Dongli: A Fusion of Modernism and Local Culture

Xiaobing Yao's Award-Winning Restaurant Design in Chongqing

The Dongli restaurant is situated between a high-end commercial complex in Chongqing, a city known for its rich history and culture. The designer, Xiaobing Yao, has skillfully integrated the local culture and historical context into the design, while maintaining a dominant atmosphere of modernism.

What sets this design apart is Yao's exploration and expression of geometric modeling, architectural sense, and minimalist aesthetics. These elements are transformed into indoor and outdoor artistic scenes, creating a visual, tactile, and spiritual resonance for the visitors. The design also reproduces the humanistic landscape pattern of the Bayu region, known for its winding rivers and towering mountains.

The restaurant, covering a total of 1270 square meters, is built with a variety of materials including Black Galaxy marble, green marble, white artificial stone, wood floor, silver mirror, corrugated stainless steel, copper plated stainless steel, PU foam stone skin, and customized wall cloth. Each private room on the second floor exudes a low-key luxury, with smooth lines combined with modern art track, and low-saturation, elegant color matching.

One of the design challenges Yao faced was creating a relationship between the first and second floors. To achieve this, a part of the floor surface was lifted to create a sculptural spiral staircase, providing a sense of ascending and extending. A newly built two-story corridor, centered around the middle courtyard, allows for smooth interaction between the upstairs and downstairs.

The middle courtyard, with its strict proportions, meets various functional requirements. The ceiling, with the help of mirror stainless steel, creates a dramatic visual effect. The water bar adopts a Hollow Pavilion structure, creating a "building in building" effect, and combines with a metal tabletop, showcasing the harmony between traditional and modern.

The Dongli restaurant, a Silver A' Design Award winner, is a testament to Yao's creativity and innovation. It is not just a restaurant, but a space where diners can experience the elegance of mountains and rivers, and the harmony between tradition and modernity.