- Type Renovation / Addition
- Services Architecture, Interiors
- Size 8,225 SF
- Budget $2.2 Million

The Challenge
Just beyond the boundary of a suburban stronghold and nestled along the old Hamilton Boulevard sits Notch Modern Kitchen & Bar, an adaptive reuse project that introduces an upscale eatery to a one-room schoolhouse. As the backdrop for cuisine that blends American style with global influences, the schoolhouse presented a challenge in layout. In more recent years, the old schoolhouse building had been utilized for different corporate or commercial uses. With outdated finishes, cubicles, and office partitions, the historic building needed to be opened and unveiled, both in layout and charter restoration.


Our Approach
The historic use was built much in the style of the homes of the day with a large central hearth as its heart. In the modern interpretation of an upscale restaurant, the heart of the space is the bustling bar area where conversation and activity move in steady rhythm. Thus, the bar was placed central to the overall space where its metaphorical heart would live.

Design Solution
With the heart of the restaurant established, an axial space relationship was created. It required a disruption of traditional restaurant design where public and private spaces are more clearly divided was created. Customers move north to south from the entrance to the main dining area or bar and outside to additional seating. The layout blurs the lines of classic space planning and allows for the creation of the unique chef’s table, a space for 12 customers to dine in full view of the active kitchen.


alloy_5
Apr 10
Snacks, swivel chairs and sketching // Calypso Elementary School`s Curious Cougars program brings third graders on field trips to local businesses for hands-on learning. We drank apple juice, ate snacks and talked about design before hitting the Vault to create and present sketches. Thank you for the visit, Cougars, we`ll see you in the neighborhood. •
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• #5gang #fieldtrip #thirdgrade #architecture #architects #designers #officelife #snacks #swivelchairs #sketches #littlediggers #eachoneteachone #communityconnection #didyoucutthatapplejuice #bethlehempa #lehighvalleypa #westsidebestside ...
alloy_5
Mar 9
Heart of the Valley // Our friends at @allentowncitypa asked us to create a collectible for their @saquon celebration. We cooked up these limited edition trading cards featuring an iconic image from @sfdigitals. The event benefited @masbfoundation Saquon’s nonprofit dedicated to empowering underserved youth. Congrats to the Super Bowl champ on an incredible season and thanks for celebrating with us in @lehighvalleypa. #5gang #graphicdesign #designers #tradingcards #cardcollector #gemmint10 #philadelphiaeagles #gobirds #superbowllix #weare #keytothecity #allentownpa #lehighvalleypa ...
alloy_5
Jan 20
Can you DIG it? // Design Integration Group sessions bring architects and designers together to sketch, discuss and plan. Today`s topic is Easton Area High School. #5gang #architects #designers #architecture #archilife #officelife #design #sketching #redrovers #lehighvalleypa #snowday #inthevault ...
alloy_5
Dec 23
“For it is plain as anyone can see, we’re simply meant to be.” // We carried the spirit of Halloween Town straight into Christmas this year and celebrated our offices in Bethlehem and Allentown. Happy holidays from your friends at Alloy5 💚
#5gang #bethlehempa #christmascityusa #happyholidays #nightmarebeforechristmas #goodbyelila ...
alloy_5
Dec 20
We might see a white Christmas this year, but it`s always green and bright for the Gang. Happy holidays from all of us to all of you 💚 #5gang #bethlehempa #christmascityusa #happyholidays #snowday #mostlikelyto #bowlingchampions #darkmarkera #goodbyelila #timetobuystockinsportsillustrated ...