Nota Bene Restaurant, Toronto Interior, Canada, Ontario Architecture Images

Nota Bene Restaurant in Toronto

Gastro Bar Interior in Canada – design by +tongtong, Architects

October 4, 2018

Now closed

24 Apr 2017

Nota Bene Restaurant

Architects: +tongtong

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Nota Bene Restaurant

Award winning interior design firm +tongtong has collaborated with renowned Owner/Chef David Lee to renovate the interiors of Nota Bene, an established fine dining restaurant that was originally designed by the buildings Architects KPMB. While remaining in Toronto’s popular Queen Street West neighbourhood, the reimagined Nota Bene features an all-new design. +tongtong developed a concept inspired by Chef David Lee’s new menu ideas centered on seasonal ingredients. +tongtong expands the idea of the changing of the seasons to a concept of change itself. The design integrates elements that celebrate the beauty of change, by the powers of nature and by the ingenuity of man.

Queen Street West is animated with fashion retailers, hardware suppliers, and variety stores. Along this stretch is also home to the Much Music broadcasting studio, The Canadian Opera House and the National Ballet of Canada. Upon entering the Restaurant patrons are greeted by a statuesque tree. The trunk is of a fallen Ironwood tree resurrected from the floor of a Southern Ontario forest and treated with the ancient Japanese process of Shou Sugi Ban, a technique in which wood is preserved through carbonization rendering it matte black. The tree’s canopy floats effortlessly above with a rhythmic gesture inspired by the natural phenomenon of murmuration. This gestural expression is presented in geometric form using 3-D printed technology. Reaching the wood trellised ceiling above, the art piece titled Fuga, defines the entrance from the new bar area adjacent and introduces the anticipated drama further into the new space.

Chef Lee felt the original bar area lacked energy and connection to the rest of the dining space and the urban nature of the neighbourhood. +tongtong utilizes 2 large scale elements that now connects the bar to the street and the dining room while maintaining defined and differentiated spaces. A reflective black ceiling stretches the length of the room overhead, deep and mysterious, the inverted pond offers an aerial view of dining room activity. A 43ft glass rail separates the new bar and dining room. Laminated within the glass +tongtong created an abstract graphic mirror of a beehive and bees collecting honey. A layer of dichroic film renders the surface iridescent “like the wings of butterflies” says +tongtong Principal John Tong. The partition doubles as a mirror that reflects the street life into the bar area and a perforated screen maintaining transparency to the dining room.

Another feature linking the two areas is a custom-designed wine display back lit and framed behind a glass wall. Columns of voluptuous vegetable-tanned and oiled leather saddles gently cradle bottles of wine. The effect resembles young buds clinging to vines showcasing Chef Lee’s vast wine offerings.

Nota Bene’s dining room, known for its luxurious ambiance wanted to offer a new yet equally refined experience. +tongtong created an installation of over 70 tumble weeds sourced from Nevada. While seemingly fragile these deceptively tough and well-traveled entities migrate across the ceiling of the entire dining room injecting an airy touch of endearing whimsy to the room.

The energy of the previously closed kitchen is now exposed through a translucent macro-photographic mural of a fantastical space deep inside a chunk of glass, a material created through the alchemical process of intensely heating sand. Glass is considered a live material and is in perpetual motion.

The iconic white linens of fine dining are replaced with custom designed Corian tables which drape over a frame then centered with playful inserts of walnut resembling bubbles cuddling together. In the bar area the tables have removable serving platter inserts for never ending list of breads, charcuterie and bar snacks.

The entire renovation took a year of planning and three weeks of onsite construction.

“Nota Bene is a well-established brand with very loyal followers. +tongtong was mindful in reinforcing Chef Lee’s vision while bringing a new experience to a broader audience. We aimed to give the space the sensuality of material while maintaining a very sleek, architectural approach,” says Tong. “It’s a balance of warmth and modernity.”

Nota Bene Restaurant – Building Information

Client: Nota Bene Owner/ Chef David Lee
Designers:
John Tong, Executive Creative Director and Lead Designer
Lisa Mann, Creative Director
Kateryna Nebesna, Designer
Completion date: February 2016
Builder: Anjinov

About +tongtong
+tongtong is a visionary interior Design firm led by Principal John Tong (B. Architecture from University of Toronto). The firm creates thoughtful concept driven spaces and objects. Their portfolio includes restaurants, bars, hotels, retail, custom homes and residential development projects in North America and Europe. Recently completed are the award-winning Drake Devonshire Inn, Her Majesty’s Pleasure, Barsa Taverna, Batch for Molson Canada and Zn house. +tongtong is currently working on multiple projects for the Drake Hotel Properties including a commissary and café, a “day-to-night” mini bar, and an expansion of the existing Drake Hotel with Diamond Schmitt Architects. Other projects includes a hotel in Sweden, a luxury cottage in Muskoka with Star Architect Todd Saunders and various multi-residential development projects across Canada.

+tongtong has received numerous international Awards & Accolades including: The James Beard Awards nomination for best restaurant design, Hospitality Design HD Awards including Best of Show, Best Spa, Best Guest room, and Best Hotel, and Gold Key Awards for Best hotel and Best guest room. It was also the winner of the best bar at the Restaurant and Bar Awards and nominated for best small retail and best small house by ID magazine. In Canada, +tongtong has been presented with several awards by the Design Exchange and Best of Canada as well as Best Restaurant and Best Hotel Suite from EnRoute Magazine.

Photographer: Lisa Petrole

Nota Bene Restaurant in Toronto images / information received 240417

Address: 180 Queen St W, Toronto ON M5V 3X3

Nota Bene Restaurant – now closed

Location: Toronto, Canada

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