RETAIL
RETAIL STORE DESIGN
RETAIL STORE DESIGN
SILVER
GOLD
Restaurants
Restaurants
Guu Izakaya
Toronto, Ontario
Kabuki
Toronto, Ontario
The third installment of the wildly popular Guu
franchise sees a different take on the recognizable
design of the first two trend-setting Izakayas.
While previous versions are quite dark and with an
internal focus – limiting views of the outside, the
new location at Hullmark Centre is the opposite.
With large windows running along the full length of
the main dining area, we used natural light to our
advantage. Maximizing the ceiling height and opting
for rift cut white oak gives the design a delicate
and sophisticated evolution of the Guu brand. The
signature sculptural square tile facade spills into
the entry vestibule where a low wooden ceiling
accentuates the height of the main dining area. As
customers pass through the vestibule a conscious
decision was made to play on the classic architectural
idea of compression and expansion in an effort
to make the entrance into the dining area more
dramatic. A gridwork of five foot long custom tube
lamps scattered above the main dining tables further
emphasize the height of the space.
When Kabuki owners decided to open a new location
at the prestigious Shops at Don Mills, it came with
the task of updating the restaurant’s brand identity:
one that would set itself apart from others in the
area. Over the past 15 years the restaurant has
been building a customer base at a nearby mall.
There it has developed a loyal following in the
surrounding neighborhood as a reliable place for
Japanese fare. Kabuki is known for its innovative
food offerings that combine traditional Japanese
cuisine with contemporary techniques and the space
was designed to imitate this approach. The allnatural material pallet is a reflection of the raw food
offerings; polished concrete floors, mosaic tile, steel
rebar, walnut wood panels, and raw hot rolled steel
work seamlessly together to create a space that is
warm and inviting with a high-end feel. This is evident
the moment customers approach the restaurant
where they are met with a stunning customized oneof-a-kind ten foot high koi fish.
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