Urban Acre Restaurant
John G. Diefenbaker International Airport YXE
We were pleased to be asked to create a brand for the new restaurant in the main public space at YXE by Kindrachuk Agrey Architecture and The Saskatoon Airport Authority. When presented with the name ‘Urban Acre,’ it seemed a fitting solution to marry these two seemingly contradictory vibes in a creative and visually arresting display.
The frontage feature display was designed and fabricated entirely in our workshop here at Studio Jensen.
Much attention was given to the choice of materials and finishes, and the interplay of raw steel, broadway lights, grass and the smooth center feature reinforce the notion of a diverse and creative community greater than the sum of it's parts.
In concert with the wonderful design of the restaurant (Kindrachuk Agrey Architecture) the surprising textures offer a comforting rest stop smack in the middle of a bustling 21st century airport.
The Build
Here, Bessie is in her final stages of painting. We fabricated a giant spray booth for the shop to accommodate such a large project, which included simultaneous spraying of the buildings for the cityscape. This a LONG way from her humble beginnings….
We first had to make a hand-held model to be sure my plan would work (shown inset). From there I scaled up the plans to full size and made the plywood structure.
Then it was ‘simply’ a matter of filling in the shape with foam - both rigid and expanding types. This took a very long time and was a trial and error process. The foam was not cheap, so care needed to be taken to place it not too far past where it was needed above and below the skin line.
Now the shape is complete and a thin layer of fiberglass is on - with the exception of the feet, which come last. After this step is application of a lot of body filler, much of which I removed during shaping.
The process of priming involves multiple coats of automotive primer: each progression is sanded with a finer grit than the last - then two coats of paint to finish her off.
Bending the steel by hand - certain letters like this ‘A’ were more complex.
Basic structure showing use of temporary alignment pegs.
Applying the outer steel wrap - note the light bulb holes are now drilled.
The finished letter shells ready for fitting to the display structure called an armature. The 'grass' and bulbs still need to be installed.
Here the build letters are fitted to the armature we had just completed.
Here the finished letters with lights and grass in place are tested. These are LED and produce very little heat, allowing the use of materials for the sign that would not have been possible only a handful of years ago. Debra was hugely helpful with this phase putting in long hours fabricating and fitting the bulb cradle tubes, prepping the light strings and cutting and installing the grass into the letters.
Where Worlds Unite
The name ‘Urban Acre’ reflects a sophisticated modern city inseparable from its’ proud prairie heritage; a strong economic and cultural ecosystem that we proudly call home. Thank you to Kindrachuck Agrey Architecture and The Saskatoon Airport Authority for trusting Studio Jensen with designing a feature for such a prominent public space.
