Smart recently had the opportunity to design Nook Restaurant’s fourth location at the Shipyards in North Vancouver, BC.
Best known for their laid-back hospitality and rustic Italian fare, Nook Restaurant is now home to the flourishing Shipyards neighbourhood in North Vancouver. Boasting unparalleled views of the ocean and city harbour, guests can enjoy exceptionally crafted pizza, pasta, and antipasto, paired with a curated selection of wines and cocktails. As the name suggests, the design inspiration was centered around creating a cozy and intimate ‘nook-like’ dining environment, imitating the same look and feel as their three bustling locations across the city of Vancouver.
Guests are welcomed into the space with Nook’s signature red-coloured upholstery and raw, tarnished, and industrial materials that make for an inviting and stimulating experience. A warm and modern-industrial design aesthetic is carried throughout, paying homage to the Shipyards history with large scale wall graphics of archival Shipyards photographs and custom nautical-themed metal flooring inlays.
Sparking a sense of wonder and excitement among guests, an open-concept kitchen creates an inviting, buzzing atmosphere melding customer interaction with a glimpse of the behind the scenes action.
Utilizing the exterior windows, passerby have views into the prep kitchen to catch a peak of what’s being made, while street visibility allows the chefs to view the outdoors while working.
While seamlessly creating a connection to the location’s nautical and culturally-rich surroundings, Smart ensured the overall look and feel remained true to Nook roots.