CACTUS CLUB BY ACTON OSTRY ARCHITECTS

Located on the edge of the Vancouver Business District, with views of the harbour and North Shore Mountains, the new 20,000-square-foot Cactus Club Coal Harbour four-level flagship restaurant weaves together interior design, architecture and urban design by framing the iconic Jack Poole Plaza that houses the Olympic Cauldron.

Embedded into the green roof of the LMN Architects-designed Vancouver Convention Center on the harbour-front, the new 7,350 square foot restaurant, with expansive wrap-around terraces. The restaurant also employs a green roof, which is accessible by both stairs and a glass-sided elevator.

Relaxed dining chain Cactus Club recently celebrated the opening of their largest venue to date - Cactus Club Coal Harbour in Vancouver. The 20,000 sq ft outlet offers more than double the average interior space for the chain’s units and offers arguably the most breathtaking view of any of the 23 venues.

Internally the décor takes inspiration from its local context, with slate flooring and low stratified stone walls, the materiality of which, architects Acton Ostry explain, ‘echoes the Canadian West Coast landscape and establishes a sense of belonging for patrons and employees alike’.

Butcher-block tables can be found throughout, countered by rich brown leather seating and lit by a floating display of hand-blown glass lights. During the day, natural light flows in through the sloping glass roof and walls, enriching the space within.

A generous outside terrace is also available for patrons who wish to enjoy the view in an open-air venue. Stepped terraces within offer intimate seating arrangement and semi-private dining spaces are kept separate with thin metal veils.

A shot of colour is injected through tangerine sofas near the washrooms for repose and carefully selected artworks line the walls, including Graham Gillmore and Andy Warhol.

“The level of quality that Cactus Club demands in terms of design and materiality allows us to work with very high-quality materials. You will also find the level of comfort in any one of their restaurants is equal across the collection,” said Mark Ostry, Principal of Acton Ostry Architects.

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Architect: Acton Ostry Architects

Area restaurant: 20,000 square feet

Area patio: 1,300 square feet

Year: 2013

Photo: Michael Elkan

ASTERISK BY SAKO ARCHITECTS

SAKO Architects present with their ASTERISK building in the fringes of Beijing a new type of sales pavilion, which combines wine showroom, restaurant and underground winery.

The pavilion is built on an artificial island surrounded by water, amidst a vineyard. The ground floor space is separated in five different wings, each with its own characteristics. The guests arrive at the north side on a small driveway in front of the entrance wing.

After entering the lobby, two colors dominate the space: variations of broken white for the floor, armchair covers and the walls, warm dark brown for the wooden desks, the wooden ceiling panels and the built-in shelves for the presentation of the bottled wine.

From the lobby the guests move to the central hall, which is lit from the top and serves as a multifunctional space for the distribution of the visitors. This hall can be separated from all five adjoining wings with floor to ceiling doors, made of the same brown timber as all other wooden parts in the building.

With closed doors, intimate space is provided for receptions, weddings and other festivities. By opening all floor to ceiling doors, the five wings enlarge the space with open glass fronts towards the lake and the landscape of the surrounding vineyard.

The lobby is in the first wing. The second wing holds the kitchen and toilets. The third wing holds two chambres séparées for private meetings or small groups. The fourth wing is used as the dinning room of the restaurant with a terrace in front.

The fifth wing holds a display area, the stairway to the cellar and a bar, also with a terrace in front. The terrace is cantilevered over the water and gives access to a further outdoor space between two wings of the building.

Simple red brick walls, wooden posts and beams, and the display of wine along the walls dominate the cellar. The wine tasting area with elegant furnishing further enhances the refined rustic atmosphere.

The exterior wall of the pavilion above ground is clad with Selangan Batu timber, a heavy hardwood. The slightly sloping roof on each of the wings further refines the exterior form of the five-wing building. The form is reminiscent of a starfish amidst the vineyard and offers an exclusive environment with direct access to the production of wine.

The building is a perfect setup for the celebration of social events and displays wine as a precious good for the nouveau riches in the Chinese capital. With the extraordinary design, the exquisite materials for the interior and exterior fittings, the pavilion reflects the new awareness of quality of architecture in the context of wine sales.

 

 

 

Location: Beijing, China 

Architect: SAKO Architects 

Lighting Design: Masahide Kakudate Lighting Architect & Associates 

Area: 4,800m2 

Building area: 2,000m2 

Year: 2011 

Client: Beijing Sheng Lu International Zhuang Park Hotel Management  Ltd. 

Photography: Ruijing Photo 

Text: Eduard Kögel

TROLLWALL RESTAURANT AND SERVICE BY REIULF RAMSTAD ARKITEKTER

It’s a new cursor at the foot of the Troll Wall. The architecture of the new visitors`center next to E139 is an outcome of the sites` close connection to the impressive mountain wall, Europe's tallest vertical, overhanging rock face in The Romsdal Valley.

The Romsdal valley has some of the tallest, sheerest cliffs in Europe and is a popular place for BASE jumping including "birdmen" jumping off cliffs in Wingsuits!

This location allows for an exciting setting for the new service and information center. RRAs proposal is carefully planned in relation to the Troll Wall.

At the same time it is building a character and identity which in itself will be an attraction in the region.

The building has a simple, though flexible plan, with a characteristic roof that has its character from the majestic surrounding landscape.

These simple ways of design gives the building its character and identity that makes the Service center an eye-catcher and an architectural attraction in the region.

Also echoing the peaks and troughs on the horizon is the sharply undulating roof, which rises and falls in two acute arches, arching gracefully against the stunning backdrop.

The wall panels that aren’t glass are formed of plastered chipboard and a concrete floor provides a simple if basic setting for the restaurant amenities.

Besides the restaurant facilities - which provide both three course dining and fast food opportunities - the complex offers a gift shop and film theatre, showing a short informative video on the history of the neighbouring Troll Wall.

The Trollwall Restaurant is open June to September during the areas busiest season and will provide a base for many public events including music concerts and base jumping meetings.

 

 

 

Location: Trollveggen, Norway 

Architect: ReiulfRamstad Arkitekter 

Project Team: Reiulf Ramstad, Sunniva N Rosenberg, Christian Fuglset, Ragnhild Snustad, Atle Leira, Espen Surnevik 

Area: 700 sqm 

Year: 2011 

Photographs: Courtesy of Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter