spatial envelopes
A
ward winning interior design firm +tongtong has collaborated with renowned Owner/Chef David Lee to renovate the interiors of Nota Bene, an established fine dining restaurant that was originally designed by the buildings Architects KPMB. While remaining in Toronto’s popular Queen Street West neighbourhood, the reimagined Nota Bene features an allnew design. +tongtong developed a concept inspired by Chef David Lee’s new menu ideas centered on seasonal ingredients. +tongtong expands the idea of the changing of the seasons to a concept of change itself. The design integrates elements that celebrate the beauty of change, by the powers of nature and by the ingenuity of man. Queen Street West is animated with fashion retailers, hardware suppliers, and variety stores. Along this stretch
is also home to the Much Music broadcasting studio, The Canadian Opera House and the National Ballet of Canada. Upon entering the Restaurant patrons are greeted by a statuesque tree. The trunk is of a fallen Ironwood tree resurrected from the floor of a Southern Ontario forest and treated with the ancient Japanese process of Shou Sugi Ban, a technique in which wood is preser ved through carbonization rendering it matte black. The tree’s canopy floats effor tlessly above with a rhythmic gesture inspired by the natural phenomenon of murmuration. This gestural expression is presented in geometric form using 3-D printed technology. Reaching the wood trellised ceiling above, the ar t piece titled Fuga, defines the entrance from the new bar area adjacent and introduces the anticipated drama fur ther into the new space.
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