Subterms
Canadian studio Ste Marie has designed Meo cocktail bar and restaurant influenced by 1970s and ’80s Hong Kong in Vancouver’s Chinatown, using pink hues, floral patterns and red accents. More
Montreal-based architecture office Future Simple Studio has designed minimalist interiors with white oak and textured concrete for a sushi restaurant in Quebec City. More
Montreal architect Diandra Maselli has overhauled a century-old house in the city for herself and her family, modernising the residence while retaining some historic character.
The founder of Diandra Maselli Architect acquired the property a week before the Covid-19 pandemic caused global lockdowns, and faced an uphill battle during the renovation of the historic structure.
The 100-year-old home was fully modernised inside, including a new kitchen”The house had its fair share of obstacles – including structural decay, carpenter ants, mice, water infiltration, foundation holes, and asbestos abatement,” said Maselli.
“However, amidst these challenges, there was a silver lining – the extensive demolition and incorporation of a steel structure paved the way for a tailor-made renovation, envisioned to meet modern needs and newly unfolding realities.”
Architect Diandra Maselli played with boundaries and thresholds throughout the homeWith the structural work on the 3,512-square-foot (326 square metres) building complete, the architect was able to tailor the interiors to her family’s needs.
For example, they needed two home offices – one on each floor – that could also transition into family areas during evenings and weekends.
A variety of custom doors were added, including a glass and steel design between the living area and home officeThe old building’s compartmentalised layout was restrictive, so Maselli explored playing with the public and private boundaries.
She did this by introducing a variety of custom doors, using different designs and materials so that “each threshold assumes a distinctive purpose”.
Although contemporary furniture was inserted, details like the fireplace mantles and bay windows were restoredA glass and steel door separates the ground-floor home office from the kitchen and living area, allowing light and views to pass between the two spaces.
To conceal the laundry room from the kitchen, a nine-foot-tall (2.7 metres), flush-mounted door was installed, while a large sliding partition was added to open the kitchen to an outdoor patio.
“By bestowing unique characteristics upon these transitions, the house’s dynamics shift responsively,” Maselli said.
Built-in furniture made from white oak is found throughout the houseUniting the majority of the spaces is the use of white oak for millwork, built-in furniture and other details, providing visual consistency throughout the home.
The most expansive application of the material is in the kitchen, forming a front for the cabinetry, a central island and a coffee station opposite.
Atelier L’Abri renovates trio of apartments for a family in Montreal
White oak also wraps walls and closets in the primary bedroom, where it is detailed with rounded corners and almost invisible door pulls.
A half-height partition divides the sleeping and dressing areas, providing a view through mirrored double swing doors to the second-floor office.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom separated from a dressing area by a half-height partitionThe renovation also provided the opportunity to modernise the home’s heating, ventilation and electrical systems.
This included repurposing the original cast-iron radiators to support a dual-energy heating system.
White oak millwork is used for the closets and features rounded cornersAll of the window shades, lighting and under-floor heating are automated to sync with the family’s daily routines.
“The essence of the project is to blend the legacy of a century-old house with the needs of today, ensuring that its historic charm is retained while seamlessly integrating modern functionalities that respond to our new unfolding realities,” said the architect.
The red-brick home in Montreal also received a full exterior restorationMaselli founded her eponymous studio in 2020 and has since also completed a single-family house in Lasalle, Quebec.
Other recently renovated Montreal homes include a mid-century dwelling overhauled by Atelier Chardonnat and Salem Architecture, and a triplex residence reimagined by Atelier L’Abri.
The photography is by Maxime Brouillet.
Read more: More
For our latest lookbook, we look at the interiors of contemporary pizzerias across the globe, including a pink vegan restaurant in London and a Mexico City space informed by a neighbouring church.
From New York City to Italy, its country of origin, pizza is a beloved delicacy across the world. As a result, the humble pizzeria is trafficked by many, with some visitors whisking away a two-dollar slice and others packed into a booth to convene around a shared pie.
The pizzerias below showcase a wide variety of styles, each boasting unique and eclectic features that display a careful consideration for a space often held in high regard by its customers.
This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring soothing cabin interiors, versatile futons and daybeds and stylish shower curtains.
Humble Pizza, UK, by Child Studio
Pink tables and furniture contrasted with a dark green hue fill the interior of this vegan restaurant in London’s Chelsea neighbourhood.
Local practice Child Studio designed the space to resemble the city’s workmen’s cafes of the 1950s, which typically featured pastel-coloured Formica surfaces and no-frills food and drink.
Find out more about Humble Pizza ›
The photo is by David DworkindVesta, Canada, by Ménard Dworkind
Located in Montreal’s Villeray neighbourhood, the wood-panelled walls and marble table tops of Vesta take cues from New York pizzerias of the 1970s.
“In its own contemporary way the design of Vesta evokes the spirit of Italian family restaurants common in North America during the 1970s,” Ménard Dworkind said.
Find out more about Vesta ›
The photo is by Nicholas VeneziaLala’s Brooklyn Apizza, USA, by Bench Architects
Lala’s Brooklyn Apizza by Bench Architects is located in Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg neighbourhood, atop a brewery that was formally an industrial space.
Lightwood picnic benches were used on the interior and attached terrace, while bright, solid-coloured tiles and magenta curtains line the space.
Find out more about Grimm
The photo is by Patrick SchüttlerDough Pizza, Australia, by Ohlo Studio
The “rustic sophistication” of Italy was evoked with red-toned tiles and light woods for Dough Pizza in Perth, which sits in a shopping centre.
“It needed to evoke a distinct atmosphere and personality reinforcing the cultural heritage behind the food,” said Ohlo Studio.
Find out more about Dough Pizza ›
The photo is by Simone BossiMyrto, Italy, by Studio Wok
Studio Wok created this pizzeria on Sardinia to reflect the island’s natural surroundings, such as its earthy tones and granite rocks.
The winds of the area erode and carve out the granite rocks, which the studio reflected in the walls covered in pink plaster, a concrete floor and arched openings.
Find out more about Myrto ›
The photo is by Blaine DavisSIMÒ Pizza, USA, by Büro Koray Duman
Located in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood of New York City, SIMÒ Pizza is lined with shelving made of Italian volcanic stone and wallpaper printed with a flour graphic.
Its pizza ovens sit in a centre block, which is lined in patterned wood and a green tiled countertop.
Find out more about SIMÒ Pizza ›
The photo is by Arturo ArrietaPizzeria Della Madonna, Mexico, by Sofía Betancur
The pizza oven of Pizzeria Della Madonna sits in full view, surrounded by tiled and plaster walls and wood flooring.
Architect Sofía Betancur took cues from the Parroquia de la Sagrada Familia church, which sits next door, for the space.
Find out more about Pizzeria Della Madonna ›
The photo is by Mikko RyhänenPopolo, Finland, by Studio Joanna Laajisto
Studio Joanna Laajisto designed Popolo to be a cosy retreat on the slopes of Pyhä Ski Resort in northern Finland.
Leather benches, wooden tables, copper lamps and candleholders were used to evoke a sense of warmth and were paired with slate flooring and dark wood panelling.
Find out more about Popolo ›
Read more: More
Canadian studio Atelier Échelle has overhauled an orthodontic clinic in Montreal to create a “warm and inviting, residential atmosphere” with medical equipment positioned among light wood features.
Clinique Monkland occupies the parlour level of a century-old building in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood.
The reception area at Clinique Monkland is designed to resemble a living roomThe 90-square-metre space was reimagined by local firm Atelier Échelle to make it feel less sterile and more homely.
“[The project] reimagines the typical orthodontic clinic experience as a warm and inviting domestic environment,” said the studio.
A compact walnut desk features a ridged front and curved cornersIn the reception area, a compact walnut desk with a ridged front and rounded corners is positioned in front of a white-painted brick fireplace.
Millwork surrounds the brick, covering the full wall with storage and display space for styling books and artwork.
Green velvet benches are provided for waiting patientsOn either side of the room are green velvet benches – one straight, and another that angles to fit within a large bay window – for waiting patients.
“The reception was conceived as a living room by preserving an existing brick fireplace and adding long, custom velvet benches along the side walls,” said Atelier Échelle.
Fluted glass panels provide privacy for the consultation roomsFluted glass provides privacy for the adjacent consultation room, which is accessed through a doorway that connects to the remaining spaces.
“A corridor echoes the original layout of the building, distributing the technical apparatus on one side and consultation rooms on the other,” the studio said.
Pale mint green cabinets and leather chairs add to the contemporary aestheticThe consultation rooms are warmed using white oak flooring and trim, as well as a coffered ceiling that hides electromechanical and dental equipment above.
“This bespoke design also offers something for the reclined patients to observe as they receive dental care,” said Atelier Échelle.
Appareil Architecture designs Montreal dental clinic to feel like “someone’s home”
Cabinets are coloured pale mint green and the patient chairs are upholstered in brown leather, adding to the contemporary feel throughout the clinic.
“The nuanced minimalism of the place blends period accents with comforting wood tones and domestic touches, transforming the orthodontic clinic experience through heightened design details,” Atelier Échelle said.
A coffered ceiling hides mechanical and dental equipment aboveSeveral designers have rethought the experience of visiting a dental clinic by creating interiors more akin to residential or hospitality spaces.
Also in Montreal, Appareil Architecture took a similar approach at the Maxillo Tandem clinic to help patients and employees feel relaxed, while Studio Author modelled Toronto’s Paste Dental on a hotel lounge.
The bespoke ceiling provides a view for reclined patients during consultationsClinique Monkland is longlisted in the health and well-being interior category of Dezeen Awards 2024, along with 15 other projects around the world.
These include a massage parlour in Shanghai, a dermatology clinic in Tokyo, and a spa and hammam in Dubai.
The photography is by Maxime Brouillet.
Project credits:
Architect: Table ArchitectureInterior designer: Atelier ÉchelleMillwork and furniture: Mesure, Arrebeuri, Foutu Tissu
Read more: More
Bright yellow accents stand out against concrete and metal surfaces within this “creative laboratory” that architect Jean Verville has created for himself inside a residential tower in Quebec City.
The Canadian architect, who is currently dividing his time between practice and teaching at the School of Architecture of Laval University in Quebec City, designed the 79-square-metre apartment as a space he can both work and reside in.
A pair of bright yellow lamps extend over the commercial restaurant furniture in the live-work apartment’s kitchenVerville, founder of Studio Jean Verville Architecte, describes the project as “an architectural experiment orchestrating a space with a graphic dimension”.
The 1970s tower in which the residence is located was designed by architect Marcel Bilodeau and faces the Plains of Abraham Park in front of the St Lawrence River.
The stainless steel furniture blends with the raw concrete shell of the brutalist building”Like an observation post offering breathtaking views of the Laurentian Mountains, the urban landscape, and the St Lawrence River, the interior comes alive with an immutable body-to-body relationship between transparency and reflection, while transforming realities through distancing and multiplication,” said the architect.
The residence was completely gutted to leave a raw concrete shell, with windows on the north and south sides ushering light into the deep space.
Verville inserted a series of glass and mirrored partitions to divide up the space, allowing for various layout optionsInstead of solid walls, Verville installed a series of sliding partitions so he could open up or close off areas as desired.
These glass and mirror panes are mounted on metal tracks and bounce the natural light through the apartment, allowing the compact unit to feel larger than it is.
An area furnished as a living room contains a rust-coloured sofa and a black-lacquered chair”By addition or subtraction, this flexible system fragments the plan into six layout alternatives with undetermined functions, offering up to seven distinct sub-spaces,” said Verville. “Meanwhile, flexible blinds with a metallic finish allow the option of openwork borders, as well as total privacy.”
Beside the south-facing balcony is a kitchen, which features stainless-steel commercial restaurant furniture that blends with the grey concrete shell.
The partitions are mounted on metal tracks and can be opened and closed as desired to alter the layoutA central island is fitted with two sinks, each with a large balanced-arm lamp in bright yellow mounted on the wall behind.
The lamps can be adjusted into position above any area of the kitchen counter to aid with food preparation.
The concrete bedroom is solely furnished with a low bedRooms suggested by the partitions include a sleeping area furnished only with a simple low bed and a study where a simple metal desk faces a window.
The living area is populated by a rust-coloured sofa and a black lacquered chair arranged around a pair of mirrored coffee tables.
Jean Verville converts backyard shed into minimalist studio in Montreal
“The strategic positioning of domestic equipment maintains constant physical and visual permeability to neutralise the compactness of the unit,” Verville said.
Services, pipes and ductwork are all exposed throughout the apartment, demonstrating how it operates as a functional space.
Verville considers the space a “creative laboratory” in which he can experimentOther eclectic items peppered through the residence give the feel of a creative laboratory, in which its occupant experiments with space and the act of living within it.
“Glass vials of all kinds, models and various explorations, utilitarian objects, and plants rub shoulders on the shelves, revisiting the spirit of the cabinet of curiosities in a playful presentation of everyday life,” said the architect.
Verville frequently inserts himself into the photo sets of his projectsVerville is known for its minimalist material-focused projects, as well as for playfully inserting himself into the photographs of completed – as evidenced in this set.
He can also be seen wandering around in a cape through a Montreal apartment designed for a music composer, hanging out of a loft in a shed he converted into a workspace and balancing on the roof of an A-frame forest cabin.
The photography is by Maryse Béland, Maxime Brouillet and Antoine Michel.
Project credits:
Studio Jean Verville Architectes team: Jean Verville, architect – lead designer; Gabriel Ladouceur, studio coordinator, professional and scientific MA architecture candidate; Guillaume Turgeon Solis, technical specialist; France Goneau, artistic advisor; Tania Paula Garza Rico, architectSpecial collaborations: Loïc Bard, art furniture; France Goneau, ceramic sculpturesContractor: Nomad Construction
Read more: More
Toronto architecture studio Partisans has used parametric modelling to create an undulating stone storefront for luxury watch brand Rolex.
Partisans’ latest application of its digital modelling and fabrication technique resulted in a sculptural facade that wraps the ground floor of a high-rise on Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto.
The flowing lines of the Rolex store’s limestone facade emanate from the building’s existing architectural featuresThe studio worked with Italian architect Arturo Tedeschi on the project, which is intended to give the store presence and allow it to stand out from others in the busy shopping district, as well as reflect the high-precision of Rolex timepieces.
Limestone panels affixed to the building’s exterior are shaped to echo the forms and textures of the brand’s watches.
The stone panels are shaped to curve around windows and emulate the brand’s watch designsThe material was chosen for its luxurious appearance and longevity, according to Partisans founder Josephson, who said: “Stone is future heritage, it’s having a renaissance.”
The panels continue the geometry of the existing building features, such as the rigid vertical mullions, but flow into softer shapes that curve around large windows and over the entrance awning.
More stone appears in the boutique’s interior. Photo by Robert Lowdon Photography”Each stone bay was cut according to measurements found through 3D scans of the existing building,” said Partisans designer Ian Pica-Limbaseanu.
Niches are integrated into the stonework to house cove lighting that washes over the curvaceous forms at night, yet the junctions between the stone and the glass were trickiest to detail, according to Pica-Limbaseanu.
Dark green seating matches a glass artwork, while walnut panelling and furniture contrast the paler stone. Photo by Robert Lowdon Photography”The window detailing, specifically, had a tall order of requirements to satisfy,” he said.
“Not only did it need to meet the exterior stonework at exact locations accurate to within a quarter of an inch, but it also needed to allow for easy maintenance and proper energy performance for what was otherwise an utterly unprecedented look to glazing on Bloor Street.”
Partisans creates pixelated brick facade for Toronto house
Tedeschi applied his computational design skills to create an algorithm for the parametric compositions etched into the limestone across the east facade.
These forms follow the geometries of engravings seen on watch-face dials while also responding to the unique qualities of the structure’s elevation.
Niches in the limestone facade house cove lights that wash over the facade at nightThe store interiors feature plenty more stone, whose creamy tone is contrasted with dark walnut panelling and furniture.
Dark green seating matches a glass wall artwork that bears the Rolex logo, which separates the main shop floor with a more intimate lounge area tucked behind.
The facade was designed to reflect the high-precision of Rolex timepieces and to stand out on Toronto’s high-end Bloor StreetPartisans has previously used parametric design tools to create a rolling, pixellated brick facade for a single-family home, and a high-rise informed by architectural “revision clouds” – both in Toronto.
The firm was founded by Josephson in 2012, and has since completed a pool house in Ontario with an undulating timber roof and a lakeside sauna designed as a cavernous wooden grotto.
The photography is by Doublespace Photography, unless stated otherwise.
Read more: More
The colorful retro diners of Quebec influenced the interiors of this restaurant in Ottawa, designed by Montreal-based Ivy Studio.
Buvette Daphnée wine bar and fine dining restaurant sits in a 1,500-square-foot commercial space within an old industrial building in the city’s historic ByWard Market district.
The Buvette Daphnée restaurant in Ottawa’s ByWard Market district takes cues from colourful retro diners”The establishment, led by a head chef with deep roots in Quebec and years of experience in Ottawa, aims to showcase a blend of both cultures through the eyes of a nostalgic francophone residing in the country’s capital,” said Ivy Studio.
The studio therefore looked to Montreal’s vibrant retro diners for design references, pairing a caramel, brown and cream palette with contrasting blue and burnt orange accents.
The restaurant is divided into two areas, including a space with lower ceilings on one side of the entranceHighly visible from the street, the dining area at the front is divided into two main sections.
A lower, more intimate space with eight-foot ceilings is to the right of the entrance, while a loftier 15-foot-high space where the open kitchen, a 36-foot-long U-shaped bar and high-top counters can be found to the left.
Exposed brickwork, natural walnut and cognac-toned upholstery all feature in the restaurantIn the taller portion, the ceilings are painted black to obscure the extra height and the walls are clad in cream-coloured, v-board panelling that continues overhead in the lower area.
Both the bar stools and the semi-circular seats tucked into tambour-lined booths are wrapped in blue velvet, while vintage dining chairs feature orange seats and banquettes are cognac and chocolate-toned.
Semi-circular booths with blue velvet seats are lined with tambour panellingNatural walnut was used for the majority of the millwork, and portions of the building’s original brickwork were left exposed.
In front of the entrance, a lacquered server station with a pill-shaped plan and tiered shelves draws the eye to the restaurant’s centre.
Ivy Studio installs colourful marble in Montreal’s Hayat restaurant
“To tie everything together, a vibrant custom-designed mosaic with the main colours covers the entire restaurant floor,” Ivy Studio said.
“Various light fixtures in the space each tell their own story,” added the team, which installed a 30-foot-long bespoke tubular piece by Montreal-based Hamster above the bar.
A burnt orange host stand catches the eye, while mosaic floor tiles combine all of the hues used across the interiorMeanwhile, frosted globe-shaped pendants that are recycled by Studio Botté from Montreal’s 1960s street lamps hang from the black ceiling.
“Much like its celebrated menu based on locally grown ingredients, Buvette Daphnée’s design offers Ottawa an authentic taste of Montreal’s rich culinary culture,” the studio concluded.
Bespoke lighting fixtures created for the space include a tubular design by Hamster that follows the shape of the barIvy Studio has completed several restaurant interiors in its home city of Montreal, including the recently completed Middle Eastern eatery Hayat, which features a colour palette based on “the earthy tones of the Syrian deserts”.
Earlier examples range from Piatti, an Italian spot that the studio renovated after fire damage, to the tropical-themed Jack Rose in a former auto body shop.
The photography is by Alex Lesage.
Read more: More
Canadian studio Reflect Architecture has renovated a home in Toronto for a new generation of the same family, while incorporating an extensive art collection.
North Drive House was the childhood home of one of the owners. After stints living abroad and in Downtown Toronto, the couple were lured back to the two-acre property for the space to raise their young family.
The home’s hallways and living spaces were renovated to feel like a gallery for the couple’s art collectionHowever, the residence’s traditional interiors were not to their taste, so Reflect Architecture principal Trevor Wallace was called in to undertake an extensive renovation.
His approach was to create a deliberate “tension” between the need to display an extensive contemporary art collection – which includes pieces by Robert Mapplethorpe and Erik Madigan Heck – and fulfilling the needs of a family home.
A sculptural staircase features layered bannisters, stepped profiles and curved forms”The idea of living in a gallery was always important to the owners, but the critical distinction is that they didn’t want to live in a museum,” said Wallace.
“This is a family home above all. The owners have always imagined that their kids would one day look back on living here and think it was pretty cool that they were playing soccer or running around inside what felt like an art gallery.”
The living room includes contemporary furniture and a ribbon-like fireplace by Brooklyn designer Leyden LewisThe team retained the existing layout and circulation while updating the spaces with fresh materials, colours and forms.
Most in line with the gallery-like aesthetic, the living spaces, hallways and corridors feature stark white walls and minimalist detailing such as flush doors and entryways.
A different approach is taken in the dining room, where the walls are painted dark tealAt the centre of the home is a staircase designed as if a piece of sculpture itself, comprising layered bannisters, stepped profiles and curvaceous forms.
A similarly playful tactic was applied in the living room, which features a rippling, ribbon-like fireplace designed by Brooklyn-based designer Leyden Lewis.
Doors and entryways throughout the home are designed to be flush with the walls”We had a lot of fun exploring and playing with the staircase’s shapes and orientations,” Wallace said. “We wanted it to feel organic and fluid, and that required being playful. That was true for the entire house from start to finish, it was important that we didn’t take the whole thing too seriously.”
The spareness of these spaces is swapped in the cooking and eating areas, which feature darker, richer colours like the teal dining room.
Blue slide is centrepiece of Walker house renovation by Reflect Architecture
A knotted light fixture by Lindsey Adelman hangs over the large stone dining table, accompanied by chairs with ochre velvet upholstery.
In the kitchen, tone-on-tone travertine cabinetry and surfaces include a new 15-foot-long (4.5-metre) kitchen island.
Tone-on-tone travertine cabinetry and surfaces were added in the kitchenAn existing gabled skylight overhead was maintained, but its beams were updated with a copper hue to “complement the travertine”.
The room is oriented towards a glass wall facing a Japanese maple tree in the garden, under which sits a large dining table by local furniture designer Mary Ratcliffe.
A 15-foot-long (4.5-metre) island was also added beneath an existing skylightWallace founded Reflect Architecture in 2016, and the studio’s previous work includes a Toronto home renovation with a blue slide as its centrepiece.
Other recently completed residential overhauls in the city include a residence connected by asymmetric brass-lined portals and a house where built-in storage volumes were added.
The photography is by Doublespace Photography.
Read more: More
