplies food for all of the Drake Hotel Properties locations with an eatery, bakery, bar and larder open to the public. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - “I had been travelling around Barcelona, and I was taken by the social interaction around Vespas,” recalls Tong. “Strangers would meet in bars and travel by scooter to other bars. I liked the intimacy of that scooter seat and wanted to recreate it.” The arm, he explained, is merely a perch to foster interaction and communication; two can be placed together for CANADIAN INTERIORS 7/8 2017

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added intimacy. Tong also had in mind airplane seats with a shared arm: “You have to negotiate, through body language, which will use the arm. I like that unspoken communication, provoking a subtle shift in interaction.” - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Taking his cue from important elements of design for the Drake Commissary — perforated metal panelling, with large round holes and circular light installations — Tong decided to fashion a new version with a tubular-steel circular base (provided by Mur-Van Manufacturing) at the bottom and a round seat. But the one arm, custom made in tubular steel and solid wood, remains in place, as does the leather upholstery (from CTL Leather) in what Tong calls “Drake green.” Putting it all together is Grant Gilmour of Gilmour Upholsteries. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - On the night of the Drake Commissary opening in June, it was difficult to spot the stools that had been finished in time, what with a large, happy throng sampling plentiful morsels of very good food. In both its configurations, the One Arm Stool does seem to symbolize the whole Drake vibe: quirky but comfortable; industrial but polished; artsy but down to earth. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - •

Photo by Kayla Rocca

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