Beef hot pot is a popular street stall dish, but WE NEW DO Beef Hot Pot Restaurant aims to serve the local flavours in a more upscale environment within the Shenzhen central business district.
The restaurant, designed by Middle Interior Design, resembles an ‘urban ranch’, complete with green landscaping and bovine figurines and imageries. A picture window at the storefront displays fresh beef being cut, to stimulate the appetite of diners.
The integrated use of red brick, wood, granite and other materials recreates the streetscapes during the heydays of the British Industrial Revolution. For example, the background of the reception area is inspired by the mechanical typewriter of the industrial period; a cartoon car becomes a favourite photo-taking spot; and a dining area is fashioned as a British train carriage.
A variety of European-style ornaments, such as gear wall hanging, log iron frame and old-fashioned phonograph, add a touch of retro elegance in cool industrial style. Playful themed hanging paintings and metal chandeliers are matched with leather rivet furniture and artificial plants—highlighting the natural primitive elements of a ranch with a hint of nostalgia.
SPACE DESIGN
A key challenge was carving out different spaces within this rectangular site for various customers’ needs. Due to its city-centre location, the restaurant has to cater for high-end customers and business diners from the surrounding offices. Hence, the layout includes scattered VIP boxes with meeting and dining functions, and rooms with foldable doors that can accommodate department meals for up to 40 people.
A stage is located at the middle of the main dining area, and arches are designed between the pillars of each dining space around the stage. The different levels help increase the sense of depth and ensure customers’ views of the stage are not blocked.
For the main dining area, the design team chose dark marble, which has been flame-surface treated with anti-slip protection primer to increase friction as the ground can get slippery and corroded by the butter from the hot pot.
PROJECT DATA
Project Name: WE NEW DO Beef Hot Pot Restaurant
Location: Modern International Building, Futian District, Shenzhen, China
Completion Date: October 2016
Site Area: 1,700 square metres
Interior Design Firm: Middle Interior Design Shenzhen Ltd
Principal Designer: Xu Simin
Design Team: Lin Jia; Liang En; Cao Yuan
Images: Fan Wenyao
