IBÉRICA

Type: Restaurant
Location: Montreal QC
Year: 2017
Size: 2,450 p2 / 230 m2

The spirit and sensory recollections of Barcelona — true to the Iberian Peninsula’s art de vivre — behest this thoughtful restaurant, IBERICA, located in the downtown Montreal.  A gigantic green and pink marble column signifies the guests’ point of entry, while two vintage chandeliers hang from the double-height ceiling, setting the tone for the lively aesthetic that flows throughout the space. The material palette extends to include twelve different types of marble, leather and velvet banquettes, and a wide variety of vibrant colours and hues, celebrating playfulness. 

The visual cues render the desired eclecticism that summarize Spanish exuberance, with a postmodernist wink.   Celebrating dilapidated portions of the existing walls highlights layers of the past; instead of concealing these imperfections, the design allows materials that have stood the test of time to shine.  A round-edged counter has been created to extend nearly the width of the space, unifying the key functions of the restaurant – seafood bar, cook-line, cocktail bar, and dining – the bar invites guests to engage with their surroundings.  In avoidance of possible disconnection between the two levels, mirrored walls join guests in the mezzanine with the action below, bridging the real and perceived space, and adding depth.  With most of its elements salvaged and repurposed, sourced from local antique dealers or custom designed, the project has an historical exuberance not typically found nearby.

Photos @ David Boyer