Ordinary office block transformed into 'magical bamboo forest' for Fuzhou restaurant
– Xu Xu-Jun
An unremarkable office building in Fuzhou, China, has been transformed by the Yiduan Shanghai International Design studio into a striking restaurant set within “a magical bamboo forest”.
The 2,000sq m (21,500sq ft) Shandao Restaurant features a dramatic and unifying tile facade designed to draw the attention of passers-by.
Inside, winding pathways across five floors and a mezzanine level lead to dining areas separated by multi-layered bamboo partitions. A lobby, banqueting hall, private dining rooms, social catering space and kitchen are all hidden among these makeshift forests, as are the building’s staircases.
Simple cement, straw walls are natural materials have been used to create a space of “purity and simplicity where people will feel peace and contentment”.
“You feel the peaceful breath of nature in this space,” said studio founder Xu Xu-Jun. “We've created an organic, natural environment that combines with the healthy food served here.”
In a design statement, he added that the project is a model of new ideas for restaurant design.
“For a long time, there have been no breakthroughs in the field of restaurant design. Most new designs are just about the shaping of the space, or the arrangement of furniture. They're not attractive and they don’t have features that can touch people’s hearts.
“We wanted to design a restaurant which avoids stereotypes and is actually innovative by really blending nature with the building. As designers, we have the responsibility to play a leading role in improving the quality of our future life and living environments.”
Shandao Restaurant Fuzhou Yiduan Shanghai International Design Xu Xu-Jun bambooBamboo forests and art of food preparation inspire design of Japanese restaurant overlooking Thames
Thai studio create bold bamboo sports hall for Chiang Mai school
Vo Trong Nghia designs floating bamboo spa on Vietnamese island
Vo Trong Nghia returns with dramatic restaurant crafted from bamboo
FEATURE: Materials – Bamboo style
FEATURE: Super grass – Ibuku
Europe's premier Evian Spa unveiled at Hôtel Royal in France
Clinique La Prairie unveils health resort in China after two-year project
GoCo Health Innovation City in Sweden plans to lead the world in delivering wellness and new science
Four Seasons announces luxury wellness resort and residences at Amaala
Aman sister brand Janu debuts in Tokyo with four-floor urban wellness retreat
€38m geothermal spa and leisure centre to revitalise Croatian city of Bjelovar
Two Santani eco-friendly wellness resorts coming to Oman, partnered with Omran Group
Kerzner shows confidence in its Siro wellness hotel concept, revealing plans to open 100
Ritz-Carlton, Portland unveils skyline spa inspired by unfolding petals of a rose
Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners are just one of the names behind The Emory hotel London and Surrenne private members club
Peninsula Hot Springs unveils AUS$11.7m sister site in Australian outback
IWBI creates WELL for residential programme to inspire healthy living environments
Conrad Orlando unveils water-inspired spa oasis amid billion-dollar Evermore Resort complex
Studio A+ realises striking urban hot springs retreat in China's Shanxi Province
Populous reveals plans for major e-sports arena in Saudi Arabia
Wake The Tiger launches new 1,000sq m expansion
Othership CEO envisions its urban bathhouses in every city in North America
Merlin teams up with Hasbro and Lego to create Peppa Pig experiences
SHA Wellness unveils highly-anticipated Mexico outpost
One&Only One Za’abeel opens in Dubai featuring striking design by Nikken Sekkei
Luxury spa hotel, Calcot Manor, creates new Grain Store health club
'World's largest' indoor ski centre by 10 Design slated to open in 2025
Murrayshall Country Estate awarded planning permission for multi-million-pound spa and leisure centre
Aman's Janu hotel by Pelli Clarke & Partners will have 4,000sq m of wellness space
Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort
Universal Studios eyes the UK for first European resort
King of Bhutan unveils masterplan for Mindfulness City, designed by BIG, Arup and Cistri
Rural locations are the next frontier for expansion for the health club sector
Tonik Associates designs new suburban model for high-end Third Space health and wellness club
Aman sister brand Janu launching in Tokyo in 2024 with design by Denniston's Jean-Michel Gathy
How Portugal’s biggest brewer enlisted the help of one of the country’s best known architects to turn two historic nature parks into thermal spa and nature destinations