Reb Rabbit St. Paul - Studio M Architects

Red Rabbit Restaurant Design in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Overview:

Studio M Architects collaborated with owner Luke Shimp to create Red Rabbit, an upscale Italian eatery in Minneapolis. Following the success of Red Cow, Shimp’s burger-focused restaurant, Red Rabbit was envisioned as a more sophisticated dining experience offering Italian cuisine. The project involved transforming a historic building, originally constructed in 1892 and used for auto body and car repairs for the past 70 years, into a warm and inviting restaurant that honors its historical roots while introducing modern design elements.

Project Goals:

Establish an Upscale Italian Restaurant: Develop a dining environment that reflects a higher-end Italian café and restaurant, distinct from the casual atmosphere of Red Cow.
Historic Preservation and Adaptation: Restore and repurpose the old building, maintaining its historical character while making it suitable for modern use.
Optimize Interior Layout: Create distinct dining areas, including a bar area with bar dining and a formal dining room with large table seating.
Enhance Ambiance: Use materials and design elements to create a dark, intimate atmosphere that complements the upscale dining experience.

Incorporate Outdoor Space: Design a patio with easy access from the interior, providing additional seating and a connection to the outdoors.

Design and Implementation:

Structural Restoration and Layout Changes:
- Building Rehabilitation: Addressed the poor condition of the building by cleaning and securing structural elements. Rebuilt sections of the failing ceiling while preserving original features.
- Exposed Brick Walls: Left the original brick walls exposed, showcasing the building’s history. Cleaned and minimally restored them to maintain their authentic character.
- Preserved Wood Ceiling: Embraced the beautiful wood ceiling found in the original office area. Cleaned, painted, and highlighted it as a design feature.
- Interior Division: Divided the space into two main areas:
  - Bar Area: Includes bar dining and features an overhead door that opens to the patio, allowing patrons to order from outside.
  - Formal Dining Room: Offers a more traditional dining experience with large table seating.
- New Openings for Patio Access: Cut openings in the building’s walls to create access to the patio and introduce natural light into the interior spaces.
Materials and Finishes:
- Charred Wood Accents: Used charred wood to create a dark, intimate feeling throughout the space, adding texture and warmth.
- Mosaic Tile: Incorporated mosaic tiles for visual interest and a touch of elegance.
- Custom Furniture: Selected custom furniture pieces, including leather seating, to enhance comfort and sophistication.
- Custom Wall Coverings: Applied unique wall coverings to add depth and personality to the interiors.
- Large-Scale Lighting: Installed oversized lighting fixtures to emphasize the quaint size of the space and contribute to the intimate ambiance.
Exterior Design:
- Red Exterior Paint: Painted the exterior of the building red, aligning with the restaurant’s branding and making it a striking presence in the neighborhood.
- Preservation of Architectural Details: Maintained the existing diamond patterns on the cinder block exterior walls, preserving the unique characteristics of the building.
Patio Design:
- Pergola Installation: Created a patio area covered with a pergola, providing shade and an inviting outdoor dining space.
- Recessed Seating Area: Designed the patio to be slightly recessed below ground level, offering patrons a sense of seclusion from the busyness of downtown traffic and pedestrians.

Landscaping and Screening: Added a large wall and planting around the patio to enhance privacy and create a more intimate outdoor environment.

Challenges:

Building Condition: The building was in poor shape due to decades of use as an auto body repair shop, requiring significant cleaning, structural repairs, and updates to meet current building codes.
Structural Integrity: Addressed failing ceiling sections, securing and rebuilding parts of the ceiling to ensure safety and longevity.
Balancing Preservation and Modernization: Worked to preserve historical elements like the brick walls and unique exterior patterns while integrating modern design features suitable for an upscale restaurant.

Creating Intimacy in a Historic Space: Designed interior and exterior spaces that feel intimate and inviting despite the building’s industrial past.

Outcome:

Red Rabbit emerged as a successful transformation of a historic building into a sophisticated Italian restaurant that celebrates both its heritage and contemporary design. The exposed brick walls and preserved wood ceilings honor the building’s past, while the use of charred wood, custom furnishings, and thoughtful lighting create a warm, intimate atmosphere ideal for upscale dining. The division of the space into distinct areas caters to different dining preferences, offering both casual bar seating and formal dining options. The addition of the patio with its pergola and recessed design provides an attractive outdoor dining experience that feels connected yet secluded from the urban environment. Red Rabbit stands as a testament to adaptive reuse and innovative design, enhancing the local dining scene and providing guests with a memorable experience rooted in history and style.