commercial design

A Space Built on a Collaborative Approach to Design

In embracing post-pandemic design requirements, our client, International Research Development Centre (IDRC), assembled a group of employees to work closely with LWG to create a successful change in management narrative through design – conceptually, functionally and aesthetically. This group was called Mwanzo, a Swahili term meaning new beginnings.

Interior Designer: Bryan Wiens, ARIDO
Design Firm: LWG
Photographer: Kevin Belanger

The project was an opportunity to create a space that welcomed employees back to the office following the COVID-19 pandemic. An opportunity to work closely with the IDRC was embraced to ensure both a sense of ownership and a reflection of the values and focus in the work IDRC does both locally and internationally. As an organisation that champions research and innovation alongside those it works with, this collaborative approach was vital.

An opportunity to create a professionally designed space intentionally reflecting the IDRC’s requirements and allowing them to be a central player in the process, and project’s success…..what a wonderful and collaborative design methodology!

The vernacular of weaving was a key element in many features of the design. Applying the idea that good design is like a well woven fabric, each thread important and critical to the overall success and resulting in unified design solutions. Combining good design with an international development awareness of the universal use of woven materials across cultures, many features reflect this concept. From functional to decorative elements, design and meaning intertwine to create a visually holistic representation of the client’s work.

Materials and design features were thoughtfully used to enhance this concept. The collaborative work zones and display areas encompass millwork constructed to resemble an abstract weaving pattern. Textiles, including fabrics, wall coverings and carpet, mimic basic woven looks, plaids and suited jacket materials. Lighting incorporates fabric textures and intersecting patterns, resembling weaving in a variety of contexts.

A holistic design approach that serves up a warm and relaxing atmosphere

Located on Kerr St. in Oakville, Wet Coffee is a café that embodies “coffee culture” and exceptional service. Founded by a young businesswoman passionate about great coffee, Wet Coffee brings a slice of Toronto’s inviting café community to downtown Oakville.

Designer: Jude Kamal, ARIDO

Design Firm: Sansa Interiors

Photography: Sansa Interiors

When approached with the dream of creating a welcoming space where community and coffee thrive, we immediately jumped at the opportunity. We specialize in utilizing nature-inspired elements and holistic design to enhance customer experience, making Sansa Interiors the perfect fit for this project. With neutral tones and a focus on natural materials, our design creates an inviting and relaxed atmosphere that is perfect for enjoying a cup of coffee, catching up with friends or doing work.

The rounded counter with wooden slat detail in the base is on the left as one walks in and the seating with tables is on the right

Our client has traveled the world in pursuit of the perfect cup of coffee and has honed her skills in sourcing the best beans, understanding how they are harvested and processed, and knowing the optimal temperature to serve a fresh cup. She believes that coffee tastes best when wet-processed, which requires attention to every step after harvesting.

Simple seating area along the wall of the cafe as one walks in, with plain walls behind and simple white pendants. The comfy coushins bring in a calming colour palette

Inspired by the natural beauty of the coffee bean, and the intricate process of creating exceptional coffee, our client built her café’s brand around the beverage’s natural elements such as the soft curves of the bean, hand-made excellence, and a deep respect for nature.

By creating a cohesive brand identity for Wet Coffee café our team designed a unique and inviting space that reflects the client’s values and vision. Using the Wet Coffee logo as a starting point, we crafted a warm and welcoming café that emphasizes community, natural materials, and biophilic design principles.

A wall of merchandise including coffee beans and some clothing items

A little cozy lounge area at the very back of the store with furniture in blush pink and colourful abstract art on the walls

The key element of the design is the rounded main bar with natural wood detailing, which welcomes guests and guides them through the space. The colour palette, curved and organic forms, live plants, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows all contribute to creating a sense of calm and connection to nature, inviting customers to enjoy a cup of coffee and community experience.

Our focus on minimalism and neutral design elements not only creates a visually pleasing space, but also enhances the overall customer experience by putting the focus on the café’s specialty: exceptional coffee. The clean and simple design also allows unique features to take center stage and attract customers who appreciate this design philosophy.

The final outcome of the project was a stunning design that seamlessly blended functionality and aesthetics. Our team successfully delivered on the client’s dream of creating a playful and welcoming space reminiscent of Toronto’s bustling café scene.

The result was a rich, layered design that was both visually appealing and highly functional. This café is now an inviting Oakville destination for locals and visitors alike. We are proud to have played a role in creating this unique space and can’t wait to visit and work from it ourselves.

A new branch of innovation and sustainability for this flooring brand

The exhibition space for Twelve Oaks Flooring, premiered at the Toronto Interior Design Show 2023, aimed to achieve the goal of brand modernization by breaking convention while creating a memorable experience. The award winning immersive 400 square foot booth was designed as a reusable multi-media environment to challenge the public’s perception while showcasing product innovation.

Designer: Tracy Ho, ARIDO
Design Team: Joanne Chan, ARIDO; Bruce Freeman, ARIDO; Glenn Cheng, ARIDO
Design Firm: SDI Design Inc.
Photography: Splendid Projects and SDI Design Inc.

“MOVING PARTS: Design for a Complex World” was the challenge given by the show organizers to exhibitors. As designers, we are now faced with a reality that requires ongoing adaptation, building constant change and flexibility into how humans want to live and interact, incorporating sustainable materials, components, and reinvented manufacturing.

The secondary challenge was to support Twelve Oaks Flooring’s goal of brand modernization and to achieve this through design implementation. The exhibit had to undertake the requirements noted above, while conceptually communicating the company’s values of innovation, creativity, and perseverance to evoke a strong emotional response. Furthermore, as a sustainable exhibit the booth also needed to allow for interchangeable content, speed of assembly, disassembly, and simple transport to future trade shows.

Our solution to these challenges was The Secret Glade: a brief journey connecting nature to maker and back to nature. Visitors are greeted by a solid cube structure with a carved, layered archway leading the audience to a hidden space featuring an immersive experience.

Our design team took inspiration from Twelve Oaks’ namesake reference, ‘Gone with the Wind’, mimicking the experience of an allée (walkway) of twelve oak trees, creating organic profiles carved from the elevated wood floor. This implies the perspective of proceeding under a symmetrical tree canopy towards a destination. The twelve panels each feature a different flooring type from the collection are illuminated to create a feeling of movement while remaining fixed in their place.

Eventually, visitors arrive at The Secret Glade, an immersive experience designed to create an emotionally connective response, highlighting the circularity of the forest as a sustainable resource for flooring material. The projected artwork cycles between vignettes of sunlight, water, and forests, moving into the manufacturing process of the Gemtec flooring series, then returning to the regeneration of the forest.

Showcasing innovation, the entire assembly of the wood floor installation has been consciously left exposed. It shows the consumer each layer, from quality veneer, robust and highly sustainable backing, to the plywood subfloor layer.

From the custom exterior graphic enclosing The Secret Glade, comprised of zoomed in images of twelve oak trees, to the allée archway, the installation makes a striking and popular photo backdrop and a showstopping brand ambassador for Twelve Oaks.

A holistic design approach that goes beyond accessibility

When LWG was approached to design the headquarters for the Canadian Federal Government’s headquarters for Accessibility Standards Canada in Gatineau QC, we started a journey of discovery about what it means to exceed the basic requirements of universal design principles.

Interior Designer: Bryan Wiens, ARIDO

Design Team: Emilie Gautier

Design Firm: LWG

Photographer: Kevin Belanger

We were focused on delivering a design solution that integrates a holistic approach to accessibility in a way that dignifies users and democratizes space, within an activity based workplace methodology.

Some key elements that were taken into consideration included materiality (resilient flooring for better mobility), colours, and contrast (visual cues to help with navigation and wayfinding through space) and integration of technology.

The incorporation of individually controlled overhead lighting at every desk was one key design criteria that the client demanded and was elegantly achieved through collaboration with local lighting agency WSA.

In addition, considerations for acoustical solutions to offset the open high ceilings and resilient flooring provided opportunities to introduce suspended ceiling elements that serve to control sound and provide visual cues to indicate the zoning of different areas which are defined by activity.

Credit should be given to LWG Interior Designer Emilie Gautier, who took the lead on this project with guidance by LWG Principal Bryan Wiens.

Translating a design framework into a functional workspace

The LWG design team continues to leverage the Federal Government’s GC Workplace framework to create beautiful and responsive work environments. This latest project, designed for the Translation Bureau, fully embraces these standards of workplace modernization, flexibility and agility, resulting in a destination space to draw people back to the office while supporting hybrid work, and ultimately the challenging work undertaken by translators.

Interior Designer: Bryan Wiens, ARIDO

Design Firm: LWG Architectural Interiors

Photographer: Kevin Belanger

Workstation area and wood paneling wall feature with geometric diagonal line detailing

View of the entire cafeteria area in a blue, orange and gray colour scheme and separated from the lounge area by gray panels with hexagon details

Open concept collaboration area surrounded by windows and views of the city

It was important to provide the employees with flexible workspaces that would allow them to move about freely depending on their needs, whether it is meetings and collaboration, or individual work. The translation work is both intense and demanding, so providing key support spaces, such as comfortable and inviting lounge areas as well as private sleep rooms, was critical.

This office interior features the first use of tunable Lutron Ketra lighting in Ottawa – utilized in the sleep rooms to allow users to tune the lighting to suit their individual level of comfort.

To create an interior that provides a connection to the outdoors, evokes nature, and promotes well-being, biophilic elements have been used throughout the space in a variety of ways including wood panelling, preserved moss and full-wall graphics. This is paired with a restrained use of saturated colours such as warm oranges and calm blues in key areas over three floors of predominantly neutral-coloured office space in downtown Ottawa.

Lounge area featuring a large geometric detail biophilic design on the wall

Contrasting design elements create a modern and memorable lobby

This 30 year old Toronto office tower lobby was a series of dark, awkward spaces lacking a clear flow of movement before the design team transformed it into a modern memorable space through a skillful reconfiguration of the architecture and the insertion of several statement-making elements. The furnishings and finish choices offer a timeless aesthetic that will ensure the space looks fresh for many years to come.

Interior Designer: Inger Bartlett, ARIDO

Design Firm: Bartlett & Associates

Photographer: Tom Arban

We were tasked with repositioning the building as a desirable location, attracting vibrant, youthful companies as new tenants and transforming the lobby from a utilitarian transition space into a tenant amenity. The design solution needed to enhance the functionality and accessibility of the lobby and bring a fresh, modern look to a 1980s office tower.

Lobby lounge area with back to back seating and the tall black metal screen behind it with the forest image imprinted on it. The elevator lobby visible through the black screen.

Elevator lobby with wood paneling and modern linear light fixtures in black finish

Upon entrance to the lobby interior, the wow factor of the towering screen combined with contrasting colours and textures create a sense of drama to stand out to prospective tenants.

The custom perforated metal screen is a singular feature that instantly transforms the space. It’s not just a great piece of art for the lobby, but it also functions as a visual marker drawing visitors in the right direction once they step inside. The lobby was formerly a series of awkward annexes with no clear path beyond the bulky reception desk which felt like a blockade. Drawing the eye upwards, the screen also establishes a new vertical axis and emphasizes the 30 foot ceilings.

A dynamic art piece, an anchor for the desk, and an acoustic intervention, the screen also defines the elevator bay and masks a bulkhead wall above. The sleek black coating is contrasted by an adjacent textured white wall, its three-dimensional surface capturing light and shadow in a manner that evokes a rippling body of water.

View of the entire lobby interior from the main entrance, where the black finish metal screen, the white 3D textured white wall, the lounge/waiting area and the small cafe are all visible and beautifully contrast each other.

The calming biophilic references continue with the flooring, which includes visually textured carpet and ceramic slabs in stony greys. Marble-like tiles were chosen for their scale – their vast three-by-nine-foot span makes the lobby feel larger.

An injection of colour is finally added in the public café, a cozy space created by opening up an unused storage room. Defined by a high-back banquette in striking red upholstery, it’s an ideal space for tenants to eat lunch, or hold impromptu meetings. The café is crowned by a series of walnut slats that serve both to enhance acoustics and to hide mechanical systems.

View of the entire lobby from the main entrance, where the black finish metal screen, the white 3D textured white wall, the lounge/waiting area and the small cafe are all visible and beautifully contrast each other.

At the center of the main lobby space are two smartly tailored back-to-back lounge areas, introducing a vibe that feels more akin to a hospitality setting than an office tower. An amenity for visitors and employees alike, the lobby is more than just a transition area, it’s a flexible space that supports a range of activities, from quiet breaks to company events, that is also completely barrier free and accessible.