project: M11 Huaiyang Restaurant
Architects: Linkchance Architects
Site: Qingguoxiang, Changzhou, China
region: 4,843 SF
year: 2022
photos by: Jin Weiqi, Linkchance Architects
M11 Huayang Restaurant by Linkchance Architects
Meet11 Huayang Restaurant is located in the second phase of Qingguo Lane, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province. Meet 11 is a place to dine, meet friends, and hang out in a stylish, modern interior.
Design principles
Architectural dialogue
Only three meters away from the west side of the site is a separate two-story building. Inside is a traditional Changzhou private dining space. It is run by the elders of the owner of Meet 11. The two restaurants, one Chinese and one Western, coexist in one corridor, bringing in the younger generations. And the younger generations – with their disparate style and concepts of interior space, an unspoken aesthetic dialogue is taking place between them.
spatial arrangement
Although the interior design of the project contains many structural columns, its overall layout is regular and elegant, and there is a possibility to combine them into a space with a unique sense of order. The overall design concept of the interior is inspired by traditional Arab culture, whether it is the endless beauty of Arabesque architectural patterns and décor, the delicacy of Middle Eastern dance, or the sublime melodies of Arab world music. Its timeless aesthetic derives from the balance between flowing rhythms and a refined sense of order.
Meet 11’s target customers are young and independent modern women in Changzhou, and the inner conceptual cues of subtle strength and gentle curves are consistent with the basic principles of Arabesque beauty—bringing a sense of order, balance, and beauty to everyone who comes here.
challenges
The space presented several issues for the designers: how to deal with the many existing columns, an insufficient amount of natural light on the site, and the technical question of how to achieve the thin, eggshell-style surfaces surrounding the restaurant booths; All the creative solutions required to shape the unique atmosphere of Meet11.
atmospheres
The main space of Meet 11 unfolds around a Middle Eastern aesthetic, with the main feature being the arabesque arch used in a modular design, allowing for greater ease and efficiency in construction, and providing strong visual structure and tension.
The main entrance is located on the left side of the bar, allowing the bar staff to face and serve all customers in the venue. The most notable feature of the bar is the specially designed lighting unit made up of a series of 1.5cm thick illuminated oval-shaped ‘shelves’, which appear to float above.
There are four circular booths opposite the bar, with clusters of tropical plants placed between them to create a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. The designers also created two semi-enclosed spaces with coverings reminiscent of an eggshell – several openings allow the interior space to flow into the rest of the restaurant, providing a strong visual connection with the main space while also allowing customers seated there a sense of privacy.
The designers were challenged to implement these eggshell-inspired packaging, which are only 1cm thick but ultimately have more than enough structural strength to serve their purpose. Their general forms contrast in some ways with the rest of the space, but adhere to similar aesthetics and provide a different nuance to the restaurant’s atmosphere.
The interior walls are simply and elegantly decorated with light, provided indirectly by LED strips hidden behind an arch and elliptical openings in thin sections built 8 cm from the main walls.
For the floors, high-strength decorative concrete was used to achieve a color and pattern palette that seamlessly matches the other elements of the space.
Custom-made chandeliers made of clear acrylic provide delightfully focused lighting throughout the restaurant, presenting sculptural qualities that seem to shift and change as visitors pass through the interior.
According to the microclimate of Changzhou City, the space is decorated with tropical green plants to create a natural light and entertainment atmosphere.
conclusion
Meet 11 Restaurant is an interior design inspired by and composed of timeless Arabesque elements, brought together to create an experience of order and flow, strength of form, reminiscences of time, nature and beauty. It is a place where people can meet, feel comfortable, and enjoy the “11 delicacies” of life.
Project description and photos provided by Current-Newsire
plans
