Kirkland Village – Marketplace Renovations

Updates to reconfigure and refresh the former café created a vibrant, contemporary dining venue to better serve residents, staff and guests. The “inside-the-box” marketplace renovations opened up and reprogramed the various spaces comprising this casual dining venue.

We began at the front door, shifting the gated portion of the entrance forward so that the new bakery/coffee shop and grab ‘n go store can be accessed even when other marketplace venues are closed.  New slatted wood barn doors and interior windows enable residents to have a view into the main bistro and display kitchen preparation areas.

Varied and Intimate Venues

The bakery display is the highlight of the new coffee shop which features the community’s popular pastry chef’s creations.  The adjacent Corner Shoppe provides a new grab ‘n go option for between meals and as an alternative to the communal dining options.

The staff corner was an important addition to provide staff members with the option of a relaxed place of respite while enjoying marketplace items.  This space also includes a hospitality station with coffee and other beverages as a staff member perk.

A Fresh Approach to Culinary Preparation, Nutrition and Flavor Diversity

The design team collaborated with community leadership and culinary staff members to help define functional goals and prioritize design features.  We started by meeting with the kitchen staff to observe how they worked and how the spaces and equipment functioned during mealtimes. Much of the cooking equipment was replaced and upgraded to accommodate more variety, diverse dietary preferences and fresh, made-to-order selections. The new equipment introduced contemporary technology innovations so that much of the food is now presented in an attractive, open-kitchen display format. One of the highlights is a hearth oven introduced at the center of the marketplace.

French Bistro Design Inspiration

The design inspiration for a distinctive atmosphere that reflects a new attitude toward the casual dining experiences. was a Parisian café/bistro. Resident representatives had the opportunity to review finish options and provided input regarding final selections. Bold emerald green wainscot and statement artwork draw eyes into the main dining space. White shiplap on the opposite face and floor-to-ceiling windows on the adjacent wall keep the space bright and airy while providing visual interest and texture.