Hotels & Restaurants
Contemporary meets efficiency is the story behind CL3’s design project – a new modern business hotel located in the residential/commercial neighborhood of Tai Koo Shing in Hong Kong. The award-winning firm looked to plan from the inside-out, when they were appointed to conceptualize the project over four years ago.
Posted by Dana Pruskowski at 26 August, 2010
When I hear the word “temple” in conjunction with a commercial space, I expect it to be “worship-worthy”. That is, the place needs to live up to the reference of inspiring contemplation and commune. With the visionary look of Spice Temple, Bates Smarts Architects have created an interior that does just that. The awarding winning designed restaurant is the perfect spot to contemplate the unique culinary dishes as they delight the senses with their contrasting tastes and textures.
Posted by Diana Cook at 13 August, 2010
Savvy ChicTip readers know that McDonald’s has been “under the knife” of late. This corporate-wide face lift has been designed to update the restaurants, add some oomph to their image and give the company a contemporary edge. Back in 2006, the fast-food chain enlisted the help of Juicy Design, a young, hip Australian company that specializes in Retail, Hospitality and Commercial interiors. Challenged with reinvigorating McDonald’s across Australia, the forward thinking team at Juicy injected a fresh vibe that also reflected the unique aspects of each store’s environment.
Posted by Diana Cook at 5 August, 2010
I was just in Vegas a couple months back and there was certainly a lot of buzz around the newest Aria Resort and Casino- was it a mini city, did you see the art, did you hear people actually live there?! These were all the questions that were flying about- so, I went for myself to check the place out. The Aria is a piece of what is being called “CityCenter” an urban environment on a 67-acre site fronting the Las Vegas Strip.
Posted by Chelsea Latimer at 2 August, 2010
Munge Leung really isn’t messing around when it comes down to designing incredibly modern and magical spaces. Ultra Supper Club in Toronto, Canada is yet another gem- some of the most interesting lighting fixtures, wall installations, and materials were used in Ultra and critics are loving it.
Posted by Chelsea Latimer at 30 July, 2010
At first Natoma Architects’ Stanley Saitowitz thought he had an irreparable problem. He had a ground level space that no one had occupied for quite some time, and it was his job to figure out a way to conceal the maze of industrial pipes and conduits to create the palette for a hip restaurant.
Posted by Lauren Proctor at 23 July, 2010
It seems so timely to write about this cavernous, dimly lit restaurant in Toronto, Canada- that is in accordance with the new Twilight: Eclipse 
Have you seen it yet? Because you’ll want to go to dimly lit places and imagine you’re a vampire…or maybe that’s just me, but either way- I think I’ll start here, then hope on over to Seattle and spend a weekend- but I digress, Ame restaurant designed by Munge Leung is a modern designed Japanese restaurant that uses natural sustainable materials; wood, stone, marble, etc. and lighting to create a dramatic affect that enhances the atmosphere and experience of a dinner evening, accompanied by the culinary creativity by Guy and Michael Rubino.
Posted by Chelsea Latimer at 22 July, 2010
There is no mystery in why I have a thing for boutique hotels. They are charming, unique and the best ones allow you to occupy a brilliant design space for a night or two. One that recently caught my eye is the newly renovated Hotel Zenden in the Netherlands.
Posted by Diana Cook at 14 July, 2010
At first glance when I saw the words, “Cave Restaurant” I thought…., “Hm, dark, cold, cave with bats ” To be honest the name itself didn’t make for what would be a pleasing dining experience and then I saw the photos- Oh! That’s not really a cave with creepy bats and spiders; it’s sort of like a modern/contemporary “cave” design. The restaurant designed by Koichi Takada Architects is located in Sydney, Australia (I’ve decided everything cool and odd happens in Australia, perhaps I should just move there?) and the goal in mind was to, “change the way we eat and chat in restaurants.”
Posted by Chelsea Latimer at 13 July, 2010
Amsterdam is a bustling multi-cultural city, with exciting art, music and yes….food. I went to Amsterdam two years ago on a solo vacation and I was in culinary heaven- not only was the food delicious and every ethnic cuisine was covered, but the designs of the restaurants and hotels were interesting, modern and unique too. Well now, there’s another creative restaurant to add to the list, Restaurant Nevy, a fish restaurant, is located at the waterfront on the IJ.
Posted by Chelsea Latimer at 12 July, 2010
