Reviving Tradition: Ming Tse Hung's Award-Winning "Xiang" Design

Transforming an Old House into a Modern Chinese Restaurant

The inspiration for "Xiang" came from the concept of "Salon" - a gathering place popular in Italy and France from the 16th to the 18th centuries that aimed to enhance self-cultivation and communication. Ming Tse Hung applied this concept to a 30-year-old house, preserving its original structure while adding modern elements to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

The uniqueness of "Xiang" lies in its ability to combine art and people in one space. The old house, located in the city center, carries the traces of years of history. Ming Tse Hung added a new diagonally cut building structure to the original interior, giving the old house a chance to regenerate. The result is not just a "restaurant", but a space that combines art and people.

The theme of the project, "Chinese", is fully demonstrated by the combination of Chinese red brick, Morandi green, and sand gold custom iron pieces. The designer interspersed these elements with a modern clear water mold and straight grain acrylic to device each space. This design approach allows the restaurant to connect with old cultural memory while jumping away from the traditional Chinese cuisine restaurant.

The project faced several challenges, including the limited width and height of the old house and the difficulty of dividing the narrow space into three dining areas. Despite these challenges, and a tight timeline of just two months, Ming Tse Hung successfully transformed the old house into a modern Chinese restaurant that serves Xiang cuisine - a rich and spicy dish from Hunan, one of the eight major cuisines in China.

In conclusion, "Xiang" is a testament to Ming Tse Hung's innovative design approach. By preserving the original structure of an old house and adding modern elements, the designer created a unique dining experience that won the Silver A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2020. The success of "Xiang" serves as an inspiration for other designers to push the boundaries of traditional design and create spaces that combine art and people.