Birds of A Feather

Annie Block -- Interior Design, 11/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Courtesy of Device 222

Brainstorming can lead to unexpected results. Just take a gander at Ultra, a Toronto restaurant and nightclub designed by Munge Leung, an interiors firm, and its office-mate, graphics specialist Device222. To enliven the 3,500-square-foot Ultra space, Alessandro Munge recalls, "We searched for a powerful statement." Device222 creative director Kevin McCall continues, "Ideas of schmoozing led to preening, which led to peacocks. . .and chickens." And that led to the mechanized sheers, each bearing a different rooster image.


Munge Leung principal Sai Leung, Leung's fellow principal, Alessandro Munge, and Device222 creative director Kevin McCall. From left: images by Joy Tiedemann; courtesy of Device 222.

In addition to dividing communal dining from the lounge, the dozen 15-foot-tall sheers set the color palette. Lining the rift-cut oak top of the communal table are 24 spindle-backed chairs lacquered cock's-comb red; the same color appears in the lounge's shag rugs. When dinner service ends, the sheers are drawn and most of the furnishings cleared—the communal table stays to become a platform for patrons doing the funky chicken.

 
Courtesy of Device 222