After a prolonged period of pared-back interiors, maximalism is finally having a major moment — in the hospitality sector, at least. Take Toronto’s , whose opulent design, courtesy of Nivek Remas, hearkens back to 70s nightlife with a hefty dose of animal print and gold bling (and also clinched an Award of Merit at the ). The trend continues at Bowie, a (literally) underground supper club opened just one month later in Old Montreal. Offering a curated menu of Asian-inspired small plates alongside nightly DJ sets, by reservation only for those in the know, the exclusive venue is sure to become a staple in Montreal’s nightlife scene. For its interior, local firm Ivy Studio looked to the glamour of 80s speakeasies for inspiration.
A sense of theatricality is palpable from the entrance, where guests arrive through a discreet vestibule. In this moody and mysterious space, the sculptural host stand is framed by red-painted walls and a botanical tapestry that hints at the lush, jungle-chic interior that lies ahead.
Once inside, “more is more” is the guiding design philosophy. The interior erupts in a cacophony of textures and colours, from the velvet upholstery to the high-shine chrome columns. Black velvet walls and black-stained wood flooring ground the space, and a teal carpet insert demarcates the central lounge zone.
Thanks to the supper club’s subterranean setting, the absence of windows becomes a design asset that enhances the space’s transportive quality. But what Bowie lacks in natural light is made up for with a considered lighting scheme that lends the interior its characteristic drama. Indirect LEDs integrated into the ultra-glossy burgundy ceiling offer soft, diffused backlighting, while chrome sconces and table lighting make for bold accents. Reflective surfaces, like the polished chrome and smoked mirror-clad columns, cast the light in all directions, echoing the dynamic energy of the space. The sensory experience is, of course, amplified by the ambient audio, which plays through oversized red speakers that hang above the booths.
Throughout Bowie’s 278-square-metre footprint, the designers have created pockets of intimacy through a series of low-slung seating vignettes that “invite lingering conversation,” they explain. Around the perimeter, meanwhile, elevated banquettes set the scene for shared dining experiences. Throughout, all of the furnishings, from the mustard-hued sofas to the tiger-print pouffes to the glossy black and chrome tables, have been custom-designed to suit Bowie’s unique vibe.
The firm aptly describes the bar as the space’s “architectural centrepiece,” clad in layered red marble and segmented by inset brass. From above, a light fixture comprised of chrome tubes shines a spotlight on this design feature, while the mirrored and chrome backbar elegantly glows behind it.
With abundant visual stimulus and thoughtful details around every corner, Bowie at first appears rife with Instagrammable moments. But social media gimmicks were never part of the brief: in fact, no photos are allowed inside. No doubt, the experience will be better for it. With their phones away, visitors will be encouraged to live in the present moment, enjoying the taste of the food, the sound of the music — and, of course, the design.
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