The Details
"The layering of colours, textures, and patterns brings warmth and authenticity - a sense of cultural relevance"
Alessandro Munge
A former French eatery in fashionable Yorkville neighbourhood has been reborn as Amal Toronto, trading its bistro-style for the Bedouin. Studio Munge crafted the Lebanese concept as a bright and immersive “feast for the senses” with a design that is as expressive as its cuisine. “The venue had to be fresh and uplifting. It is a sensual, feminine space and represents modern Lebanon, breaking away from stereotypes while remaining true to its vibrant culture,” says Alessandro Munge, founder and design director of the local firm. The restaurant’s colour palette of dusty blue, mint green, and sandy beige channels Lebanese markets, while a handpainted ceiling tapestry by art studio Moss & Lam covers the eatery in a vibrant mix of burnt orange and bright yellow. Original mosaic floors topped by hand-tufted rugs in muted hues and laser-cut screens that showcase a star pattern motif are artful nods that transport guests from Toronto to Beirut. In the softly lit semiprivate dining room, a collection of clay sculptures commissioned by GX Art Co. ties in with the narrative, further creating a sense of place and craft. “The layering of colours, textures, and patterns brings warmth and authenticity – a sense of cultural relevance,” Muneg adds. “It must be grounded in the local context yet embrace its escapist nature.”
Read Article in the February/March Issue of Hospitality Design