One of famed architect Arthur Erickson's final works was the striking Waterfall Building located near Granville Island.
Now a space in the building first conceived as an art gallery is set to be transformed into a coffee and cocktails concept, led by the founder of a popular local café business.
Ming Yang (Honolulu Coffee) is behind Ellipsis, which will be a 2,882-square-foot and 47-seat all-day "dual bar," which will offer coffee and cocktails and, hopefully, a sense of community.
“In a world that moves faster and faster, I wanted to create a space that invites us to slow down, to pause, to meet in the moment,” said Yang in a media release. “It’s a café, it’s a bar, but more than that, it’s a space for presence, connection and meaning.”
The Waterfall is a mixed-use building designed in 1996 by Erickson with Nick Milkovich Architects, and Ellipsis will be installed in the courtyard, beyond the actual waterfall. Previously, it was being used as an events venue by Waterfall Events & Weddings, who describe it as follows: "A clean and contemporary wide open space, featuring concrete flooring, bright white walls and floor to ceiling glass windows, providing beautiful natural lighting."
To adapt the space for Ellipsis, Yang is working with SML Studio Architecture, in collaboration with Tetherstone Construction, to capture Erikson’s vision for the redesign.
"Brushed stainless steel surfaces, geometric millwork, and primary shapes (circles, triangles and rectangles) echo Erickson’s formal language, while reflective elements are balanced with natural materials such as wood and fabric to evoke warmth and comfort," describes the Ellipsis announcement. "Burnt orange upholstery and warm ambient lighting softens the structural tones, and mirrors at the base of the feature bars extend the sense of continuity and spatial openness."
No menu details have been shared yet, but future patrons (including those familiar with Honolulu Coffee) should expect "a completely new offering," though "the level of care and service will remain the same."
Ellipsis will be located in unit 205 of 1540 W 2nd Ave in Vancouver, and will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. An opening date or target time range has not been shared yet.
For updates, follow @ellispis.ca on Instagram.
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