50-200 Rooms Restaurant/Bar Design
STUDIO MUNGE – AKIRA BACK AT BISHA HOTEL, TORONTO
By Danielle Schalk
Design Highlights: Diners enter the second-floor restaurant via an immersive sculptural staircase with custom gold-leaf finishing. From there, “you’re brought up and then you’re compressed into a space that is much moodier and darker,” explains Alessandro Munge, principal, Studio Munge.
The 3,000-sq.-ft. space features layered charcoal tones — including Shou Sugi Ban (traditional Japanese charred wood) inspired walls, dark marble and leather seating — contrasted by gold accents and an impactful blue-and-white-patterned cove ceiling. The restaurant also boasts a mobile featuring original artwork by chef Akira Back’s mother, which runs the length of the ceiling.
At the far end of the space, the gold-toned sushi bar shines in contrast to the moody atmosphere of the main dining space, effectively book-ending the restaurant in golden elements.
Inspiration: The restaurant was designed to complement the Bisha Hotel and its F&B programming while retaining a distinct brand identity. The design pays homage to traditional Japanese dining, while creating a glamorous, modern atmosphere.
200 Rooms – Guestroom Design
LEMAYMICHAUD ARCHITECTURE DESIGN –
HOTEL PUR
By Jordan Maxwell
Design Highlights: Taking six months to complete, Hotel Pur added a host of new technologies to its room design.
Completely redesigned with a warm new colour palette and mural artwork, rooms feature custom-designed furniture, a 47-inch LCD TV, docking stations, desks and a European-style shower or deep Japanese-style bathtub.
With breathtaking views on St. Joseph Street and the Saint-Roch Church, Hotel Pur offers the perfect urban retreat in the heart of downtown Quebec City.
Inspiration: The rooms were designed to complement Quebec City’s historic culture and highlight the nuances of the St. Roch district. It pays homage to traditional French-Canadian history while creating a comfortable atmosphere for its guests.
200+ Rooms – Renovated Space Design
ROYAL DESIGN INC. – EMBASSY SUITES BY HILTON TORONTO AIRPORT
By Danielle Schalk
Design Highlights: Beginning in 2017, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Toronto Airport underwent extensive renovations to transform it from a former Quality Suites property to the Embassy Suites brand. This process included full renovation of the property’s fitness, meeting and banquet facilities, as well as its on-site restaurant Westside Social Eatery, which offers a field-to-farm-inspired menu.
The property’s new look boasts a bright and modern atmosphere with elegant finishes, including wood and white-marble elements carried throughout the property. Jolanta Lukus, president & CEO of Royal Design Inc., notes that her team strove to create a timely colour palette, which features natural tones with blue accents. Layered textures and streamlined design also played a role in creating the hotel’s overall aesthetic.
Inspiration: The hotel’s design was inspired by the city of Toronto. As Lukus explains, because of its airport location, the team wanted to convey the essence of Toronto to travellers staying at the property.
Lukus points to the city’s vibrancy, diversity and lively nature as some of the key elements the team aimed to capture through its work on the project.
200+ Rooms – Lobby Design
ROBERT J. CHABAN & ASSOCIATES –
WESTIN TORONTO AIRPORT
By Danielle Schalk
Design Highlights: Decorated in soothing neutral tones, the Westin Toronto Airport’s lobby boasts a bright and airy atmosphere accented with muted jewel tones and gold elements. The redesigned lobby also features a “Westin Haven’ community work table, as well as a living wall next to reception. This “vertical garden” is designed to not only be visually appealing, but purify the air in the space.
“We are very proud of The Westin Toronto Airport’s transformation,” says Steve Gupta, owner and CEO of the Easton’s Group of Hotels. “This impressive project provides our guests with amenities and offerings that will appeal to every aspect of their experience with us, from business to leisure and everything in-between.”
Inspiration: When designing this hotel, Robert J. Chaban & Associates followed the Westin brand’s biophilic approach, drawing inspiration from regional natural elements. As the firm’s president, Robert Chaban explains, this approach was then customized to suit the site and achieve the client’s goal of “brightening and modernizing the tired, traditional space.”
200 Rooms – Suite Design
LEMAYMICHAUD ARCHITECTURE DESIGN –
HOTEL PUR
By Jordan Maxwell
Design Highlights: Hotel Pur’s three suites — Junior Suite, Parlor Suite and Presidential Suite — received facelifts to give the overall effect of a supremely comfortable, soothing space. Located on the 17th and 18th floors, the suites are finished in fresh white with natural wood, leather, and chrome accents. Each suite includes a spacious living room with a sofa bed and an armchair for leisure.
Inspiration: When designing the suites, Lemaymichaud Architecture Design’s goal was not only to make the building energy-efficient and interactive, but also environmentally friendly. All of its vinyl wall coverings were made from recycled material as well.
200 Rooms – Hotel Design
LEMAYMICHAUD ARCHITECTURE DESIGN –
HOTEL PUR
By Jordan Maxwell
Design Highlights: Rebranded as the first Tribute Collection hotel in Canada, Hotel Pur has taken off since its renovation in 2017 and its distribution deal with Marriott International. The property’s new look was designed to make the hotel more modern and sleek while maintaining its overall charm and architecture. By repurposing dead space and connecting the internal part of the main lobby, Van Houtte Café and the hallway to its restaurant, the redesign also includes better access to St. Joseph Street. Tony Cohen, president of the hotel’s owner, Global Edge Investments, says feedback has been positive from guests and associates.
Inspiration: Revitalized to deliver a welcoming feel to its guests while being more user-friendly, the lobby also includes a fireplace, fitness center, rooftop rappelling a pool table and a wine bar. The main motivation was to connect its spaces while making the building more energy-efficient.
50-200 Rooms – Hotel Design
DUBBELDAM ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN; JILL GREAVES DESIGN; DIALOGUE 38 -THE WALPER HOTEL
By Amy Bostock
Design Highlights: The lobby and public spaces at the Walper Hotel contrast traditional details, such as decorative crown mouldings, wainscoting and trimwork, with sleek, contemporary finishes and furniture. The finishes derive from a clean, white palette that highlights the colourful artwork, playful light fixtures and bold furniture in warm woods. The mosaic-tile flooring in the lobby is a custom pattern inspired by the map of Kitchener, Ont.’s urban grid. The second floor features a rejuvenated bar and lounge area. The full refurbishment of the guestrooms boast custom millwork, furnishings, light fixtures and finishes.
Inspiration: Returning the historic Walper Hotel to its status as a prime destination within the city was the most important objective for the project. To achieve this, public spaces were updated to pay homage to their original splendour, while guestrooms and corridors were redesigned to accommodate the discerning taste of frequent travellers. The vision was to breathe life into a tired brick building with wooden surfaces, natural finishes and open-concept rooms, energy-efficient lighting, airy furniture and bright surfaces.
50-200 Rooms – Renovated Space Design
HAGER DESIGN INTERNATIONAL, INC. –
HOLIDAY INN WINNIPEG SOUTH
By Amy Bostock
Design Highlights: Upgraded guestrooms and guest bathrooms were at the heart of the renovation, aiming to improve guest satisfaction and enhance the guest experience. The team at Hager Design also created an environment in the lobby, lounge and restaurant that is more conducive to relaxation and enjoyment, as well as an improved space in which to conduct business. Improvements were also made to the quality of meeting and banquet rooms.
Inspiration: Bringing people together in an inviting space was the goal of the redesign. This was accomplished by refreshing and brightening up the guestrooms and public spaces with playful and vibrant elements and materials. The FF&E and finishes created a high-end environment.
200+ Rooms – Restaurant/Bar Design
DESIGNAGENCY – FAIRMONT TREMBLANT
By Amy Bostock
Design Highlights: Upscale and cosmopolitan, the Choux Gras Brasserie Culinaire was designed to be reminiscent of a 1930s Parisian brasserie, with generous cobalt-velvet booths, dark-wood walls and pill-shaped brass mirrors. The space features a circular fireplace and windows fanning out to panoramic views of the Laurentian Mountains. Just off the main lobby, opposite a double-sided fireplace, the Axe Lounge Bar offers a buzzy vibe for après-ski cocktails. Plush velvet and leather furnishings in autumnal hues offset the linearity of the room and create various zones for social interaction. Le Comptoir Cuisine du Marché is a warm and casual family-dining venue with a fresh kitchen-market look.
Inspiration: Drawing inspiration from the Fairmont brand’s reputation for luxury and service, as well as themes of European chic and alpine glamour, DesignAgency redesigned the three spaces to create an array of exciting hospitality environments.
