Status: Complete
Location: 146 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY
TWA transformed a former brick garage into Monarch Izakaya, a two-story restaurant that has quickly become a Williamsburg gem. The project demonstrates how adaptive reuse can give new life to a utilitarian structure, creating a vibrant destination that brings neighbors and visitors together around food, culture, and design.
The building was reimagined with a two-level dining experience connected by an open stair and culminating in an outdoor terrace on the second floor. The layout creates both intimacy and energy, offering spaces that can shift from quiet meals to lively gatherings.
Inside, the design takes cues from the theatrical atmosphere of East Asian performance spaces, where lighting, material, and sequence shape a sense of occasion. Guests move through a carefully choreographed environment: rich textures, crafted details, and warm contrasts create a setting that feels at once intimate and dynamic. The stair functions as both circulation and stage, linking the two levels visually and socially.
The adaptive reuse preserved the character of the original brick structure, integrating it with new finishes and modern systems. By combining robust, authentic materials with thoughtful detailing, the restaurant achieves a balance of permanence and craft.
Since its opening, Monarch Izakaya has become a neighborhood landmark, a place where design elevates the dining experience and reinforces Williamsburg’s identity as a center of creativity and community.