Planta Queen: A Vegan Restaurant Inspired by Traditional Chinese Hutongs

Creating Unique Dining Spaces for Different Times of Day

The concept behind Planta Queen is to recreate the experience of traveling through a traditional Chinese Hutong. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a cobble-stoned lower front bar, creating a casual and inviting atmosphere for daytime dining. Moving beyond the street, guests enter the loggia, where they can dine within a rosy-brick colonnade. Finally, the central courtyard offers a more formal dining experience, surrounded by Chinese maple trees and modern interpretations of traditional Chinese murals. The open kitchen adds to the ambiance, with chefs working under a warm yellow glow.

What sets Planta Queen apart is its ability to cater to different dining experiences throughout the day. The design team carefully planned the spaces based on the amount of natural light required and the desired ambiance. The front bar is perfect for casual daytime dining, while the loggia serves as a transitional space that can be enjoyed during the day or night. The main dining room and private dining room (PDR) offer a more refined and intimate dining experience.

In terms of design, Planta Queen underwent a soft renovation to keep costs low. The main finishes include dried/sandblasted wood planking, brick veneer, and concrete sheets. The team also had to come up with clever ways to refinish existing elements, such as using orange vinyl films on the wine display and kitchen window to reduce light leakage. The existing glass railing was clad in wood planking to maintain the new concept.

The realization of Planta Queen involved the use of Google Sketchup for 3D rendering. The design team also collaborated with custom material suppliers, including Brentano Printed Drapery for the PDR drapery and a local supplier for the Chinese maple trees. The project was completed in 2018 in downtown Toronto, Canada.

Planta Queen's design is a result of extensive research on traditional Hutong planning and architectural details. The objective was to gather culturally appropriate references and apply them without being culturally insensitive. The end result is a modern interpretation of a Hutong that has attracted an increased number of patrons since reopening, appealing to both locals and tourists.

Despite the challenges of a soft renovation and the need to balance cultural sensitivity, Planta Queen has successfully transformed into a unique vegan restaurant that offers a memorable dining experience. The design, created by Nivek Remas and his team, has received recognition in the form of an Iron A' Design Award in 2021, highlighting its practicality, innovation, and fulfillment of professional and industrial requirements.

Photographer Scott Norsworthy captured the essence of Planta Queen in stunning visuals, showcasing the thoughtful design and inviting atmosphere. All intellectual property and copyrights for the design belong to Nivek Remas.