Contract Magazine - October 2019 - 63

Location Montréal

Founded 2017

Typologies

Le Blossom (opposite page,
top), in Montreal, seeks to
steer clear from Japanese
restaurant clichés with nods
to the '80s and '90s. Miss
Wong (opposite page, below
right) in a Montreal suburb,
embraces Chinatown kitsch
and visual noise in a lavish way.
Vivien wine bar (opposite,
below left), in Montreal, serves
up vivid graphics and bold
colors that strays from the
traditional.
For the new outpost of the Ryú
sushi restaurant (this page: far
left) on Peel Street in Montréal,
Ménard and Dworkind
masterfully used existing
elements and transformed
them into something entirely
new, drawing upon the
principles of Japanese
wabi-sabi, described as
"flawed beauty." They covered
original walls in plaster, paint,
and wallpaper that had
accumulated over time to
create a natural patina with
unexpected warmth.

Specializing in commercial interiors and residential architecture, partners
Guillaume Ménard and David Dworkind founded Ménard Dworkind architecture
& design (MRDK) in 2017, when Atelier Mainor and David Dworkind Architecture
were combined. Dworkind and Menard have a wealth of design experience between
them already, so a partnership was a natural progression that would allow the pair
to evolve their designs together.
Ménard grew up working at his father's construction company, where his
love of design was nurtured; he started Atelier Mainor in 2008. Dworkind graduated
from McGill University with a M.Arch, and eventually founded his namesake office
in 2013, working on a range of projects in residential architecture, commercial
interiors, photography, and videography.

Now, Dworkind serves as MRDK's architect, and Ménard its designer,
both sharing a respect for site and materiality, which guides the way they conceive
each interior. "We thrive on detail-oriented spaces," says Dworkind. Indeed, by
celebrating the smallest details as much as the big ideas, the duo is able to create
a cohesive, memorable spaces-and experiences-that resonate with users.
At the recently opened outpost of the Ryú sushi restaurant on Peel Street
in Montréal, MRDK masterfully used existing elements and transformed them into
something entirely new. When the demolition of the original building was completed,
the pair discovered that the original walls were covered in plaster, paint, and
wallpaper that had accumulated over time. This patchwork of worn materials
inspired the team to embrace the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, described
as "flawed beauty," in their final design.
They decided that keeping the walls was a must, so that the natural patina
and bits of erosion would be a central element sure to be a conversation starter.
With a minimalist palette and burnished brass, aluminum, and steel metal used
throughout the space for contrast, the restaurant has an unexpected warmth
that beckons patrons in.
As Ménard and Dworkind take on more projects in their home base
of Montréal, warmth, or more precisely, the lack of it during the cold autumn
and winter seasos, is something they have to take into consideration. "Our clients
constantly approach us with references from places like California with very clean
details that don't work in our climate. On our hospitality projects, we have to think
about designing for slushy, salty boots, as well as cold drafts in the space,"
Dworkind explains.
Yet no matter the climate or the client, MRDK can bring any vision to life,
translating clients' needs and desires and making them a reality.
contract
Contract Magazine - October 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract Magazine - October 2019
