Linghai Design’s Xie Ben Qian: Wild Luxury Redefined

Nature-inspired restaurant blurs city boundaries with immersive artistry

Linghai Design’s Xie Ben Qian project was conceived with a bold ambition: to become the pinnacle of Shanghai’s business banquet venues. The design deconstructs the traditional boundary between urban sophistication and the raw beauty of nature, introducing elements such as waterfalls, canyons, and boulders into the heart of the city. This approach results in a space where creative possibilities are limitless, and the interplay between city and wilderness is both seamless and striking.

The restaurant’s unique character lies in its fusion of primitive natural power with high-fashion aesthetics. By combining rough, tactile materials with refined luxury, the space delivers a visual and sensory experience that captivates guests and exceeds expectations. Linghai Design’s vision was to empower both the brand and the restaurant, ensuring that every visitor is left with a sense of admiration and wonder. This philosophy is evident in every detail, from the dramatic stone installations to the artfully curated lighting.

Materiality plays a crucial role in the realization of Xie Ben Qian’s immersive atmosphere. The project utilizes stone, metal, wood, glass, art paint, matte acrylic, and ceramic tiles to craft a dynamic yet harmonious environment. Lighting design is treated as a narrative tool, with adjustable sources that create varied moods for dining, entertaining, and socializing. The result is a versatile space that adapts to different occasions while maintaining a cohesive identity.

Technical innovation is also at the forefront of the project. The design team, led by Chief Designer Zhang Qun, conducted over 20 experiments to perfect the restaurant’s signature waterfall feature. Every aspect—from the angle of water flow to the arrangement of stones—was refined to achieve a lifelike effect. This meticulous attention to detail extends to the restaurant’s operational flow, with carefully mapped routes for meal delivery and ergonomic workstations that enhance both hospitality and productivity.

Since opening, Xie Ben Qian has quickly risen to the top of Shanghai’s restaurant rankings, securing first place on the Dianping brand environment, taste, and service lists. This commercial success underscores the project’s achievement in balancing cost efficiency with uncompromised design quality. The restaurant’s engineered efficiency and immersive environment have set a new benchmark for commercial dining spaces, demonstrating that innovative design can drive both brand equity and operational excellence.

Xie Ben Qian stands as a testament to the power of design in shaping memorable lifestyle experiences. By harnessing organic vitality and choreographing light across curvilinear planes, Linghai Design has curated a soul-nourishing environment that celebrates both nature and modernity. The project’s recognition with the Golden A' Design Award further cements its status as a trendsetting creation that advances the fields of art, design, and technology.