Design

Ivan Kane and RKIT Design partners Jason Volenec and Silvia Zofio create Ivan Kane's Café Was, a French Bistro and live music venue, in Hollywood

Hollywood, CA -- Nightlife innovator Ivan Kane hires RKIT Design to design his latest concept, Ivan Kane's Cafe Was, a restaurant and live music venue in Hollywood.

RKIT Design is a New York City based architectural and interior design firm. Partners Jason Volenec and Silvia Zofio, designers of New York's newest restaurant sensations Allen & Delancey and Elettaria, have worked in collaboration with Serge Becker on renowned projects such as Joe's Pub, La Esquina and the 205 Club.

Ivan Kane handpicked RKIT Design for their intrinsic understanding of his concept and their ability to work creatively outside the box, a place where nightlife entrepreneur Kane is most comfortable. "Once I saw their work in New York and had a chance to riff with them on the potential for imagination as inspiration for visual references, I knew we understood each other," Kane explains. Adds RKIT's Jason Volenec, "With Ivan's concept, we had the freedom to design without adhering to any particular dogma. Cafe Was is a thoughtful amalgam of "recycled" architectural/interior design related ideas. We assembled these ideas in varying stages of deconstruction and whimsy, ultimately creating a theatrical environment in the form of a restaurant/live music venue, where not only the piano player, but the patrons as well, will be compelled to play a role."

With a revolving grand piano at the center of the room, Ivan Kane and RKIT set about to create an opulent, bohemian dream world. The diverse space offers several options where patrons can dine, including multiple levels surrounding the piano. While achieving a collaboration of time in both design and style, including columns at the ground floor turning into Victorian posts at the intimate mezzanine level overlooking the piano below, Café Was also features hidden lounges tucked into nooks and crannies, a mysterious balcony turned into a lavish candle display and Café Was' most unique vantage point to sit and listen from, a grand staircase leading nowhere.

RKIT

RKIT is a full-service architectural and interior design group with a focus on restaurant and residential environments.

Recent RKIT projects include Allen & Delancey (Chef: Neil Ferguson formerly Gordon Ramsay’s chef du cuisine), Cantina (Chef: Jason Neroni formerly of Porchetta), Elettaria (Chef/owner: Akhtar Nawab formerly of Tom Collichio’s Craft Bar).

JASON VOLENEC

Jason Volenec began his career in Los Angeles working as an art director in the music video industry. While creating sets for such acts as 2Pac, Cypress Hill, and Snoop Dogg, Jason was introduced to the work of architect Morris Lapidus and his theory that “…if a stage setting is created and it is grand, everyone who enters will play their part”. At this point, Jason became interested in the idea of creating “more permanent” environments where “everyday people” would become the actors. In the pursuit of understanding first-hand what Morris meant, Jason moved to New York City in 1999 and began working with NYC nightlife impresario and restaurateur Serge Becker (Can Resources) on such notable projects including Joe’s Pub, Lure Fishbar, La Esquina, and 205 Club.

Jason left Can Resources in 2007 to form RKIT with Silvia Zofio.

SILVIA ZOFIO

Silvia Zofio was born in Madrid where she obtained her architectural background and experience on institutional and commercial projects while working with Estudio Saenz de Oiza and residential developments at her own practice. When arriving in New York City in 2003, she began working with Can Resources / Derek Sanders, Inc as an Architect on the design and development of ground-up buildings and high-end interior renovations such as the Flowerbox Building and the townhouse, 3 East 94th Street.

Silvia Zofio has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Architecture from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain.