Envy by CAA: Wine Bar/Gourmet Delicatessen in Amsterdam

Envy by CAA Wine BarGourmet Delicatessen in Amsterdam
Rob Wagemans is getting used to being in the spotlight.

As the co-founder of avant-garde Dutch firm Concrete Architectural Associates, he is behind such successes as Supperclub, an outr� nightclub - restaurant concept that's being exported to several different continents, and specialty pharmacy Lairesse Apotheek, which won the 2003 Dutch Design Prize.

Yet the most striking thing about CAA is its approach, in which the firm, together with its sister agency IQ Creative, oversees not only a project’s architecture and interior design, but also its operational issues, from its advertising campaigns and food to its entertainment and choice of chef.

The wine bar/gourmet delicatessen Envy, which opened in July in Amsterdam, is the latest example of this holistic style.

Indeed: Not satisfied to make it just a restaurant, CAA and its team have turned the spot into an experience centered on food.

Concrete’s handiwork is evident even before you pass through Envy’s front door.

Through the giant picture windows you can see the venue’s stainless-steel exhibition kitchen, which serves as a visual counterpoint to the dark, wooded dining room.

Three narrow communal tables--called the tasting tables--extend nearly the full length of the eating space, while a few more private seats are available up front.