Le Cirque 2000
New York, New York
Stainless Steel & Neon Ellipses, Torches, Bronze Doors, Bar and Integrated Lighting
Design/Engineer, Engineer, Value Engineer, Consult, Fabrication, Installation
“When the ring-master turns the lights out and spins the baton over his head, I want to see the rings of Saturn,” was how designer Adam Tihany envisioned the redesign for New York’s legendary, five-star restaurant, Le Cirque. The challenge however, was that this over-the-top, fantasy re-design had to be pulled off in a way that respected its new home: the Villard House, a historic landmark. Because the space’s established electrical and plumbing systems had limits, we created the elliptical stainless steel and neon rings as an integrated lighting solution that would be supported by free-standing torches. The torches also anchor the bar and are topped by acrylic flames. We made the illuminated fiber-optic bar completely self-sufficient and movable, with its own internal plumbing and water basin. And the restaurant playfully represents the passage of time with our sculptural clock, which crosses the room on a cable system – the ultimate tight-rope walker for this conceptual circus. Along with these flights of fancy, we paid respect to the historic site by creating an exact replica of the Villard House’s bronze entry doors.
