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      Ravi Handa designs his own wine bar called Stem in Montreal

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      Reclaimed materials found during demolition work have been preserved and used as decoration in this Montreal wine bar called Stem that’s designed and co-owned by Ravi Handa Architect.

      Named Stem, the wine bar was completed earlier in 2020 near September, a cafe and surfboard workshop designed by the same architect in Montreal’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood.
      A piece of vintage wallpaper now hangs by the bar’s entranceUpon learning that a vacant space near September cafe would be taken up by a big-box pizza chain, the architect teamed up with some partners to lease the space themselves.

      “There was an uproar in the community and we [September] along with other local businesses on the block didn’t want a multinational chain as a neighbour,” Handa told Dezeen.
      “There was a great deal of pressure to create something soulful and anchored to place since we had convinced our landlords to break with a brand that we felt was perhaps void of soul and rather generic,” he added.
      Materials found on-site during demolition have been turned into artworksHanda envisioned an establishment that would draw cues from the cafe, offering a casual place for neighbours to gather in a nighttime setting.
      “As a partner, and because the business is physically linked to an already successful business, I was more emotionally invested in the design process than usual,” he said.
      “While the spirit of the cafe is reflected in the wine bar’s fine lines and warm palette, the new space has an identity of its own, using the stem as a source of inspiration.”
      Slim slats of wood, intended to represent wine glass stems, are a recurring motif in the interiors.
      A privacy screen separates the tasting room from the back-of-houseDuring the demolition of the existing space, several finishes and pieces of various materials were found and repurposed as artworks for the finished space.
      “Scraps of wood and metal were collected in collaboration with artist and friend Jeremy Le Chatelier, who incorporated them into works of art,” the architect said.

      Montreal wine bar Vinvinvin by Ménard Dworkind takes cues from bottle labels

      The long, narrow space features some walls painted in a dark green colour that was chosen based on a piece of vintage, hand-painted wallpaper that was found on site.
      Elsewhere, the existing brick demising walls are exposed in a nod to the area’s industrial past.
      Thin strips of wood that line the space are meant to look like the stem of a wine glassThin wooden slats cover the bar itself, a motif that is also found in a privacy screen that separates the back-of-house spaces from the tasting room.
      “[The screen] conceals the washroom and dishwashing area, without alienating workers from the lively energy in the bar,” said architect.
      New finishes contrast the existing walls in the bathroomIn the restroom, a concrete wall was left in its original condition, contrasting the new tiles and fixtures that were installed during the renovation.
      In an effort to support local brands and designers, the architect sourced furniture and lighting from within the city’s tight-knit design community. The lights are by a Luminaire Authentik and the furniture was designed by Atelier Appareil, the furniture arm of Appareil Architecture.
      Other projects in Montreal include a newly opened coworking space by Ivy Studio and a retro coffee bar downtown by Ménard Dworkind.
      The photography is by Olivier Blouin.

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      Leckie Studio designs penthouse inside BIG's Vancouver skyscraper

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      A rainforest-style atrium with a cedar tree lies within a two-storey unit designed by Leckie Studio, located inside the new Vancouver House tower.

      The penthouse is found within the sculptural, 59-storey tower that rises up from a triangular site in downtown Vancouver, near Granville Bridge. The building was designed by architecture firm BIG and was completed last year.
      A rainforest-style atrium sits at the heart of the penthouseThe two-level apartment is on the northwest side of the skyscraper, where it is afforded views of English Bay and the North Shore Mountains.
      The unit’s owner desired an inviting atmosphere and spaces to accommodate natural artefacts and artwork from her travels. She turned to local firm Leckie Studio to oversee the design.
      The apartment has views far-reaching views of Vancouver and beyond
      The team set out to create a layered environment that looked both inward and outward, and was infused with organic elements.
      “Through an iterative design process, the studio and client arrived at a highly bespoke, biophilic design that is attuned to the passage of time,” the team said.
      A kitchen on the lower level features a giant islandThe unit is divided into public and private areas. On the bottom level, one finds a living room, dining area, kitchen and an office. A half-turn stair leads to the upper level, which holds two bedrooms.
      There also is a 167-square-metre roof deck that is accessed via a private elevator.

      Jürgen Vandewalle arranges Ghent penthouse around three blocks of furniture

      “The experience of the penthouse is quite varied, depending on the time of day and which space is being occupied,” said architect Michael Leckie.
      The unit’s focal point is a tall, glazed atrium filled with lush vegetation.
      The atrium runs alongside the stairwell leading to bedroomsActing as the “spine” for the penthouse, the atrium runs alongside the stairwell and extends from the unit’s bottom level all the way to its roof terrace. At the top, it is open to the sky.
      “Conceived as a microcosm of the Pacific Northwest rainforest, its centrepiece is a full-size, red cedar tree that lends a contemplative and grounding element to the onlooking interiors,” the team said.
      Finishes and fixtures are kept minimal in the bathroom”The ecosystem surrounding this tree will be sustained long term by a ‘nurse’ log, which replenishes the space with nutrients from decay.”
      Beyond the atrium, earthy elements are found throughout the dwelling and form a rich backdrop for the client’s belongings.
      Marble lines the walls of the powder roomAmerican black walnut makes up the woodwork in the living room, kitchen and bathing areas. The high-quality wood was also used for the stair treads.
      Travertine was used for flooring and custom-milled bathroom sinks. Smokey grey marble lines the walls in a powder room.
      Blackened-steel accents can be found throughout the apartmentBlackened-steel accents run throughout the unit and act as a counterpoint to the natural materials.
      The penthouse’s sparse furnishings include an oak-topped dining table with a cast-bronze base, and a low-lying, multidirectional sofa that support various postures and orientations.
      A lighting installation from Bocci illuminates the stairwellFloating in the stairwell is a lighting installation from Bocci that evokes a cluster of sparkling fireflies. The piece is made of copper and 122 glass luminaires.
      The rooftop terrace is meant to serve as an extension of the living space. It is fitted with a stainless-steel jacuzzi, an outdoor shower, a kitchenette and plenty of seating.
      The lighting installation is made from copper and glassFounded by Michael Leckie in 2015, Leckie Studio has designed a number of residential projects, including mirrored cabins that blend into the forest. The firm also designed Slack’s Vancouver office, located within a repurposed industrial building.
      Photography is by Conrad Brown.

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