Los Angeles Projects Trump AIA's Best Restaurant Designs

Take a Bao (Photo courtesy of MASS Architecture and Design)The American Institute of Architects of Los Angeles presented the 8th annual Restaurant Design Awards as part of their design conference at Dwell on Design last week. The awards took place on the Expo floor of the LA Convention Center with winning categories in Best Restaurant, Best Cafe/Bar, and Best Lounge/Nightclub.

Le Zinque (Photo courtesy of Modern Arc Inc.)While the jury selected nominees from several cities, Los Angeles-based projects dominated the People's Choice winners. Take A Bao in Studio City, designed by MASS Architecture and Design, took home the prize for Best Restaurant Design, prized for its sleek, delineated planes both on the exterior facade and in the interior motif. Modern Arc Inc. and Eric Ryder, AIA won Best Cafe/Bar for their design of Le Zinque in Venice. French Cafe's known as "zincs" inspired the space with the bar as the central feature.

Salvage Bar (Photo courtesy of SCI-Arc)The medley of salvaged wood, stained glass, and vintage brass doors in Salvage Bar won for Best Lounge/Nightclub. Straight Designs and Tima Winter, Inc. decorated the space predominantly out of upcycled materials found in the basement of the Roosevelt.