architectural photography
TOKYO SMOKE Flagship Toronto
Drake Mini Bar
The Drake Mini Bar just opened. It is a gem of its own, complete with experience of art and design for you to indulge along with food and drinks!
Description from their own words: "150 York Street just got a little more Drake. Now open across from Drake One Fifty, we’re paying homage to the classic hotel bar experience alongside the unique Drake personality that you know and love. Part eatery, part bar, we're serving up an adventurous small plate menu with hand-crafted cocktails and an eclectic wine and beer selection all set in signature Drake aesthetic with Douglas fir wood, teal leather and natural stone surrounded by curated art by artist Rajni Perera. Consider this your new Financial District local for early-morning rituals of espresso-based coffees + stellar breakfast options or your après work watering hole where every dish on the menu is a go-to and cocktails are mixed to perfection, starting with the old fashioned above. We can't wait to see how you experience Mini Bar."
Rubach Wealth office at 7 St. Thomas
Rubach Wealth office at 7 St. Thomas is designed by STOA Collective. This gorgeous and sun-filled space is sophisticated, open and fits perfectly with the architecture. Design insight is below in the designers own words!
"In order to accommodate her rapidly growing wealth management business, Rubach Wealth founder, Elke Rubach, approached us to design her 2,300 square foot newly purchased office space in the exclusive 7 St Thomas building of Yorkville, Toronto.
We wanted to challenge the preconceived notions of what a wealth management firm should look like, so we approached the design as a boutique experience or pied-à-terre; a calming yet professional space for hosting campaigns and fundraising events, while still functioning day-to-day as a comfortable and professional work space. Flexibility was at the forefront of all design decision making, creating a variety of work zones and places to meet; all easily adjustable to the changing needs of the space.
Rounded corners and a sense of light and openness encourage effortless flow from space to space and the floor plan was deliberately designed to not impede or block the beautiful architectural curves of the building."
Smart & Biggar LLP office
Smart & Biggar office is designed by SDI. The welcoming space features an office design that is sophisticated and rich in texture, juxtaposing classic and modern elements in both form and material finishing - crafting a space that is begging to be felt and touched.
Nordstrom Yorkdale
Nordstrom opened its 3rd largest Canadian store at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre with a 3 level 199,000 s.f. retail space that occupies a large portion of the new Yorkdale expansion. In addition to the typical Nordstrom services, departments and restaurants, it features large window-lit display areas and gallery-like moments with sculptural displays as well as numerous shop-in-store womens designer shops, rightly so for the fashion-forward Yorkdale shoppers. Personally as a man I was drawn to the rich smelling broken-in leather couch and the lenticular X-Ray Slash guitar-rocking portrait.
BMO neighbourhood branches
BMO Financial Group has been updating neighbourhood branches to feature unified design and messaging that communicate their identity and positioning of personal, friendly banking with clarity.
As you can see, the impressive new branches transform the customer interaction with a financial institution into a friendly and approachable experience. As a BMO customer myself, I am kind of proud to be one :)
window of opportunity
Had a fun session to capture some exterior and interiors of a Toronto residence featuring window products of Infinity from Marvin.
Desjardins financial centre Toronto
Desjardins financial centre is a one-stop-shop at the heart of Bay street - designed by Ædifica architecture + design.
I had the pleasure of photographing this modern bank in the spring. The clean double height storefront beacons with a large digital display, surrounded by bottom-lit animated angled wood panels that convey warmth and fun, a fresh look not usually expected from a bank.
The angular theme is completed throughout the architecture and interior. Boomerang shaped reception desk adds dynamism in the front lobby while the perspective accentuating slanted wood bay on the left side houses the main service desks where warm wood surround and desk height clerks greet customers in the seated position that adds to the approachable feel. On the right side, a lounge is situated in front of a large clear meeting room which anchors a bank of offices with clear glazed fronts. Inside, trapezoidal felt panels in organic pattern and colour add comfort and energy while adjacent exterior facing windows are also covered in translucent film of the same pattern - which forms a large messaging area for the entire side of the building.
This branch design is refreshing and is clearly aimed at the urbanites of Toronto, I can't imagine anyone coming out of the branch without a smile on their face!
home of genius - newton model suite
Ever wonder what a condo looks like as the resting cove of a genius? Concord Adex commissioned figure3 to design a space where a distinguishing couple comfortably calls home. It is a space that satisfies a genius scientist and his elite fashion designer counterpart. Sophistication and luxury is seen in the details and furnishing where organic warmth pairs harmoniously with a collection of objects focusing on scientific pursuit. The two washrooms – a his and hers - feature framed work by Newton and vintage Hermes scarf respectively. Glass top dinning table makes the kitchen feel light and spacious while classic furniture alongside the refined Bang & Olufsen TV creates an alluring living room that just begs to be lounged in. In the bedroom, gray silk wallcovering backdrops the headboard with subtle shimmering texture while polished doorframe and silver mirror engulfs the walk in closet, creating a semi-display and functional sparkle of a gem.
It is not an exaggeration to call it a sexy home - intellectually and stylistically!
apex toronto featuring mohawk curious modular carpet
If you weren't aware of carpet as a design element as yet, here is a great showcase.
Textile and carpet design is certainly not as easy as it looks. Besides controlled use as an accent or bold design statement, it needs to be a tasteful backdrop that doesn't overtake a space yet the texture and tone has a major impact on the experience of the space. For large application of carpet tiles as field carpet, it requires creative design to generate organic patterning so surfaces don't become dizzying pattern as seen on video game texture maps.
It is at the core of graphic design where elements such as lines, textures, orientation, negative space, pattern modularity, micro + macro appearance and three dimensional illusion all need to be carefully considered.
Mohawk's attractive Curious Modular Series under the State of Mind II collection demonstrates the creativity and design nicely in this commercial application at APEX office.