Journal

Light Gathering in the Yuàn
An Immersive Dining Experience Exploring Light, Culture, and Contemporary Chinese Hospitality

光聚院心
一場以光、文化與當代華人待客之道為主軸的沉浸式餐飲體驗

January 26, 27: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm (dinner event, ticketed)
January 29, 30, 31: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm (public days, free entry)

Limited tickets are available here.

See the listing on the DesignTO website

Light Gathering in the Yuàn, an immersive dining experience shaped by light, culture, and contemporary Chinese hospitality, will make its debut this January as part of the DesignTO Festival. Presented inside The Light Room, a new experimental design space created by Mason Studio and VYVYD Lighting within Mason Studio’s Cultural Hub, the event marks the inaugural activation of an ongoing exploration into how illumination shapes emotion, ritual, and human connection.

The evening brings together Mason Studio, VYVYD Lighting, and Chef Eva Chin of Yan Dining Room for a sensory event shaped by light, space, and contemporary Chinese hospitality. Inspired by the traditional yuàn—a courtyard at the heart of a home—the experience welcomes guests into a world where gathering feels both familiar and new, offered over two intimate, ticketed evenings.

In Chinese tradition, the Yuàn is more than an architectural form; it is the emotional center of domestic life, a place where families meet, celebrate, honour ancestors, and move through seasonal rituals. It is a space shaped by light, open sky, and human connection, making it a natural foundation for an event devoted to illumination, hospitality, and shared experience.

The night opens with a gesture of hospitality that shifts guests into a different state of mind. The event unfolds like a living courtyard: Chef Eva Chin shaping a modern raw seafood bar inspired by Chinese flavours through memory and craft; Mason Studio creating the spatial rhythm and environmental experience; VYVYD Lighting scripting illumination that moves and drifts with the senses. These elements converge inside The Light Room, where light becomes both atmosphere and storyteller. With each course, the space subtly transforms, deepening the connection between flavour, memory, and place.

When dinner is not in session, The Light Room remains open as an installation, its lantern-like glow lingering, traces of celebration still present, the room warm with the nearness of those who’ve just gathered. Visitors are invited into this afterglow, where light and space continue their quiet conversation.

Presented as part of DesignTO, with DBD CoLab supporting the creative connection between collaborators.

Menu

Welcome broth
Dried Sakura shrimp and winter melon

Drunken shellfish trio
Chaoshan-style marinated oyster shot
Sichuan green peppercorn pickled honey mussels
Ningbo yellow wine poached humpback shrimp

Farm egg
Nova Scotia green crab roe and sea urchin

Terrine
Seabuckthorn and hamachi

Cleansing broth

Winter radish
Hoi mei and ling cod

Red love apple
Hawthorn and cinnamon

Roasted rice milk
Sweet potato and ginger

Mason Studio is pleased to announce that Marti Gallucci has been made Equity Partner, marking a significant moment in the evolution of the practice as it enters its fifteenth year of design leadership and cultural contribution.

Marti has been an essential part of Mason Studio since joining in 2013 as the studio’s first full-time team member. Over more than a decade, she has played a central role in shaping the collaborative, research-driven approach that defines the work today. As Design Director, she has guided teams across hospitality, wellness, and residential projects in Canada and internationally, translating complex challenges into intuitive, grounded design solutions. Her work includes leadership on Runxi Towers and Park View Manor in Shenzhen, as well as contributions to The Saint Regis and the Kimpton Saint George Hotel in Toronto.

Marti’s appointment reflects a transition already well underway inside the studio. She has long been operating at a partner level, guiding teams, shaping ideas, and stewarding major clients with clarity and intention. Her elevation signals the studio’s next phase of scale, one defined by deeper expertise, more sophisticated design leadership, and a strengthened commitment to work that is culturally and creatively influential. Rather than a promotion, it is an acknowledgment of a studio whose centre of gravity has naturally shifted toward a more distributed and collaborative leadership model.

Her influence on Mason Studio has been foundational. Marti's presence is quietly stabilizing. She structures workflows, elevates accountability, and celebrates curiosity. Her leadership is measured, insightful, and intentional. She listens with precision, acts with clarity, and holds high standards without ego. She embodies the studio’s values as an internal compass, guiding the work with steadiness and depth. Her evolution from designer to cultural thinker has helped shape the studio’s worldview. Her growth has been steady, layered, and transformative.

With her appointment as Partner, Marti joins Co-Founders Ashley Rumsey and Stanley Sun in leading Mason Studio into an era defined by integrated thinking across art, design, research, and community impact. This expanded leadership group strengthens the studio’s ability to take on work that is more holistic, complex, and culturally resonant. It prepares the practice for longevity by building a leadership model that can hold long-term vision while navigating change with clarity.

“Marti has been quietly shaping the direction of our work for years, strengthening the clarity, rigor, and purpose behind every project. Formalizing her partnership is a recognition of the leadership our clients already experience from her. She provides thoughtful guidance, unwavering standards, and an ability to translate complex ideas into a clear purpose. Our clients will see even more of her influence in the studio’s next chapter.” - Mason Studio Founders, Ashley Rumsey and Stanley Sun

“I am grateful for the trust this represents and for the opportunity to help guide a studio that has shaped my career from the beginning. What excites me most about this next chapter is the chance to continue building an environment where ideas are tested, thinking is shared, and design is approached with clarity and purpose. Mason Studio has always valued depth over speed. I am proud to help carry that forward.” - Marti Gallucci, Partner

This expanded leadership team reinforces Mason Studio’s commitment to purposeful design and to a practice that welcomes new ideas, nurtures talent, and creates environments with lasting cultural relevance.

Mason Studio is honoured to be the recipient of the 2025 Interior Designers of Canada (IDC) Impact Award in Toronto, a recognition presented annually to design professionals whose work has made a meaningful and lasting contribution to Canada’s interior design community. The Impact Award celebrates leadership that extends beyond individual projects to influence practice, culture, and the broader design ecosystem in ways that matter.

This acknowledgement reflects years of collective effort, curiosity, and commitment to thoughtful, community-engaged design. At Mason Studio, our work has always been shaped by listening, testing ideas in the field, and integrating practice with purpose. We see design as a cultural force: something that amplifies shared experiences, supports community vitality, and encourages connection across disciplines. Being recognised by IDC is gratifying not because it confirms what we’ve done, but because it reinforces why we do it.

As we look ahead, this award strengthens our resolve to continue expanding how impact is understood and enacted in design. We’ll use this moment to deepen our collaborations, push our thinking into new domains, and extend the reach of our Cultural Hub as a place for experimentation, dialogue, and civic engagement. By advancing work that listens and responds, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the future of design in Canada and beyond.

Join Ashley Rumsey, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Mason Studio, at BDNY 2025 this November for the panel “Designing for Emotion: How Sensory Science, AI, and Neuroaesthetics Are Shaping the Future of Hospitality.”

Alongside John Duffield, Hilari Jones, and Olivia Reed, the discussion explores how hospitality design can move beyond convention to create spaces that respond to how guests feel. Drawing from neuroscience, AI, and sensory psychology, the panel examines how human-centric design creates immersive, 360-degree experiences.

The session will share practical approaches to designing for anticipation and calm, setting ethical boundaries for data use, and connecting mood-based interventions to satisfaction, wellness, and guest loyalty. The takeaway is clear — the future of hospitality isn’t driven by more technology, but by deeper, more meaningful human experiences.

Learn more and register at BDNY

Join Mason Studio’s Creative Director and Co-Founder, Stanley Sun, at the AZURE Human/Nature Conference 2025, taking place October 29, 2025 at Toronto’s Evergreen Brick Works.

In the session “Micro to Macro – From Sustainable Interiors to Resilience,” Stanley joins Heather Dubbeldam and Natasha Lebel for a dynamic panel discussion on designing sustainable spaces that prioritize resilience and human well-being.

Through case studies spanning housing, hospitality, and work environments, the panel explores how innovative design strategies create interiors that adapt to shifting human and environmental needs. Beyond material choices, the discussion highlights how sustainable, flexible design enriches everyday life and strengthens long-term resilience.

Discover how designing for sustainability is both a strategic investment and a path to healthier spaces — making the case for interiors that evolve while minimizing environmental impact.

Learn more and register at Azure Human/Nature and view the panel details here.

Mason Studio takes home the Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Award in Retail Design for The Clinica.

This recognition celebrates our innovative approach to merging wellness, retail, and hospitality into a seamless environment focused on mental and physical well-being. The Clinica reimagines the traditional medical aesthetic clinic as a calming, open space that prioritizes human experience, emotional connection, and design clarity.

See the full project here

You bring the stories, we’ll bring the feast.

During NYCxDesign, we hosted the first edition of our Suppers with Mason series—an evening of unstructured conversation and shared meals with 10 near-strangers in a New York apartment. No program. No talking points. Just a table full of designers, thinkers, and curious minds connecting over food and ideas. It was intimate, spontaneous, and quietly electric.

We started this series because we believe in the power of gathering—of slowing down, sitting together, and letting conversations unfold naturally. In a time when most interactions are hyper-structured and transactional, we wanted to create space for something more honest, more human. A place where titles are left at the door and dialogue is sparked by curiosity, not agenda.

As designers, we’re constantly exploring how environments shape experience. Suppers with Mason is an extension of that thinking—an experiment in creating space for connection, where the setting is informal but the exchange is meaningful. Where ideas are passed around with the same ease as the wine.

This is only the beginning. The table will keep growing. More seats. More cities. More stories.
We can’t wait to share them with you.

Make It Public: How to Navigate the Public Art Process from Concept to Community

May 29, 2025
Mason Studio Cultural Hub
91 Pelham Ave, Toronto

[Register for your ticket now!]

This event is a public masterclass designed to guide artists in transitioning their studio practice into impactful public art. A partnership between the City of Toronto and Mason Studio, this session is part of an ongoing series to strengthen civic space through art, education, and community engagement.

The evening combines a panel discussion, interactive workshop, and networking opportunity, offering emerging and mid-career artists the tools and insights to navigate the complex public art process — from concept development to installation and civic integration.

Who It’s For
• Studio-based artists exploring public work
• Creatives looking to understand public art commissions
• Cultural leaders, curators, and community builders
• Anyone curious about how public spaces are shaped through art

Format
• Panel Discussion: Experts share firsthand experiences in working across civic contexts
• Interactive Workshop: Guided breakout groups with real-world prompts
• Community Dialogue: Open Q&A, networking, and creative exchange

Speakers
• Community Engagement and Moderator: Rachel Wine, Cultural Consultant
• Public Art Competitions and Applications Tips: Katriina Campitelli, City of Toronto
• How to Transform Your Ideas/Studio Practice into Public Art: Jordan Sook
• How To Read the Space: Stanley Sun, Mason Studio, Creative Director
• Budgets, Fabrication, and Project Management: Jyhling Lee, Figure Ground

Topics Covered
• Translating studio practice to public space
• Understanding the civic art process
• Artist responsibilities + rights
• Application to installation: What to expect
• Community engagement and impact

Registration
Register for your ticket now. Spots are limited. This is a free event.

Register Here!

At Mason Studio, we’re constantly exploring how design can move beyond aesthetics and into lasting impact—how it can shape what people remember, how they feel, and ultimately, how they live. That’s why we’re thrilled to be part of NYCxDesign Week’s “Longevity in Practice” event—an unconventional conversation and immersive experience hosted by Othership, in partnership with Design Hotels and Aman Resorts. This isn’t just another panel. It’s a convergence of science, design, and human experience—examining how the future of hospitality must support not only the longevity of buildings and brands, but of bodies, memories, and meaning.

Topic:

The pursuit of longevity has transformed luxury hospitality from simply transactional to deeply transformative. This panel and live immersive experience, presented by Design Hotels, Othership, Mason Studio, Aman Resorts, Hotels and Residences, and other guests, will explore how longevity informs contemporary hospitality design, redefining interactions with spaces, objects, and the guests themselves.

Guided by insights from science, health technology, and personalization, hospitality design is moving towards bespoke, data-driven programming tailored to individual wellness journeys. The conversation, moderated by Design Hotels, features hospitality leaders and designers discussing the innovative future of multisensory design. How design decisions, technology integration, and personal rituals come together to enhance longevity and holistic wellbeing.

Following the insightful discussion, participants will embark on an immersive journey guided by Othership, known for their transformative sauna and ice bath experiences. This experiential portion provides attendees the opportunity to actively engage with and internalize key themes from the discussion, highlighting how the integration of art, science, space design, and carefully curated programming results in culturally rich and scientifically advanced wellness experiences.

Panel:

Design Hotels: Kurt Slanaker, Director of Brand Portfolio & Partnerships, The Americas(Moderator)
Othership: Robbie Bent, CEO and Co-Founder
Mason Studio: Stanley Sun, Co-Founder and Creative Director
Aman NYC: Simon Kopec, Director of Marketing

Event Details:

May 15, 2025, 12:00-2:00 pm
23 W 20th St, New York, NY 10011, United States

Participants will change into bathing suits and settle in before the discussion starts at 12:00pm

A new model of spatial design is emerging—one where retail and service spaces must serve as more than commercial destinations. They are evolving into social hubs, cultural waypoints, and environments where people don’t just consume, but gather, linger, and connect. The next generation of retail spaces will not survive on sales alone; they must foster a sense of belonging.

But the most meaningful spaces won’t just be visited once—they’ll become part of a person’s rhythm, woven into their daily and weekly rituals. A well-designed space is one that people return to not because they have to, but because it has become an anchor in their lives. Retail and service spaces should invite repeat engagement, creating a sense of familiarity that feels personal, even expected.

This is where time plays a role. A space in the morning isn’t the same as a space at night—not just in lighting or atmosphere, but in how it’s used. A wellness space might be a quiet retreat during the day, then shift into a setting for social engagement in the evening. A storefront might feel like a gallery in the afternoon but transform into a salon for conversation at night. These spaces must flex—not just to accommodate different functions, but to align with the natural cadence of how people move through their day.

The design of these environments must reflect this reality. The singularly purposed store or clinic, defined by a rigid function, will feel increasingly obsolete. Instead, we are seeing an emergence of highly considered, adaptable spaces—ones that allow for fluid movement, spontaneous gathering, and a redefinition of their purpose over time. Seating is not just for waiting, but for convening. Walls are not just for display, but for storytelling. The distinction between retail, hospitality, and cultural space dissolves, giving way to something more expansive.

The future of physical retail is not a store—it’s a stage. Spaces must be designed for participation, not just consumption, shifting the focus from what is being sold to what is being experienced. The most successful brands won’t just have a storefront; they’ll curate an ongoing dialogue between their space and the people in it.

Retail spaces will become ritualized—not just places people visit, but places they return to, expecting something familiar yet new. The key isn’t just designing a beautiful space—it’s creating one that people feel connected to over time.

This is not simply a trend; it is a necessity. The brands and businesses that understand the power of place—who embrace the idea that people come for a product but stay for an experience—will be the ones that thrive.

The future of retail and service spaces is not just about selling or serving. It is about designing for connection—again and again.