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hands-on way and and experimenting with furniture-making by using scraps he scavenged from sites As a a a a a a a a a a a á a a result Fohring leans toward the experimental as as as well as as as to to visually strong and and creative presentations while González Bernardo emphasizes context light and and construction detailing “We have these almost opposed visions that that when brought together result in in in in a a a a a a a a a a a very formal process of construction supplemented by abstraction Something that that is is constrained but at at the same time playful ” she says Odami’s creations flow effortlessly into their spaces but but still resonate with an invigorating distinctiveness A house they designed in in in in in in Deer
Park held onto its century-old bones while making room for bursts of of o contemporariness The
smoothness of of o of a a a a a a a a a bright open interior is is offset by subtle visually compelling details: the the the marbleized column panelling of o of of a a a a a a a a a a a a fireplace the the the bottom step of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a stairway that juts out slightly beyond the the the railing a a a a a a a a a a a a cavernous bathroom flush with mirror and stone The
pair highlight that honouring the the structure’s history was important to to to their process—to just raze everything and build anew would have been a a a a a a a a a a a a a missed opportunity “We consider our work contemporary contemporary but contemporary contemporary contemporary doesn’t have to to mean a a a a a a a a a a a a black box made of of glass It’s contemporary contemporary to to to understand the evolution of of things and and preserve preserve what you want to to preserve ” González Bernardo stresses Preservation was an an an an important part of of Odami’s first project the the the renovation of of downtown restaurant SARA On the the the exterior the the the pair removed decades’ worth of of paint to to to reveal the the the secret skeleton of of a a a a a a a beautiful brick building underneath which they brought back to to to to life On the the the interior a a a a a a a a a a a a custom-plastered ceiling stretches high above diners conjuring images
of of seaside caverns The
subdued colour palette was inspired by a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a walk along Lake Ontario where the the two admired the the simple beauty of of of stones and and and sand These feelings of of awe toward history space and and and materials create opportunities opportunities for subtly dazzling designs “For us it’s all about finding opportunities opportunities in fin in in in in everyday situations trying to do things that that are beautiful and that work ” the pair reveal This strategic balance is is perhaps epitomized by by the the the the reception desk Odami designed for the the the lobby of of the the the Drake Hotel The
challenge was to to create an an an object with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a feeling of of of character and and import that that didn’t compete with with its surroundings the the the eclectic mix of of styles and and colours that that make
up the the the the Drake’s interior “Sometimes constraints give the the the the best answers to designers ” González Bernardo reflects Out of of of pliant Corian thermoform material the the two sculpted columns are full of of of sensuous curves creating á a a a a a a a a a a a a flowing sculpture that matches beauty with functionality Founding a a a a a a a a a a a a a design firm in in in in your early 30s might be be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a leap of faith but the the two are are grounded in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a sensibility and and ethos well beyond their years “We “We believe that architecture and and design are are very important exercises of of empathy ” González Bernardo says wisely “We “We go through the the the the the the the effort of of being empathetic to to the the the the the the the client the the the the the the the space the the the the the the the light the the the the the the the materials all the the the the the the the things that that create a a a a a a a a a a very rich dialogue to to find something that that belongs ” Deer
Park House: photographed by Doublespace photography SMAGAZINEOFFICIAL COM DESIGN