RENER || A Theatrical Fine-Dining Experience Where Space Takes Centre Stage
Entering RENER feels less like stepping into a restaurant and more like taking your seat before the curtain rises.
Located within the ultra-modern Qianhai Kerry Center in Shenzhen, RENER presents dining as a carefully choreographed experience, one where space, light, and movement work together to guide the evening. Designed by Kasawoo Design Studio in collaboration with Yo.Q Design, the 250-square-metre restaurant treats architecture not as a backdrop, but as an active participant in the meal itself.
The main dining hall reveals itself gradually, with layered curtains and controlled lighting shaping a theatrical sense of anticipation.
Set within Shenzhen’s Qianhai Kerry Center, RENER’s Art Deco–inspired façade contrasts sharply with its ultra-modern surroundings.
By day, RENER operates with restraint. Only the eastern portion of the space is in use, offering bar seating and banquettes framed by soft curtains and filtered daylight. The atmosphere is calm, almost understated, allowing the space to function as a café without revealing its full narrative. This deliberate withholding sets the tone for what follows.
As evening approaches, the restaurant transforms. Guests arrive through a dedicated south entrance, passing into a foyer inspired by contemporary black-box theatres. The palette darkens, the lighting tightens, and anticipation builds. Upon entry, diners receive a “ticket” accompanied by small bites and drinks, an opening gesture that signals the transition from observer to participant.
A dedicated evening entrance leads guests through a black-box-inspired foyer, marking the transition from arrival to performance.
The bar forms the emotional centre of the restaurant. Anchored by rich green marble, solid wood latticework, and warm ochre walls, it evokes the solemn elegance of early twentieth-century interiors without slipping into imitation. Curtains surrounding the liquor wall heighten the sense of drama, remaining closed during the day and slowly revealed at night. As service begins, bartenders step into view, and conversation flows more freely across the room.
Material transitions from wood to patinated metal subtly guide guests deeper into the space, reinforcing the sense of narrative progression.
Movement through the space is intentional. As guests progress toward private seating areas, materials shift from nostalgic wood to cooler metal finishes. Brass-patinated surfaces reflect softened, distorted images, creating fleeting moments where fantasy and reality intersect. These transitions are subtle, yet they reinforce the idea that dining at RENER is structured in acts rather than courses.
Seating typologies further support this theatrical rhythm. The bar counter encourages performance and interaction, while banquette seating offers semi-private moments defined by curtains rather than walls. Intimate private booths accommodate couples and small groups, and a VIP eight-seater room reinterprets the traditional Chinese round table for contemporary dining. Each setting feels distinct, yet connected, allowing guests to choose how visible or secluded they wish to be.
The bar serves as the emotional centre of RENER, anchored by green marble, warm ochre tones, and solid wood latticework.
The restaurant’s exterior continues this narrative of contrast. Amid glass towers and contemporary façades, RENER’s handcrafted frontage reads like a cinematic insertion from another era. Art Deco proportions and textured surfaces create a striking juxtaposition against its surroundings, reinforcing the idea that the restaurant exists slightly outside of time.
Food and drink complete the performance. RENER offers a seasonal tasting menu inspired by regional Chinese flavours and the personal travels of its owner, emerging actor Guanghui Zhou. Each dish is paired with a bespoke cocktail crafted in-house, extending the storytelling beyond the plate and into the glass. The result is an experience where flavour, memory, and emotion are tightly interwoven.
RENER offers a seasonal fine dining tasting menu inspired by regional Chinese flavours and the owner’s personal travels.
Rather than chasing spectacle, RENER relies on pacing, restraint, and atmosphere. It is a restaurant that understands the power of anticipation, proving that when space is treated as the main character, dining can feel less like an event and more like a performance worth lingering over.
The restaurant eloquent design language is consistent across its branded pieces.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project Name: RENER
Programme: Fine Dining Restaurant
Location: Qianhai Kerry Center, Nanshan, Shenzhen, China
Area: 250 m²
Status: Completed, 2025
Client: RENER
Architect & Interior Design: Kasawoo Design Studio in collaboration with Yo.Q Design
Graphic Identity: Playroom Design
