Founder & President
Matthias is a third generation builder/woodworker who began his career in residential construction but honed his project management skills in commercial construction. He brings the craftsmanship and attention to detail of a custom home builder to the world of commercial construction and the high level of project management skill demanded in commercial construction to the world of custom home building.
In 2008 Matthias founded MÄ“tis Construction, A high craft company that got its start in residential construction before developing a second and strong commercial line of work. Under Matthias' leadership, MÄ“tis grew dramatically completing over 50 restaurants, bars, cafes, breweries, and other commercial projects in addition to countless residential projects. These projects ranged from residential additions to new residential construction; from tenant improvements in new mixed use buildings to full commercial building rehabs, additions, and build-outs. In some cases the projects were fully detailed by designers and in others MÄ“tis assumed an extensive design build role, working closely with the clients to design interior elements such as back bars, tables, and banquettes (see portfolio below). Having built MÄ“tis from the ground up and led it through it's start-up years, Matthias left MÄ“tis in 2020 with a stellar line up of projects in development and under construction.
In 2020, Matthias founded Rhizome Construction and relocated to Missoula, MT where he has had the good fortune of connecting with an exceptionally talented group of craftspeople.
Project Portfolio
While in Seattle, Matthias worked alongside an outstanding group of clients, architects, designers, engineers, and crafts people. He would like to express his deepest gratitude to all of them for the past, present, and future success of both MÄ“tis Construction and Rhizome Construction. The projects included below are a small sampling of the projects he was involved with while president of MÄ“tis. Worker owned as of 2016, MÄ“tis Construction continues to work in the greater Seattle area collaborating with clients, designers, and crafts people to create innovative and beautiful spaces both residential and commercial.
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Select Project Profiles
(Named Von Trapp's at the time of Opening)
"Von Trapp’s boasts a colossal bier hall with tall wooden tables and benches inspired by Munich’s famed Hofbräuhaus, plus a back bar, two large mezzanines, and a more intimate “bier den.” Aside from the five indoor bocce ball courts—two more of which will be added to an outdoor patio area in the spring—there’s also shuffleboard and other gaming.
Grand wooden railings salvaged from the McCaw Mansion in Medina lead the way up to the front mezzanine and stunning Viennese chandeliers hang from the ceilings on the main floor. Local elk heads, leather club chairs, booth seating, and a colossal Austrian fireplace complete the “bier den,” and large Belgian doors and pane windows make up one wall of the bier hall.
Weimann and Maclise worked with Metis Construction for the build-out of the space. [Matthias], who also worked on Poquitos, has a great team of talented craftsmen that carefully restored and integrated the many vintage pieces and also built custom tables and benches to complete the look of Von Trapp’s."
-Charles Koh, "Von Trapp's to Open on Capitol Hill," eatinseattle.com, February 5, 2013
"Von Trapp’s is a brawny yet elegant 10,000 square feet with enough dark wood from Europe to redo King Ludwig’s castle. It has three bars, several glittering chandeliers from Vienna, long beer hall-style tables, stone fireplaces topped with stuffed elk heads, separate areas with intimate booths and cocktail tables, two mezzanines that could be used for private events and – seriously —- five indoor bocce courts... [Owner] Maclise said... We’re big travelers and we do put a ton of energy into the decor. We start with the décor. We want to give people a local escape."
-Glenn Drosendahl, "Von Trapp's Beer Hall...," Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle's Rhein Haus is located on Capitol Hill in a building that was orignally built as a candy factory. Most recently, the building was shared by Majale's Hookah Bar and Dixson's Furniture. The original building was in very poor shape and roughly half of the perimeter 10 x 10 fir structural columns had to be partially replaced. Matthias worked closely with James and Deming and Ryan Reichman of Swenson Say Faget Engineers to devise a solution that would compliment the aesthetic of the space.
In addition to extensive building rehab work and an extensive addition complete with carpenter built timber trusses and its own bar, the project also included an outdoor bar and additional outdoor covered Bocci Courts.
From the day demolition began to the grand opening just seven months elapsed.
Owner/Designers:
James Weimann & Deming Maclise
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Architect:
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Structural Engineer:
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General Contractor:
"5 of the Swankiest Hotel Bars You Can Grab a Drink at in Seattle."
"Everywhere you look there's a thoughtful detailed touch[...] As Maclise says, 'We wanted to create a place where, when people show up from out of town, they feel like they were walking into something special and not just another place they could find in any town.'"
"This is the first project the guys have done in a new space; Maclise and Weimann say imparting their aesthetic was actually much tougher here than in an old building. But it’s easy to forget this structure didn’t exist a year ago when surrounded by all the reclaimed fir, pressed-tin schoolhouse ceilings, repurposed factory windows, and some envy-inducing light fixtures. The back wall of the dining room is clad in wood from a decomissioned Italian embassy in Buenos Aires. You know, no big deal"
-Allecia Vermillion, "First Look: Inside the Very Stylish Stoneburner," Seattle Met, June 21, 2013
"Stoneburner, in the Hotel Ballard, might have been lifted intact from the sidewalks of Milan, though most of its design elements have been sourced and scavenged from all over."
-Providence Cicero, "Stoneburner: Pasta, Creative Flair Bring Milan to Ballard," Seattle Times, September 20, 2013
"Atmosphere is key at this Ballard Ave restaurant with an early-twentieth-century feel off the lobby of Hotel Ballard: Repurposed architectural elements litter the place, including oakwood wall panels salvaged from a former Italian embassy in Buenos Aires and hanging lights from the old New York Times building."
-Stoneburner, Thrilllist
Owner Designers:
James Weimann & Demming Maclise
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Architects:
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General Contractor:
Beach Drive Home West Seattle
The lot that John and Denise chose had an existing home on it that was incorporated into the design. Their decision to clad the existing home in Corten steel honors the existing home while complimenting the aesthetic of the new space.
Perched on a hillside with a stunning view west over the Puget Sound comes with its "downsides". Custom rolling shutters help mitigate solar gain from the late afternoon sun.
"Inside, another hard pass for the couple was an open floor plan. "We have two little boys, and the home we were in previously was very open," says Denise. "So, we definitely learned that it’s challenging to not be able to control the sound... [However], because there are still sight lines via the outdoor spaces, the main rooms feel connected, especially when the glass doors are pushed wide."
-Dwell
Henry Built cabinets and minimalist detailing at exterior windows and doors contribute to the crisp, clean aesthetic while wood tones bring warmth to the space.
Owners:
Denise Schack and John Schack
Architect:
John Schack/Revolve Development
​Interior Designer:
Denise Schack/Revolve Development
Contractor:
​Photography:
Self performing foundation work is a great way to minimize schedule risk and ensure that the project gets off to a square and level start.
Project Team
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Josh Anderson
Cheng Cooper
Ian Dugas
Grant Eckman
Joel Herrera
Sarah Kautz
Sebastian Kimura
​Brian McCormick
Joe McKay
Drew Mohr
Matthias Scheiblehner
Phil Showstead
Gabe Stern
Jeff Taipale
"Owner Ericka Burke led the design, working with Capitol Hill–based design firm Graham Baba to build out the Chop Shop space, which was once a rehearsal spot for musicians. “The front portion has 22-foot-high ceilings, and masculine, exposed beams,” Burke says. “It was really important for me to create some intimacy and warmth.” In the back, botanical wallpaper dotted with colorful birds adds that warmth with a feminine touch, as does the blue-legged farmouse table. The back bar, with its arched moldings and leaded glass detail, was reclaimed from a Lower Queen Anne apartment entrance, and was a jumping-off point for the rest of the design."
Jessica Yadegaran, Chelsea Lin, Allison Chef, "6 Seattle Restaurants with Designs that Wow: Prettiness on the plate this year is only rivaled by inventive, transporting restaurant design," seattlemag.com, April 4, 2016
"Not far from the Pike-Pine bustle on Seattle's Capitol Hill, a new culinary oasis, Chop Shop, draws hungry crowds to its spacious, light-filled venue. Everything about this welcoming venue feels open–from the expansive ceilings and roll-up windows out front to the 'exposed kitchen' layout".
-"10 Best: Chop Shop", USA Today, August 19, 2016)
Located in developer Dunn and Hobbes' beautifully conceptualized and executed Chop House Development, the Chop Shop build-out echoed Liz Dunn's embrace of adaptive reuse.
Much to the deep dismay of all those involved in the project, Chop Shop did not survive as a business. Fortunately, Bruce and Sara Naftaly, former owners of Ballard's La Gourmand and inspiration for the development of many of Seattle's farm to table restaurants, stepped in and opened Marmite in the space, leaving the interior largely untouched.
The impressive interior possesses a woodsy, almost outdoor aesthetic, which fits the couple’s dedication to Pacific Northwest ingredients. -Bill Addison,"11 Phenomenal French Restaurants in Seattle,"Seattle Eater, March 28, 2018
Project Team:
Josh Anderson
Matthias Scheiblehner
Gabe Stern
A "masterpiece of restaurant Design"...
-Hugo Kugiya, Eating on the Edge
"It’s called Poquitos, which translates as “a little bit,” but there’s nothing little or low-key about it. The high-ceilinged, sprawling corner space has large windows all around, tortilla-makers in the display kitchen and two bars — one on a sheltered, heated patio that features a pair of fire pits.
As is typical with [owners] Weimann and Maclise, they researched the décor firsthand, scavenging for authentic vintage elements and salvaging architectural oddments. Thousands of orange and blue Talavera ceramic tiles cover the walls, providing rich contrast to lustrous black wood and scrolling ironwork. Votives are everywhere..."
- Providence Civero, "Lots to Like at Capitol Hill's Poquitos", Seattle Times, October 14, 2011
...Poquitos, the spectacularly ornate Mexican restaurant on Pike Street at 10th Avenue... the most compelling aspect of Poquitos is its appearance, an explosion of wrought-iron grillwork, black wood and blue and orange tiles... 'You have to create interest in a space,' Weimann said. "You hope people come again and again, and hope they keep discovering new things."
- Glen Drosendahl, "Poquitos Packs 'em in on Capitol Hill in Ornate Style," Puget Sound Business Journal, October 26, 2011
From the exterior, James and Deming's spaces have the feel of light installations.
A sign waiting for a restaurant... James Weimann's collection of salvaged neon is impressive to say the least. An afternoon spent digging through James and Deming's collection of architectural salvage is always enough to set the imagination running...
A new outdoor seating area with heated concrete benches, fire features, and an indoor/outdoor feel significantly increased the number of patrons who could be seated during the business critical evening rush period.
Client/Designers:
James Weimann and Deming Maclise
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Architect:
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General Contractor:
Bastille is absolutely beautiful, like walking into a sepia-toned Parisian photograph...
-"Bastille Cafe & Bar," EverOut: The Stranger's Going Out Guide
"Mostly, the place is a looker. Salvaged Parisian appointments set a Musee d’Orsay tone, from the Paris metro tiles to the vintage light fixtures, some from French churches. Other stuff was reclaimed from our back yard, like the 3,000-piece chandelier from an old Ballard mansion... And check the 45-foot zinc bar. Yeah. Forty-five feet. And the 2,500-square-foot rooftop garden, whose 12 raised beds will produce much of the menu’s greenery... The size and vision of this joint are what sets it apart in these lean times. There is nothing small about the scope of Bastille."
-Bastille Opens Today and It's a Little Slice of Paris in Ballard, Seattle Met, June 29, 2009
"One of the more visually striking restaurants on the list, Bastille is an even-toned balance of Art Nouveau and industrial design, complete with exposed brick, concrete pillars, and mood lighting. The design keeps on giving, too: A narrow corridor at the back of the main dining room opens up to a massive, sophisticated room, a lovely place to spend an evening."
-Bill Addison,"11 Phenomenal French Restaurants in Seattle,"
Seattle Eater, March 28, 2018)
"If [owners] James Weimann and Deming Maclise hadn’t become restaurateurs they might be winning Oscars for set decoration. Their carefully curated Ballard brasserie, Bastille, perfectly expresses Parisian joie de vivre."
-Providence Civero, Seattle Times, October 14, 2011)
"Seattle Francophiles seem just as gaga about Deming Maclise and James Weimann’s new Ballard brasserie. It’s been so warmly embraced by a stylish urban coterie that reservations are advisable. Bastille looks like an outsize Le Pichet. Rivet-trimmed black beams arch above the soaring space […]. Handsome old clocks, chandeliers and other vintage accessories scavenged from here and abroad contribute to the authentic Parisian air."
Providence Cicero, "Francophiles storm Bastille Café & Bar in Ballard," Seattle Times
In addition to the main restaurant and bar space, the project included construction of an outdoor seating area with a steel framed roof and a mahogany service bar, a second full service bar space, and the fabrication of a roof top seating area and planters for a roof top garden that supplied the restaurant's greens.
Project Crew:
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Luther Chatel
Jason Harrel
Shane Keenan
Pat MacGregor
Seth McCoy
Tom McKnight
Matthias Scheiblehner
Nat Towl
In 2016 James and Deming worked with MÄ“tis on an update that, among other things, included the removal of 4 drink rails and the addition of a horsehoe shaped booth to anchor the row of tables closest to the door and better define the bar area. A small enough project in itself but one that came with a catch... Restaurants and bar often operate on such close margins that closing down to allow work to be performed is often not an option. In this case that meant that everything had to prefabricated and installed between the closing time and the next day's lunch service. MÄ“tis performed numerous similar remodels - some performed in a single night, as in the case of the Bastille remodel,and others performed over a couple of days with MÄ“tis staff working multiple shifts to ensure an on time reopening. In the case of Plumb Bistro, this meant dissassembling a commercial kitchen, demoliting a failing floor, reframing the floor, pouring a new membrane floor, mitigating and repairing water damage at the level below, and reassembling the kitchen over a period of five days.
Historic Seattle gives out awards and Optimism Brewing is a winner
-Daily Journal of Commerce, June 22, 2017
"The result is Optimism Brewing, a 16,000 square-foot brewery designed by Olson Kundig Architects that will create a major destination on rapidly changing E Union and give Capitol Hill its second cathedral of beverage."
-Bryan Cohen, "Tech Powered Optimism Brewing is the New King of Beers on Capitol Hill", Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, November 30, 2015
"At 16,000 square feet, Optimism is capable of brewing 40 kegs of beer per run — significantly larger than most beer startups. By comparison, Optimism has nearly seven times the beer making capacity of Outer Planet Brewing, which was the first brewery to open on Capitol Hill since Elysian."
-Bryan Cohen, "Tech Powered Optimism Brewing is the New King of Beers on Capitol Hill", Capitol Hill Seattle Blog, November 30, 2015
"Optimism Brewing Co. on Capitol Hill was picked as the best “neighborhood reinvestment” by Historic Seattle, which just announced its 9th annual Preservation Awards. The awards recognize projects that preserve and protect important places and history."
Steel and concrete feature prominently in the work of Architect, Tom Kundig. Here, steel braced frames mandated by seismic codes add lateral strength to the 1920's auto row building. Attention to detail and precision fabrication render the braced frames an integral part of the overall industrial aesthetic.
Timbers salvaged during the building rehab phase of the project were milled onsite and incorporated into table tops and benches.
A steel catwalk running the length of the brew house gives brewers easy access to brewing, fermenting, and conditioning vessels.
A new steel mezzanine provides space for private events, offices, a beer lab, and access to the brewer's catwalk. Steel columns carrying the mezzanine floor system also pick up roof loads previously carried by now decommissioned roof top bow trusses.
Twelve individual unisex stalls in the communal restroom keep wait times to a minimum...
Client:
Optimism Brewing
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Architect:
Tom Kundig, Olson Kundig Architects
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Structural Engineer:
Marjorie Lund, Lund Opsahl Engineers
The first thing that needs to be said right up front, is that Robin's cookies are absolutely to die for. Second, not even your grandmother makes a Challah loaf like Robin's but you will have to get there early because by midday Friday, they are all spoken for. Third, Robin and Clay are two of the sweetest people you will ever meet.
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The "merch. wall" panels were based on a photo Robin took of a display wall in a New York City boutique. The goal was to create a panel detail made of doors of all sizes. The clean and crisp aesthetic of the space did not lend itself to using actual reclaimed doors, so we worked with Robin on the layout and fabricated doors to fit.
Owners:
Robin Wehl & Clay Martin
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Architect:
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General Contractor:
MÄ“tis Construction, Inc.
When I left MÄ“tis and started transitioning to Missoula, we were in the midst of project development for Robin and Clay's University Village location. Among the many good reasons for feeling sad on leaving Seattle, missing out on working with Robin and Clay on the build-out of their new location was near the top of the list.
Commercial Projects Completed While Matthias was President of MÄ“tis Construction
2009 - 2013
-Bastille (Restaurant & Bars, Build-out, Ballard, Skidmore Architects)
-Poquitos (Mexican Restaurant, Full Build-out, Strata Architects, Capitol Hill)
-Macleod's (Scottish Pub, Build-out, Ballard )
-Rhein Haus (Bavarian Beer Hall, Shell & Core and Build-out, originally Von Trapps, Strata Architects, Capitol Hill)
-Bike Works (Bike Shop, Renovation/remodel)
-Interurban Public Art Installation (Artist Jen Dixon)
-Stoneburner (Ballard, Italian Restaurant & Bar, Strata Architects)
-Hotel Ballard (Entry Millwork)
-Stockbox (First Hill, Grocery Store)
-Hello Robin (Capitol Hill, Cookie Shop, Graham Baba Architects)
-Restaurant Roux (Cajun Creole Restaurant & Bar, Fremont, Graham Baba Architects)
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2014
-Elysian Bar (Full Build-out, Downtown)
-Chromer Bldg Lobby (Entry Millwork, Downtown)
-Rhein Haus (Outdoor Bar& Bocci Court Addition, Shell & Core and Build-out, Capitol Hill, Strata Architects)
-Olympic Athletic Club (Renovation, Ballard)
-Molly Moon (Ice Cream Shop Remodels, Capitol Hill/Queen Ann/Madrona/Wallingford)
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2015
-Omega Ouzerie (Capitol Hill, Greek Restaurant & Bar, Strata Architects)
-Canal Market (Portage Bay, Grocery and Deli, Graham Baba Architects)
-Chop Shop (Capitol Hill, Restaurant & Bar, now Marmite, Graham Baba)
-Macleod's Fish and Chips (Restaurant, Full Build-out/Rehab, Strata Architects)
-Feed Co Burgers (Full Build-out, Redmond)
-Optimism Brewing (Capitol Hill, Tap Room, now Stoup Brewing, Olsen Kundig Architects)
-Sugar Plum (Vegan Deserts, Build-out, Graham Baba Architects)
-Sugar Plum Parklet (Built parklet in accordance w/ Seattle's Parklet Intiative
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​2016
-Cloudburst Brewing (Taproom, Pike Place Market)
-Molly Moon (Redmond, Ice Cream Shop, Graham Baba Architects)
-Harry's Fine Foods (Restaurant, Shell Rehab & Build-out, Hoedemaker Pfeiffer Architects)
-Dino's Tomato Pie (Capitol Hill, Bar and Backbar, Heliotrope Architects)
-Feed Co Burgers (Central District, Strata Architects)
-Royal Drummer (Coffee Shop, Ballard, Strata Architects)
-Sea Wolf Bakery (Bakery and Coffee Shop, Wallingford, Heliotrope Architects)
-Tacos Chukis (Mexican Restaurant, South Lake Union, Graham Baba Architects)
-Belltown Collective (Office Space, Belltown, Rober Hutchison Architecture)
-L'Oursin (French Restaurant & Bar, Full Build-out, GoC Studio)
-Great State Burger (Shell & Core and Build-out, Laurelhurst, Mike Whalen, AIA)
-St Helen's Cafe (Shell & Core and Build-out, Laurelhurst, Michael Whalen, AIA)
-Third Place Books, Coffee Shop & Raconteur Bar (Building Rehab & Build-out, Seward Park, Michael Whalen, AIA)
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2017
-Kati Vegan Thai (Lake Union, Restaurant, GoC Studio)
-Elysian Taproom (Georgetown)
-Molly Moon (Columbia City, Ice Cream Shop)
-Pink Door (Restaurant & Bar complete renovation, Pike Place Market, Strata Architects)
-Zocálo (Pioneer Square, Mexican Restaurant and Bar, Strata Architects)
-Tacos Chukis (Mexican Restaurant, Central District, Graham Baba Architects)
-Michou Deli (Renovation/Remodel, Pike Place Market, Strata Architects)
-Great State Burger (Full Build-out, Robert Hutchison Architecture)
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2018
-Our Lady of Quadalupe (Preschool renovation, West Seattle, MG Architecture)
-Poquitos (Bothell, Mexican Restaurant & Bar, Full Build-out, Strata Architects)
-Seaplane Kitchen & Bar (Full Build-out, Kirkland, Strata Architects)
-Michou Deli (Renovation/Remodel, Pike Place Market, Strata Architects)
-Bus Wash & Refueling Station (Industrial Building Renovation; Wagner Architects)
-Verde Flowers and Gifts (Build-out)
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2019
-Como (Italian Restaurant and Bar, Kirkland, Strata Architects)
-Earl's Cuts & Styles, (Barbershop, Atelier Drome Architecture)
-Pollard Coffee (Shell Rehab/Build-out,Vashon Island, Strata Architects)
-Ole Sole Mio (Restaurant, Shell Rehab/Build-out, Strata Architects)
-Cafe Vita (now Cafe Vino Olio) (Coffee Shop, Shell Rehab/Build-Out, Strata Architects)
-Sher Partners Office Building (Shell Rehab/Build-out, Laurelhurst, Mike Whalen, AIA)
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2020
-Communion (Soul Food Restaurant & Bar, Full Build-out, Atelier Drome Architecture)
-The Doctor's Office (Cocktails & Food, Rehab/Build-out)
-Katsu-ya (South Lake Union, Jeunesse Architects)
-Hello Robin (Cookie Shop, University Village, Graham Baba Architects)
-Mt Baker Park Presbyterian Church (Remodel, MG Architecture)
-Mini Mart City Park (Conversion of gas station to public art space, Shell Rehab/Build-out, SuttonBeresCuller, Artist; GoC Studio, Architect)
-Uplift Climbing Gym (Shoreline; Sundberg, Kennedy, Ly-au Young Architects, Completed 2021)
-Saint Bread (Portage Bay, Graham Baba Architects, Completed 2022)
-Boat Street Complex (Portage Bay, Commercial Shell Rehab & Build-out, Graham Baba Architects, Completed 2023)
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2020
-Pie Bar (Pie Shop & Bar; Build-out; Phinney Ridge, Seattle; Jeunesse Architects)
-Pie Bar (Pie Shop & Bar; Remodel; Ballard, Seattle; Jeunesse Architects)
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2023
-Creek View Home (Missoula, Morrison Maierle Engineers)
-Cahill Residence (Missoula, Abode Design, Tukki Structures Engineering) - Under Construction
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2024
-Miller Residence (Missoula, Abode Design) - Project Development Phase
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Projects in Development, Preconstruction, or, Under Construction When Matthias Relocated to Montana
Projects Completed or Under Construction by Rhizome Construction
Process
(Named Von Trapp's at the time of Opening)
The Build-out
From Foundation to Furniture
The Rhein Haus stein towers started from a photo James and Demming supplied of a table holding glasses behind the bar at the Radegast Beer Hall in Brooklyn. Starting from that image, the idea of a multi-tiered "stein tower" took hold
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A simple mock-up helped establish proportions...
The addition of knuckled corbels completed the design
Project Manager and superintendant during the day, woodworker in the evenings... Crafting specific elements such as the stein towers himself keeps Matthias connected to the work he loves and the crafts people he works alongside.
A completed stein tower ready for stain.
Carpenter made corbels complete the raised panel bar die detailing.
Back Bar elements salvaged from mirrors taken from an old Pioneer Square Bar sit beside carpenter made corbels ready to be incorporated into the build.
Matthias and Luther Chatel, a talented craftsman with an unmatched work ethic, discuss the best way to integrate salvaged elements into the back bar design.
Incorporating salvaged elements gives the finished back bar an aged and authentic feel. Originally the sketches Deming and Matthias did included one more tier crowning and tying the various elements together, however, the final tier was eliminated.
Like the stein towers, the design of the distinctive Rhein Haus tables and benches started with an inspiration photo. This one, to the right, taken in a German beer hall. Based on the photo, Matthias built prototypes of the standard height tables, the bar height tables and benches to go with each.
Once the prototypes were made, the next step was to streamline fabrication to keep costs under control. Setting up a production line allowed parts to be "mass produced" and tables and benches to be assembled quickly. Produced in this manner, the tables and benches were made for a fraction of what they would have cost otherwise.
Soon every spare square inch was occupied by stacks of tables, benches, and table tops...
Getting Out
of the
Hole
Before finish blades bite into oak and router bits shape millwork you have to work your way out of the hole... On some projects this literally means excavating, forming up, pouring a foundation, and framing a level and square floor system to build off of. In the case of Rhein Haus, "getting out of the hole" involved extensive demolition of the existing 10,000 square foot space, replacing failing timber columns, adding 60 yds of concrete in the form of footings and grade beams in a crawl space that ranged from 5' high to 12" high, and pouring foundations and slabs for a 1,500 sq ft bar addition and a 500 sq ft storage building. The entire rehab/renovation and build-out from demolition to the opening night of the 12,000 sq ft space took just under seven months. For the first two months of the project we looked more like miners than carpenters at the end of the day but it was rewarding to be part of a project that gave an old building a new lease on life even as buildings all around were being torn down to make way for new "five over one" mixed use buildings.
Pat MacGregor on the hose during the stem wall pour for the addition. Pat is an outstanding builder and craftsman but, believe it or not, he claims to dislike working with concrete. He looks like he is having fun to me...
Project Crew (from right):
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Ian Dugas
Mathew Hunsberger
Patrick McKnight
Tom McKnight
Luther Chatel
Nils Christian
Grant Eckman
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​Missing from this photo are:
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Phil Bailey
Sebastian Kimura
Pat MacGregor
Brian McCormick
Matthias Scheiblehner
John Sehlhorst
Jeff Taipale
Nat Towl
Chris Wagner
The Build-out
The Rhein Haus build-out involved extensive building rehab but, once the rehab was completed, the age and history of the building lent a great deal of character to the finished product. In the case of Stoneburner, structural soundness was never a concern. The build-out took place in about as solid a concrete box as you are likely to find... solid, cold, and sterile. The challenge here was how to bring character, warmth, and a feeling of authenticity to the space.
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Why not start with a collection of salvaged elements, lots of warm wood, Granada Tile, reclaimed riddling racks lined with bottles of wine, and, hidden behind it all, enough steel studs and track to build a small house?
Countless ribs formed out of steel track and steel studs formed the barrel vault at the entry columns and the arches spanning the remaining columns.
The structural concrete columns themselves were wrapped in raised panels designed collaboratively on site.
A curved oval ceiling panel salvaged from the Italian Embassy in Buenos Aires and tin ceiling tiles salvaged from a local school bring character to the post-tension slab ceiling.
Radiused booth end caps riff off of the curved salvaged ceiling panel above and a triple knuckle detail based on a photo Deming took in a lounge while traveling separates and connects booths.
A chain saw, an appropriately filed chain makes quick work of the rough shaping of the numerous end caps. Taking over from there, Matthew Hunsberger shaped and smoothed the individual pieces with a sander. The goal here as on other restaurant/bar build-outs is to produce woodshop quality finished pieces at trim-carpenter pricing.
Project Team:
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Luther Chatel
Ian Dugas
Grant Eckman
Ben Frybooth
Tom Hall
Matthew Hunsburger
Sebastian Kimura
Pat MacGregor
Brian McCormick
Tom McKnight
Matthias Scheiblehner
Gabe Stern
The Build-out
Every project comes with its own unique challenges. In the case of Chop Shop, the design challenge came in the form of a walk-in cooler located in the middle of the space. Going into construction the plan was to clad the walk-in in corrugated metal - "shipping container chic".
Walk-in Cooler
No one on the project team was particularly excited about that solution so when Matthias found the entry to the recently demolished "Old Williamsburg Apartments" at Seattle's Earthwise Salvage, it didn't take long for everyone to get on board with the idea of repurposing the entry as a back bar.
Matthias worked closely with owner Ericka Burke and architect Jim Graham to work out the details. MÄ“tis' Josh Anderson and Gabe Stern did the rest.
The Build-out
Running a Type 1 commercial hood duct through an existing building meant coordinating closely with the Graphic Design Firm renting the space above. Understandably, they were less than excited about the construction process. Over the course of the more than fifty commercial projects and countless residential projects undertaken while Matthias was the president of MÄ“tis, MÄ“tis worked beneath a sleep research lab, below a suite of therapist's offices, adjacent to both Children's Hospital and the Harborview Trauma Center, next door to people who work the night shift, on the first floor of numerous mixed use buildings, in almost every residential neighborhood is Seattle, etc.. Through these experiences and many others, a belief in the importance of forward leaning communication and the value of thoroughly performed planning and due diligence, along with a healthy dose diplomacy, kept projects moving smoothly and neighbors happy.
The Build-out
Restaurant and bar build-outs have to move a brisk pace. Typically, business plans allow little room for schedule creep. Free rent periods included in lease agreements, when available, are often exceedingly short and rents can be onerous for small businesses without income coming in. In the case of Bastille, the interior build-out took just over three months.
In order to hit the ground running once the space was available, Tom McKnight and Matthias worked on the fabrication of the back bar in a nearby shop. Working with what remained of three arches salvaged from an old back bar, they riffed off of existing architectural elements and created new elements to compliment the old.
In some ways, themed restaurant build-outs have more in common with theatrical set construction than high-end custom home building. Go to far with faux elements or cut corners on craftsmanship, however, and the space loses any possibility of conjuring an authentic experience.
Faux iron girders add interest to the posts and beams that support the roof loads. Once the space was finished several people commented on the "salvaged bridge girders." The convincing feel of the "iron girders" is as much the result of the authentic zinc bar top and the solid Jatoba drink rails below as it is the result of the craftsmanship that went into the fabrication of the girders.
A mix of straight and radiused booth frames are built on site and set in place temporarily so that they can be set aside and wood flooring installed on the raised booth platforms.
Once the flooring was installed the trim-out of the booths could begin.
A partial mock-up, partial drawing of bar die detailing ideas.
With the bar sub top installed, the bar die is ready for detailing and the bar is ready for templating for a zinc bar top. Here Nat Towl installs wood buttons to conceal fasteners and add visual interest.
Deming Maclise walks through the space as Tom McKnight works on the back bar install. Initial fill and paint bring out the bar die and girder detailing.
Bastille was a paint grade build-out with the exception of site fabricated table tops and several bar height seating features that Matthias had the good fortune to make his own.
A circular brick fire feature occasioned the opportunity to fabricate a donut shaped Jotoba (Brazilian Cherry) drink rail/table. Here the two halves of the top are ligtly clamped to allow the radius to be established. The two halves were joined in place prior to shaping to allow clamping.
Once the top was glued up in place, a thickened edge was added. The milling detail at the edge hid any evidence of a joint.
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Too many clamps? That's not a thing! Glue only sets once...
A mock-up of a light box that was ultimately incorporated into site-built mirror frames.
Site built frames ready for mirror glass and lighting
The finished mirrors add visual interest to the space and double as menu boards for nightly specials. Banquets along the wall have hinged lids for storage of napkins, bar straws, and other back stock.
