In 2004, chef/owner Marc Murphy created a successful recipe with his Landmarc restaurant in New York’s TriBeCa neighborhood. Three years later, when the opportunity arose to bring his contemporary bistro uptown to the Time Warner Center, Murphy didn’t mess with the ingredients.
Landmarc became the final piece in the Time Warner Center’s upscale food offering this spring. The 300-seat restaurant recalls its downtown roots with a mix of industrial and natural materials. Oak wood floors, exposed brick, ash tables and rusted metals surround diners in a warm, comfortable setting.
The restaurant is divided by experiences: The Park Room overlooks Central Park and attracts early risers for breakfast, while the dining room houses banquettes and tables for lunch and dinner crowds. A 12-foot-long communal table of poured concrete offers another dining option. Two additional party rooms are set off the main dining area by glass-paneled garage doors that can be closed for more private gatherings.
Murphy pairs his bistro fare with an extensive wine menu, so the bar area houses a floor-to-ceiling wine tower constructed from metal, fiberglass rebar and glass. Rebar makes another surprising appearance above diners’ heads, where a faux version of the construction material hangs via airplane wire, creating a rhythmic, textured ceiling.
Sculptural metal chandeliers, large-scale photographs and charcoal upholstery add the finishing touches to this visual feast.
Client: Anvijl NY, New York — Marc Murphy, chef/owner; Pamela Schein Murphy, owner
Design: Clodagh, New York — Clodagh; Chris Marta, New York; Tal Geller; Gilles-Fleur Boutry; Omar Clennon; Ashley Hermann
Architect: Robert Pierpont, New York
General Contractor: Shawmut Design & Construction, Boston
Outside Design Consultants: Jerome S. Gilman Architects, New York (expeditor); zerolux, New York (lighting); Thomas J. Fiskaa Engineering, New York (MEP engineer); Cantor Seinuck Group, New York (structural engineer); Audio, Visual and Controls, New York (AV); Sam Tell & Sons Inc., Maspeth, N.Y. (kitchen supplier)
Metal: J Frederick Construction, Brookfield, Conn.
Graphic Designer: Antonia Ludes
Upholstery: Wood, Spring & Down, Bronx, N.Y.
Artwork: Carol Venezia, New York; Michael Venezia, New York
Concrete Work: Robert Younger, New York
Chandeliers: Jessica Bodner, San Francisco
Photography: Quentin Bacon, New York