Kokaistudios’ latest project for VOL Group is an innovative Cantonese fine dining restaurant in Shanghai.

The location, quite unusual for a fine dining establishment, is settled in an old warehouse on the south part of the bund, overlooking the famous Huangpu River.

The interior design is a play between tradition and innovation, where Chinese decorative elements meet contemporary and even futuristic design features.

All the spaces hold some form of innovation. The reception features a dramatic patchwork of old Chinese drawers, while the two bars are customised stations set next to old Chinese tricycles, which are used to deliver cocktails to customers.

Semi private dining rooms maintain the privacy of the guests and offer a stunning view on the bund. The open dining area, on the other hand, is conceived as a flexible open space with a mix of banquet seats and seats overlooking the open kitchen area, and is framed by industrial concrete pillars and a lattice ceiling.

One of the restaurant’s most striking features is a decorative wall inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns. Beyond decoration, it also houses a complex lighting control system that’s able to modify the mood of the entire space.

In such an environment, Mariano Fortuny’s iconic lighting fixtures don’t look out of place. Indeed, everywhere you turn, you find tradition and elegance with an edge.

Kokaistudios
kokaistudios.com