What Happens When is a temporary restaurant installation that transforms every 30 days to explore what a dining experience can be and how we can play with the traditional expectations of dining out. Chef John Fraser creates a new menu each month, Elle Kunnos de Voss designs a new interior and a new composer is invited to create a unique sound scape for each month.
Here is a detailed description from Elle Kunnos de Voss :
The overall 'work in progress' concept for the space is designed to reflect the changing and experimental nature of the project. With our actual architectural drawings projected onto the surfaces of the space in scale 1:1 the guests are invited into the design process. To serve as a backdrop for the monthly changes we inverted our drawings to give the functionality of a theater black box. The ceiling is covered with a 12" grid of hooks to keep the space flexible and to be able to easily reconfigure the lighting for each Movement. All the ceiling lights have 15' cords.
Within this framework we design a new spatial concept based for each Movement based on the theme. With only one night to do the transformations and our limited budget our main tools for creating a new setting for each theme are lighting, color scheme and spatial elements that can be prepared off site.
"Nordic"
For the first interior of What Happens When the theme was inspired by a Nordic palette where the space was designed as a monochromatic landscape of deconstructed volumes and fixtures, using a paired down aesthetic. We wanted to start out the nine months with a very sparse aesthetic to grow from and have the overall concept of our 'work in progress' drawings be visible from the beginning. White lines defined volumes within the space, describing archetypal house and ladder shapes in a distorted perspective. Creating more intimate dining setting within the space by framing them with the Roof like structures framed tables throughout and ladders cut at angles served as room dividers. The deconstructed chandeliers take their cue from a classic chandelier with cut cardboard prisms and large globe light bulbs. The over table pendants are made from pages cut out from a Cookbook purchased at Housing Works for $1.
"Where the wild things are"
With the forest/ where the wild things are theme of Movement 2 the interior design concept for Movement 2, is taking on a play with scale. The space is defined by an installation of over-sized pine needles that create a movement across the ceiling. Stretching to the floor in some areas the pine needles act as room dividers.Throughout the space little moments unveil the fantastical forest theme such as two moss-laden swings with miniature landscapes of plants and birds, bird houses nestled in the pine needles and various animal tracks on the floor, walls and selected tables.The over table pendants are made from a sheet of stationary held together with a single staple. The stationary, screen printed bird motif on vintage typing paper, is designed by Adrienne Wong. The counter area light fixtures are made with live moss and small bulbs.
"Garden Party a la Renoir"
The 3rd transformation takes on a spring garden party theme inspired by Renoir's "The Luncheon of the Boating Party".
The interiors draw a few significant elements and from the Renoir painting to re-create an intimate, communal experience reminiscent of 19th century time and place. A 25' awning like architectural stroke across the room frames the dining settings in warm spring like tones to re-create the communal intimate feeling of the painting.The ceiling is lit with a 'garden party' string light inspired configuration of bulbs. Creating a play between interior and exterior, elements such as branch-like light fixtures and iconic Still life wall sconces nod both to nature and the genre of painting. Throughout the space, guests will likewise discover details that reference the time period, such as 1900's inspired graphics across the tables and period pieces. The bathrooms are divided between male and female interpretations of the time period, drawing inspiration from a boudoir and harbor graphics respectively.
"Jazz"
Inspired by Jazz, the 4th transformation explores the tension between improvisation and tradition, as well as the unique rhythm and architecture that defines this musical form. A non-traditional take on jazz, this Movement Elle Kunnos de Voss uses 9100ft of string to create different volumes throughout the space. This spatial rhythm throughout the room results in a visual cadence from the entrance all the way to the back that visually and spatially communicates the rhythm and contrast of Jazz. Amber tones of string hearken back to southern sunlight and remind guests of the birthplace of this unique American form of music. The entryway welcomes guests with a taste of what’s to come with a collage of patterns and imagery that mix old photographs from New Orleans with abstract patterns that visually represent the tempo of jazz. Adding another “note” of reference, all the light fixtures are inspired by jazz line up instruments. Made from basic geometric shapes in bright colors, they are configured around the room at different heights.
"Silk Road"
For this 5th transformation the interior takes its inspiration from Silk Road.
We collected patterns from regions spanning from Turkey to China to create a maze of screens made from 30x30cm large cardboard panels. The panels have laser cut patterns collected from various regions of the Silk Road; Turkey, Babylon, Syria, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and two different regions of China. The panels are hanging from the ceiling hooks in formations from the entry going east, starting with patterns from Turkey stretching all the way through the space ending in the two different China patterns. Throughout the panels act as room dividers and are hung around light fixtures creating a play of light and shadow. The panels are spray painted in colors ranging from sand and light blues, through turquoise to the deep red of China.
