Press Release
Petit Potato Bar and Restaurant by Long Wu Receives the Bronze A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Long Wu for interior space and exhibition design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 21, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Petit Potato Bar and Restaurant by Long Wu, designed for Hashtag Theory Inc., has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who evaluated anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Bronze A' Design Award Means
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
Regarding Petit Potato Bar and Restaurant
Petit Potato is a bar and restaurant located on Bay Street in downtown Toronto. The interior covers about 4,435 square feet and is divided into three zones named Luminous Lagoon, Ethereal Forest, and Spiritual Cave. Organic forms, layered textures, and dynamic lighting create a calm retreat from the dense urban surroundings. Textured tiles, reflective metals, and natural wood are used throughout the space. Existing structural columns are shaped into tree-like forms, and plant installations are mounted upside down.
About Long Wu
As an interior designer, my expertise lies in creating immersive environments that seamlessly integrate functionality with artistic vision. Born in Hong Kong, my background allows me to draw from rich Asian cultural elements, which significantly influence my design approach in North America. This cultural fusion enables me to craft spaces that balance traditional Eastern aesthetics with contemporary Western principles, resulting in innovative and harmonious environments. I am recognized for my ability to transform clients' signature elements into bespoke art installations, ensuring each project is a distinct and personalized reflection of their identity.
Award Record
Long Wu is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award
The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Entries typically include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. Awarded interior designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/interior
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/164023
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/164023
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!164023
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/358478
- Further Information from the Laureate: https://www.black-door.ca/about
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Petit Potato Bar and Restaurant
- Function
- Bar and Restaurant
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Black, Saddle Brown, Dark Slate Gray and Dim Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Hashtag Theory Inc.
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Long Wu
- Country
- Canada
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #164023
Credits
- Team
- Derek Yeung
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Located on Bay Street in downtown Toronto, this bar and restaurant contrasts the dense urban landscape of glass towers and corporate bustle. Divided into three zones, Luminous Lagoon, Ethereal Forest, and Spiritual Cave, it offers a sensory escape through organic forms, layered textures, and dynamic lighting. Blending fantasy and nature, this biophilic retreat near major transit hubs and luxury retail transports guests from city chaos into tranquility.
- Inspiration
- The design for Enchanted Escape to Surreal Biophilia draws inspiration from: 1. Biophilic Design and Surrealism: Drawing from nature's inherent tranquility, the design incorporates organic shapes and textures to evoke a sense of escape. Inspired by surrealism, the space merges fantasy with reality, creating an immersive, dreamlike atmosphere that connects guests to a reimagined natural world. 2. Aquatic Inspiration: Lighting and reflective surfaces mimic the fluidity of underwater environments, enhancing the surreal ambiance and providing a calming, otherworldly experience.
- Research
- The project aims to create an immersive bar and restaurant that contrasts the rigid urban environment of downtown Toronto with nature-inspired, surreal design elements. Zones like the Luminous Lagoon, Ethereal Forest, and Spiritual Cave foster relaxation and escape, blending biophilic design with fantasy. Organic forms, dynamic lighting, and layered textures offer patrons a journey through tranquil, nature-infused spaces. The design strikes a balance between providing a retreat from the city's hustle and maintaining functional spaces for dining and social interaction.
- Challenge
- Lighting had to shift atmospheres without overwhelming the space. Existing structural columns were creatively transformed into tree-like forms, blending with the environment. The upside-down plant installations needed careful placement to defy gravity and align with the lighting scheme.
- Realization and Technology
- The design of Enchanted Escape to Surreal Biophilia was realized using 3D modeling and rendering software through a variety of different designs. Materials like textured tiles, reflective metals, and natural wood were chosen for their tactile and visual impact. Dynamic lighting with smart controls enhances the immersive atmosphere. The upside-down plant installations, achieved through trial and error, required innovative structural solutions, with multiple prototypes tested to balance stability and visual impact, refining the design for both aesthetic and safety.
- Operation and Interaction
- The design of Enchanted Escape to Surreal Biophilia creates an immersive experience, transporting guests from the fast-paced Bay Street atmosphere into a serene, otherworldly retreat. Through dynamic lighting, organic forms, and surreal elements, the space fosters a sense of wonder and tranquility. Easy navigation and distinct zones, like the Luminous Lagoon and Ethereal Forest, guide guests on a journey that evolves throughout their visit. The lighting subtly shifts to enhance mood, ensuring each visit feels unique, personal, and deeply engaging.
- Project Duration and Location
- Started: May 2023 Completed: August 2024 Location: Downtown Toronto Bay Street
- Specifications
- Enchanted Escape to Surreal Biophilia spans approximately 4,435 SQFT, with key spatial elements adding depth to the design.
- Keywords
- Biophilic, Surrealism, Lighting, Organic, Aquatic, Dreamlike, Restaurant Design, Bar Design
