ted 1 2 Yabu Pushelberg takes an artful approach to fine dining By alissa ponchione photography by evan Dion and GaRReTT RoWlanD Every space should tell a story, at least according to the design team at Yabu Pushelberg, which revamped the Peninsula Hotel's restaurant, transforming it into Clement Restaurant & Bar. Not wanting to fall into the trap of the too-high-concept New York restaurant, the designers took the opposite approach-creating a warm, relatable dining atmosphere. The team started by constructing a fictional narrative about Clement's ideal client: Chloe. Although she was born into an affluent family on the Upper East Side, Chloe craved a more bohemian lifestyle, which led her to New York University. After college, she moved to the Lower East 1. Clement's Book Room features an installation by Moss & Lam of reversed books that creates a textural presence. 2. Guests enter via a romantic stairway from the Peninsula Hotel's lobby lit by a Lindsey Adelman-designed installation.