Restaurants and Institutions

Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (0)

Finally Done
May 11, 2007

I approached designer Ken Tomita, on a recommendation by an artist friend on the East Coast, because I wanted to make a statement. I wanted to marry my notion of a completely sustainable concept with familiarity and comfort, yet include touches of the unexpected. Enter Ken. I have a relatively small space. The idea was to create a restaurant that feels both electric and soothing. A feast for the senses and the mind. A bit of a contradiction that works as a whole. Ken’s work felt charismatic and calm all at the same time. Call it 50% zen, 50% awe inspiring … and 50% “I’ve got to touch that.”

Ken has achieved all that and more. Not one right angle within 50 feet of the piece. It has an open, airy look and a relaxed feel, but somehow it screams, “Come look at me!”

Host stand? No! Work of art that’s harmonious with its surroundings? Yes!

A note from designer Ken Tomita to Stu Stein:

After months of struggling, I have finally come up with a hostess-stand design I am happy with. My favorite feature of the design is that it has more than one axis. Compared to a conventional hostess stand, which would be rectangular and static, the multiple axes of my design will create a feeling of dynamic movement in your space.

There are possibilities for displaying some plants (bamboo, perhaps), as in the renderings. I have designed it so putting something on the left bottom shelf helps balance the piece. The piece is designed so that it will not take up as much space visually as a conventional design, but still will have a commanding presence and attract attention. It also is simultaneously quiet and peaceful.

The tops are solid bamboo ply, and the legs will be ebonized poplar. I will hollow out one of the legs so you can run your power cords and low-voltage wires up to the top for the phone and computer.

And the journey continues.

Cheers!

Stu

Posted by Stu Stein on May 11, 2007 | Comments (0)