Part of the appeal of design is that it is never stagnant—new innovations and evolving cultures mean designers continuously need to reinvent themselves to keep pace. Within the last few years, retail markets have grown to test the waters of temporary designs to cater to a more fast-paced, tech-savvy society of consumers. But what happens when that need for flexible and smart interior design solutions crosses over into the world of dining? That’s exactly what one New York-based eatery has set out to discover.

What Happens When is a unique and temporary restaurant installation that is the result of a collaboration between New York-based design consultancy The Metrics (www.metricsdesigngroup.com), brand/graphic designer Emilie Baltz, composer Joshua Benyard, and chef John Fraser. Set within a reclaimed space at 25 Cleveland Place, the restaurant occupies the home of the former Le Jardin restaurant, which closed in October 2010 after 15 years of business.

The installation, which opened in January 2011, will run for a nine-month span, ending in October 2011, and feature a transient-style interior that changes not only its menu but its interior aesthetic and background music every 30 days to explore the possibilities in removing traditional dining expectations. >> Click the "more photos" link above to read more...