Canadian firms Omar Gandhi Architect and SvN have used baltic wood, skylights and plants to update a popular brunch spot in Toronto.
Omar Gandhi, which has studios in Halifax and Toronto, and local firm SvN designed the renovation for the restaurant Lady Marmalade. The aim was to open up and brighten the space on the city's Broadview Avenue, which the eatery has occupied since 2009.
Photograph by Bob Gundu
"The design is an exploration of scale, proportion, materiality and light," said Omar Gandhi in a project description.
"It was an exercise in transforming a long, narrow, dark building into a bright, warm space for enjoying incredible food and great company."

Omar Gandhi and SvN added a small extension to the rear and rearranged the interior layout, moving the services and the staircase to run along the side of and rear of the building. This allowed them to create an open-plan dining area. To bring in more natural light, the team added new windows to the front in the back walls and a pair of skylights.

At front of the eatery, the team stripped out the existing upper floors in the restaurant to create a small, triple-height space. The old floor beams are left exposed as a nod to the previous layout.
Natural light floods in through the new glass storefront, with additional illumination provided by long pendant lights that hang from the ceiling.
Photograph by Bob Gundu
A double-height dining area is set behind this, with the kitchen placed to the rear...