Ste Marie Transforms Residential Tower into Vibrant Hospitality Hub in Edmonton
Canadian design firm Ste Marie has masterfully crafted three unique hospitality spaces—Va Caffè, Olia, and Mimi—within the Citizen on Jasper residential tower in Edmonton, Alberta. Each venue offers a distinct culinary and social experience, from a bright daytime cafe to a sophisticated Italian restaurant and a vibrant lounge. This ambitious project aims to invigorate the urban landscape, transforming the tower's base into a dynamic cultural destination that fosters community engagement and enhances walkability.
Innovative Bathroom Designs: Blending Texture, Material, and Color
This compilation showcases inspiring bathroom designs that break away from traditional sterile aesthetics. Featuring diverse projects from a New York farmhouse to a South African lodge, these examples highlight innovative uses of texture, materials, and color to transform bathrooms into captivating and design-forward spaces. Discover how architects and designers are challenging conventional notions to create unique and dramatic interiors.
Copenhagen Eye Institute: Merging Art and Healthcare Design
Standard Practice architects designed the Copenhagen Eye Institute, transforming a 1905 building into a 350-square-meter facility with a gallery-like interior. The aim was to create a calm, assuring, and visually composed environment that avoids a clinical feel, reflecting the seriousness of eye care while also providing a gentle experience for patients. Key features include a circular sculpture plinth and a steel-tiled reception desk, emphasizing both artistic reflection and functional comfort for patients undergoing recovery.
In the bustling heart of Los Angeles' Chinatown, a new culinary destination named Cafe Tondo has emerged, envisioned as a vibrant community focal point. This establishment, brought to life through the collaborative efforts of Mouthwash Studio and Aunt Studio, is a celebration of Mexican culture, offering patrons not just food and drink, but an immersive experience designed to foster warmth, generosity, and a profound sense of belonging. With its doors open from dawn till dusk, Cafe Tondo transitions from a cozy daytime spot serving coffee and small plates to an lively evening venue featuring live jazz, boleros, salsa, and DJ sets, embodying the true spirit of a casual Mexico City cantina.
A Culinary and Cultural Oasis Blossoms in Los Angeles
The vision for Cafe Tondo, located beneath a railway in Los Angeles' historic Chinatown, was meticulously brought to fruition by a dedicated team. Abraham Campillo, the creative director from Mouthwash Studio, spearheaded the project alongside partners Mackenzie Freemire, Alex Tan, and Ben Mingo. Their efforts were complemented by Mike Kang from Locale Partners and the culinary expertise of chef Valeria Velásquez. The interiors, a testament to thoughtful design, feature custom furniture crafted in Mexico by OMBIA Studio, while exquisite ceramics, also sourced from Mexico, were curated by Isabella Marengo of Bugambilia. The restaurant's entrance, welcoming with its casual seating, is enveloped in glass, creating an inviting atmosphere. A central passageway leads to the main dining area and bar, adorned with painted brick walls, dark wood shelving, and reflective mirrored panels. Seating options range from comfortable velvet-upholstered benches to more formal wooden tables and chairs, each element contributing to the establishment's distinctive charm. As night falls, neon red lighting illuminates the outdoor patio, enhancing the restaurant's allure and offering a unique dining experience. The indoor dining space seamlessly merges with the outdoor patio, thanks to innovative glazed panels that retract upwards, blurring the lines between indoor comfort and the refreshing Los Angeles air.
Cafe Tondo stands as a beacon of community, thoughtfully designed to fill a crucial void in contemporary urban life—the disappearance of 'third places' where individuals can connect, unwind, and linger. Its warm ambiance, rich cultural offerings, and emphasis on handcrafted Mexican artistry provide a compelling example of how a restaurant can transcend its primary function to become a cherished social institution. This establishment not only offers a delightful culinary journey but also serves as a vibrant cultural mosaic, inviting patrons to experience the deep-rooted hospitality that defines Mexican culture, thereby enriching the fabric of Los Angeles' diverse community.