Townhouse restaurant symbolizes the renaissance of downtown Detroit—which has seen an influx of new residents and businesses over the past five years—and it animates a key intersection in the financial district. “The ground floor, formerly a bank, was like a fortress, with a granite facade, high windows, and an unused plaza,” says Michael Poris, who led the team that transformed the space. As president of McIntosh Poris Associates, an architectural firm that is deeply committed to the city and has designed several restaurants there, the Detroit native was the logical choice for the assignment. Restaurateur Jeremy Sasson opened the first Townhouse in Birmingham, Michigan, and now wanted a more ambitious project: “a big restaurant that didn’t feel overwhelming, where everyone could find a favorite place to sit,” he explains.
“The challenge was to open up the building to the street and make it feel welcoming,” says Poris. “The interior isn’t that large so we doubled the seating by putting a steel and glass pavilion on the plaza for year-round dining.” Spanning approximately 7,400 square feet including the 1,800-square-foot structure and 1,440-square-foot outdoor patio, Townhouse seats 250 in winter and 330 in summer, with the outdoor tables located on the shady north side. The masonry of the Johnson-Burgee building was cut away, and a vintage-style sign of exposed light bulbs marks the glazed corner entrance. The pavilion, economically prefabricated, has a retractable roof and sides to open it to the street and sky in fine weather, and to create a snug enclosure when it’s cold. Sparkling lights, living plant walls, and an elegant bar enliven this indoor-outdoor dining area.
The main entrance leads into a horseshoe bar, which has the character of an upscale tavern with brown tuft-back and studded leather high chairs, plus black metal ductwork and trim to give it an industrial edge. It’s designed to promote sociability and civic pride, with chalkboard signs and provocative murals. In contrast, the whiskey lounge is a sophisticated, walnut-paneled retreat with elegant seating, bronze-toned lighting, pops of elegant red, and backlit black cabinets. The main dining area, which opens to the pavilion through a run of French doors, has simple walnut tables and chairs, and suspended light bulbs.
