After operating in a limited and challenging converted Victorian house for several years, the chefs and owners of Novel wanted to expand and create a space that exemplifies their innovative cuisine. Collaborating with local artists and artisans, the new space has a tough-to-achieve balance of precision, looseness, and rarely-found acoustical levels — letting old be old and new be new. Architecturally, the space has the character, depth and layers of the previous location with classic material detailing allowing the dining experience to be on par with, but not overwhelming the food at Novel. For guests, this translates into an ephemeral space grounded in place — the heart of downtown Kansas City’s Crossroads Art District.