Crystal Restaurant Lounge, Toronto

The new Crystal restaurant/lounge is situated at the pinnacle of the Royal Ontario Museum’s new five-story aluminum-and-glass addition by architect Daniel Libeskind. The interior design is an extension of the bold, angular architecture (no right angles here).

The high-contrast space boasts a white interior punctuated by an ebony floor; ivory leather seating; sette backs in bleached anigre; and tabletops, feature walls and metal fittings in acid-etched mirror bronze. A sculptural glass screen separates the entry corridor from the black granite bar. And architecturally driven light fixtures include diagonally mounted light sticks over the bar and “slashes” of light in the walls and ceiling.

Client: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto

Design: II BY IV Design Associates Inc., Toronto – Dan Menchions and Keith Rushbrook, partners; Grace Eng and Tanya Yeung, senior designers; Wilson Lau, intermediate designer; Kevin Bongard, senior project manager

Architect/Prime Consultant: Bregman + Hamann Architects, Toronto

Base Building Architect: Studio Daniel Libeskind, New York, with Bregman + Hamann Architects, Toronto 

General Contractor: Vanbots Construction Corp., Markham, Ont.

Outside Design Consultants: Bregman + Hamann Architects, Toronto (joint venture architect); Halsall, Toronto (structural engineer); The Mitchell Partnership, Willowdale, Ont. (mechanical engineer); Mulvey + Banani Intl. Inc., Toronto (electrical engineer); Valcoustics, Richmond Hill, Ont. (acoustics); Leber Rubes Inc., Toronto (life safety); The Restaurant Associates, New York (operator)

Glass Sculpture: Jeff Goodman, Toronto

Flooring: W Studio, Toronto (area carpets); Armstrong World Industries Inc., Lancaster, Pa.; Hartco, Lancaster, Pa. (hardwood)

Furniture: Keilhauer, Toronto (lounge furniture); ISA Intl., Toronto (custom dining chairs); DJ McCrae, Toronto (custom furniture)

Lighting: Eurolite, Toronto (bar pendant lights)

Photography: David Whittaker Photographer, Toronto