Paradise Dynasty Hong Kong: A Modern Take on Traditional Chinese Design

Genius Loci Pte Reimagines Chinese Restaurant Design with Contemporary Flair

The design's unique properties lie in its reinterpretation of a traditional Chinese restaurant. Familiar patterns and icons are infused into a modern Chinese contemporary style. Two Emperor's Robes, made of contrasting materials, serve as the centerpiece. One robe is made with silk embroidery of a dragon sewn on plastic, representing heaven, while the other is made of clay, representing earth.

Realization of the design involved two key art pieces: a life-size Ming Emperor robe in transparent membrane with hand-sewn silk embroidery, and another robe made of 5000 pieces of terracotta clay pecs, each shaped to its unique shape, profile, and contours. The design also features acrylic drawers that create a luminous and translucent red backdrop for the Heaven robe, mimicking Chinese imperial medicinal drawers.

The location of the restaurant posed a challenge for its brand presence. The design team focused on the experience and how the space unveils itself to reveal the wow factor of the design. Guests are greeted with a palette of old Chinese roof tiles and modern laser-cut screens, obscuring what is to come. The spaces unfold, subtly revealing the experiences within the compound.

The project, located at 6/F, Lee Theatre, 99 Percival Street, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong near Times Square, started in August 2014 and ended in January 2015. The design team conducted extensive research to understand the Ming Dynasty and reinterpret it into a modern context. The design elements and themes used in Asian cities interpret the Chinese theme differently, and the team had to brainstorm ways to express the theme as hip, relatable, and embracing with its experiences.

The design faced two main hurdles: the remote location and the extremely low ceiling levels. The former was countered by ensuring the design will attract the curiosity of patrons, and the latter was to ensure that the ceiling is maximized and managed so that the space will not give a claustrophobic experience. The interpretation of the space was in line with the expectations of the client, and its popularity, shown through long queues and bookings for a table, proved its success.

The design was awarded Silver in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2017. The Silver A' Design Award is rewarded to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.