Out the Door is Charles Phan's version of a casual/quick eats dining venue. Sited in the new Bloomingdale's lower level food court, the program required casual seating areas, as well as space for to-go orders and a wine bar.
The act of cooking was central to the design–the kitchen was placed at the front and a window was created behind the wok "water" wall to allow the public to see food preparation and the open flames inside. To counter the site's "basement quality" we chose a warm color palette; rust colored ceramic tile for the flooring, tan "Kiri" board for the walls. The greatest feature is the 50-foot illuminated honey wall at the back of the space. Composed of 1" deep honey-filled aquariums, the wall casts a solar-like aura and plays with people's perception of the environment. Once sealed, honey does not go bad, but rather crystallizes and evolves, creating an appropriate metaphor for Charles' timeless and evolving cuisine. We used approximately 80 different honeys to get the variation in hue and crystallization.
To contrast the wall's amber color, the other elements in the space were cast in cool tones. For instance, the exterior walls of the kitchen were clad in random patterned blue-green porcelain tile and grey/green tones were chosen for the seating. Stainless steel was used throughout the kitchen and for the dining tables to emphasize the informal character of the space.
Client: Charles Phan
Project Lead: David Battenfield
LD fabrication: Jeff Loehman, Ryan Hughes, Nick Polansky, Francine Bennett, Wylie Price, David Battenfield
Contractor: Terra Nova Industries
Published:
California Home and Design, March 2007
Form, November/December 2007
