Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Restaurant Interiors, Retail DesignFlorence LAugust 29, 2021Restaurant LunarChina, Restaurant Lunar, Shanghai, Sò Studio

RESTAURANT LUNAR || 'Back to Nature' Tranquil Refuge In The Heart of Shanghai Inspired By The Moon

Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Restaurant Interiors, Retail DesignFlorence LAugust 29, 2021Restaurant LunarChina, Restaurant Lunar, Shanghai, Sò Studio

Here on earth, we feel the pressure of our everyday commitments and demands on our schedule; so how about an escape to the moon?

A visit to the Modern Chinese restaurant Restuarant Lunar lets you experience the relaxation one would expect from the moon’s gentle solitude and zero gravity. Designed by Shanghai-based Sò Studio with the theme of ‘back to nature’, the 2-storey restaurant is housed in a standalone villa nestled in the heart of vibrant Shanghai on West Jianguo Road. It is simply decorated with zen floral arrangements, utilizing natural materials to instil a sense of calm and infusing the curves of a classical Jiangnan garden into the design.

*Reception lobby and staircase entrance.*

On the first floor, one will find the lobby reception area, an open lounge area, and a private tea stall. The private tea stall allows guests to enjoy an immersive tea tasting, with soft light emitted through the bamboo curtains behind the seating area and the scent of tea bricks from the tea wall. The natural design materials of wood and bamboo with a matte surface also convey a sense of comfort. Upon stepping into the room guests will feel as if they have alighted on the moon.

The thoughtful interaction of space and materials in the tea stall creates a multi-sensory experience. The bamboo curtains inviting a gentle light source, airy ceilings for a sense of openness, the aroma of the tea wall installed adjacent to the seating area…whisks you away to an imagined dreamscape where you could bask in the gentle quiet of the moon.

*A pebbled path leading to the second-floor dining area illustrates the varying yet complementary materials used in the design.*

A pebble-paved trial leads to the second floor. The second-floor design features echo that of the first with circular fixtures and circular half-space canopies in the ceiling; the additional design element here is the vaulted ceiling design, which extends upward from the circular ceiling canopies to create an airy space.

The entrance to the second-floor open dining area features a cornice connecting the two spaces. Vaulted ceilings rising from the circular half-space canopies add a sense of openness. The curves of classical Jiangnan gardens blend in with the architecture.

The dining area here offers roomy booth seating separated by shelving featuring a stone structure reminiscent of a piece of the moon’s perceived texture. A hand-painted mural renders orange fluorescence like moonlight shadow, echoing the tea stall design on the first floor. The team also collaborated with florist and designer Maggie Mao to add an orange haze to the space, the small and delicate decorations each adding a touch of Zen in the simplicity.

*Hand-painted murals emit a soft orange glow emulating the soft glow of the moon.*

*Simple floral arrangements add a touch to zen to every nook and corner in the space.*

A unique cornice, which outlines the curves of classical Jiangnan garden design and infuses it into the architecture, connects the dining area and private dining room. An elegant semitransparent partition shields private conversations.

*Cornice marketing the entrance to the private dining room. Soft, soothing lighting filters through the shelving on the wall.*

Sò Studio has created a tranquil atmosphere sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the outside world with its matte textures, soothing lighting, and natural materials. Although just beyond its doors the sun may be shining and the city thriving with urban energy, Restaurant Lunar offers the ideal refuge for those who need a moment to disconnect and recharge.