Blue Rodeo: On A Hot August Night

Blue Rodeo hits Toronto’s Molson Canadian Amphitheatre on August 18, along with Great Lake Swimmers. Once again we had the pleasure of working with them to create a poster for the show.

Sounds like a good excuse to head out to TO!

 

Bel Café

Our design for David Hawksworth’s Bel Cafe is a reflection of the heritage materials used in the Hotel Georgia lobby, utilised in a contemporary setting. Materials selected reflect the character of a European cafe: rich dark wood panelling and cabinetry; zinc service counters and tabletops; honed black granite floors; and classic leather and wool upholstery seating. The cafe features a long service counter with display cases, display shelves and a dining area that seats 20.

A custom chandelier, fashioned from chromed ribbons of aluminum, greets customers at the entrance, with banquette seating on either side. Menu boards supported by the wood ceiling give a casual, vintage nod to the typical French cafe. Custom designed wallpaper, in a palette of soft colours, reflects the overall aesthetic of the cafe.

Photos © Copyright: Janis Nicolay. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Cosmonaut And The Girl

We’ve recently been working with EMI Canada on the graphics for singer/songwriter/guitarist Shawn Hook’s debut release. The album/cd “Cosmonaut And The Girl” hit the stores this past week.

Thanks to Janis Nicolay for the photo.

Pixar Canada

It’s been almost 2 years and our work on Pixar Canada’s studio in Gastown is nearing completion. It has been amazing working with such an inspiring client. To see more images, and hear Creative Director Dylan Brown discuss Pixar’s venture into Canada, head over to the Pixar Podcast.

(Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar). Used with permission. All rights reserved.

(Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar). Used with permission. All rights reserved.

In Progress: Spectus Eyewear

Construction is nearly complete on our design for the interior of Spectus Eyewear’s new location on Fourth Avenue.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

A series of posters of Irish icons created for The Cascade Room.

The Union Bar

Our latest project, The Union, opens tonight at 219 Union Street, Vancouver.

We got a sneak taste of what’s in store the other night with some food and cocktail tasting (photos below). Chef, Lisa Henderson has created a Southeast Asian inspired menu, while barman Arthur Wynne uses the regions ingredients, sourced from neighbouring Chinatown, to infuse his cocktails.

More photos to follow. In the meantime, here’s a brief description of the design.

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The Union is a 2,100 sq.ft. modern yet eclectic space utilizing dark woods, reclaimed barn board, exposed concrete walls and floors, large-scale pendants, custom wood tables and benches, and neighbourhood imagery, creating a contemporary and inclusive room. The space is organized around the bar and kitchen.

Upon entering the space, the 14 seat bar (with emeco Lancaster bar stools) is prominently highlighted by four backlit cabinets featuring detail images of texture and colour of the grittier aspects of the Chinatown/Strathcona neighbourhood (Photography by Janis Nicolay). Chalkboards above present the bar’s offering, which focuses on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, also prominently displayed.

The 70 seat dining area is comprised of three long wood communal tables and benches. A long banquette at the back of the room separates the diners from the service spaces. Above the communal tables hang nine Jielde Augustin large pendant lamps, chosen for their simple and industrial aesthetic.

Adjacent the bar, the open kitchen is wrapped in reclaimed barn board panels. The installation was inspired the Union Street locale.

The lyrics to “Crosstown Traffic” not only reference the young Jimi Hendrix who ventured up to Vancouver to spend his summer holidays, but also the Georgia Street viaduct which was constructed in the early 1970′s as part of an extensive freeway system which was to flow traffic from the suburbs “crosstown” to Vancouver. Hendrix would spend his summer holidays with his grandmother, Nora Hendrix, who worked at Vie’s Chicken Shack (next door to The Union, where the Jimi Hendrix Shrine now stands) The lyrics have been broken apart and reassembled to represent the fracturing of the neighbourhood caused by the viaduct, which went directly through the predominantly black community of Hogan’s Alley (Park Lane).

There is a common design language used throughout The Union with Evoke being responsible for: interior design, custom-designed furniture, feature wall installations, menus and all branding (including name development, logo identity, collateral graphics, signage).

The Union Bar: 219 Union Street, Vancouver. www.TheUnionBar.ca | Twitter: @TheUnionBar

Working For The Union.

Our latest restaurant project, The Union Bar, is moving into the final stages as the installation takes shape wrapping around the kitchen wall and equipment starts moving in.

Stencilling for wall installation.

The install.

Site discussions.

The Union Bar is located at 219 Union Street, Vancouver (at Main & Union on the edge of Chinatown).

Follow updates on twitter @evokeid and @theunionbar.

See also: Scout Magazine – Habit & Cascade Folks To Open New Southeast Asian Restaurant “The Union”.

We Spit Roses

The “Godfather Of Goth”, Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), graces Vancouver with his presence this Friday night. This is our poster for said show.