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.

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.

Image(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.

evoke_spectus

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 MagazineHabit & Cascade Folks To Open New Southeast Asian Restaurant “The Union”.

Bel Cafe: Opening Soon.

The finishing touches are being put on our design for David Hawksworth‘s latest venture – Bel Café – which is set to be unveiled later this week.

Our challenge on this project? To come up with a design that matches the artistry of David’s food!

Stay tuned for a full post.

Heavy Metal.

Interior/exterior metal work is now installed in preparation for the October unveiling of our design for new Yaletown restaurant, Chinois.

Andrews House

Final design renderings are done for a new custom house in Vancouver. The upper two floors of the house sit on a concrete podium that forms a level base on the steep slope of the site, and creates a firm boundary for the extent of the building footprint. Two independent volumes are connected by a steel and glass structure, allowing for deep natural light penetration into all areas of the house, while helping to minimize the overall massing. Space flows horizontally, and steps down gradually from the south to north volume, following the natural slope of the site. The main level of the north volume contains the living, dining and kitchen areas, which connect seamlessly to the patio and swimming pool that form the roof of the concrete podium. Sliding glass doors completely open the interior to the patio space, offering an extension to the living space in the warmer weather. The swimming pool frames the north end of the patio, and its infinity edge results in an uninterrupted and reflective frame to the forest and views beyond.

Construction is scheduled to start in October.

West 9th House: Final Renderings

The final renderings for the second of the West 9th Houses – currently under construction.

Upcoming: Hawksworth’s Bel Cafe

Construction is underway on one of our latest projects: the new Bel Cafe for David Hawksworth at the Hotel Georgia. The cafe will be a compliment to David’s new restaurant at the hotel, but will focus on great coffee, pastries and desserts, as well as light lunches. The interior will feature dark wood panelling, honed black granite floors and zinc counter surfaces. The fantastic Christiaan + Planck are supplying a custom bright chrome plated chandelier measuring out to 2.4m diameter. The cafe should be open by end of October.

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