Est Restaurant

Creative Union Network designed Est Restaurant as the first independent venture for acclaimed Canadian chef Sean McDonald, giving his precise, artful cooking a setting to match. The 90 square metre space in Toronto occupies a former bakery that needed extensive renovation and a reworked plan, including upgrades to the kitchen for cutting-edge equipment and improved workflow and ergonomics.

The design leans on traditional materials used in unexpected ways, building an understated elegance punctuated by small moments of delight. Signature Creative Union Network perforated detailing runs through the interior, while computer-fabricated geometries and parametric patterns accentuate the material textures and conceal services such as radiators and air-conditioning units. The project also served as a testing ground for an innovative "therma-forming" technique, in which large sheets of Caesarstone quartz are shaped into sweeping curves. The movement of guests and staff is echoed in the geometry of the furniture and fixtures, producing a free-flowing layout without abrupt interruptions.

The result is a calm, minimalist room, washed in light woods and soft grey tones, enlivened by planting and warmed with felt accents. The uncluttered dining space keeps the focus on the food and the wider culinary experience.

Architect: Creative Union Network (lead architect Timothy Mitanidis, with Claudia Bader). Photography by Riley Snelling.