Bacaro Restaurant in Vancouver by Ste. Marie Studio.

Ste. Marie have designed a Venetian-inspired restaurant on the ground floor of Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel. The interior design is an embrace of mid-century Italy, featuring rich walnut panelling, colourful furniture and metal work, contrasted with subdued lighting, timeless marble, and a collection of Venetian masks, displayed in the custom millwork, as emblems of hedonism.

The studio inherited materials and elements from the previous interior and, rather than a complete renovation, looked to respond to the materials and integrate them into the new concept. Timber was matched to the residual walnut veneer and Calcutta Manhattan marble was carefully selected to transform the existing dark wood finishes, complimented by intentionally placed pops of red and yellow throughout.

The reimagined interior features high-top seating in the bar area, which doubles as a cafe in the afternoons and a standing counter running down the middle of the room parallel to the bar with a luxurious 40-tap Enomatic wine system. An intimate private dining room is up a short set of stairs, tucked away in a dimly lit room.

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The practical constraints of working with existing materials and configuration pushed the team to come up with innovative solutions that made efficient use of space, down to the inch. Two unique features are the rotating shelf at the stairs and the tubular wine glass holder. The red tubes acted as a strong accent within the space, but also added functionality to the shallow standing tables, allowing the wine glass to sit above the table in order to maximise table depth.

Considering the interpersonal experience, bar-height standing tables were designed to fit into the tight corners, providing many intimate, yet casual, avenues for conversation. Being connected to the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel offers a natural energy for the space, a sort of transient mystique offset by the nooks in Bacaro which provide a welcome reprieve from the comings and goings of the lobby.

With a distinct transportive quality, guests feel like they’ve stepped out of Vancouver and into Northern Italy, 50 years ago. Paired with the interior’s quiet confidence from a restrained and well-crafted design, Ste. Marie has delivered an unparalleled ambience.

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[Images courtesy of Ste. Marie Studio. Photography by Conrad Brown.]