Press Release
Not A Studio Receives the Platinum A' Design Award for Olivino Restaurant in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
Not A Studio recognized for interior space and exhibition design by the international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 28, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Platinum A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category for Olivino Restaurant by Not A Studio, designed for Olivino. The recognition forms part of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Platinum A' Design Award Means
The Platinum A' Design Award is recognized for honoring designs that stand at the forefront of creativity and innovation. It is the highest accolade bestowed by the A' Design Awards, acknowledging works that blend remarkable innovation with impactful societal contributions. These designs not only showcase exceptional artistic and technical proficiency but also highlight their creators' commitment to advancing the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Recipients of this award are celebrated for their role in shaping the aesthetics and trends of our time, contributing significantly to the enhancement of quality of life and promoting sustainable development.
Regarding Olivino Restaurant
Olivino is a restaurant created within a former industrial exhibition hall in China. The original double height, column free volume and the skylight grid are retained and reinforced, while services and lighting are concealed within an upgraded roof assembly. A circular glass wine cellar and a copper stove are inserted to guide circulation without partitions. Materials include art paint, metal plate, handmade brick, gold foil and glass. Daylight and layered artificial light shape open and intimate dining zones. The total area is 626 square meters.
About Not A Studio
Founded in 2016 by architect Gu Yi, **Not a Studio** has carried out architectural practices both domestically and overseas. As the principal architect, Gu Yi has **13 years of architectural experience in Africa**, where he led and participated in various projects including national-level constructions such as hospitals and schools, as well as a wide range of commercial spaces. His adventurous African experience, marked by in-depth integration with diverse cultures, has cultivated his strong perception and empathy toward environments, subjects, and phenomena.
Award Record
Not A Studio is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award
The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Typical entries include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. The awarded interior designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/interior
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/182117
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/182117
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!182117
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/380677
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Olivino Restaurant
- Function
- Restaurant
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Black, Saddle Brown, Dark Slate Gray, Sienna and Dim Gray
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Olivino
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Not A Studio
- Country
- China
- Recognition
- Platinum A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #182117
Credits
- Image Credits
- Photographer Mountain imagery, Olivino, 2025.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This project transforms a former industrial "white box" exhibition hall into a Michelin-level restaurant through a strategy of dialogue rather than coverage. By retaining the original steel dome and column-free volume, and integrating refined insertions such as a circular glass wine cellar and copper stove, the design reconciles industrial rationality with culinary warmth. Light becomes a spatial medium, shaping an immersive emotional container within a preserved architectural framework.
- Inspiration
- The project was inspired by the intrinsic experiential commonality between exhibition and dining spaces. Rather than replacing function, the design continues the emotional narrative of the original industrial architecture. The motivation was to respect the building's artistic heritage while introducing warmth and refinement. The concept evolved from studying spatial memory and user perception, seeking a balance between industrial austerity and Nordic-influenced humanistic comfort
- Research
- This project is a practice-based spatial research exploring the adaptive reuse of an industrial exhibition hall for fine dining. Through spatial analysis, studies and on-site structural assessment, the design team developed strategies to integrate refined hospitality functions within a preserved industrial shell. The result demonstrates a balanced transformation model that enhances user experience while offering a replicable approach for heritage revitalization and urban cultural activation.
- Challenge
- The primary challenge was reconciling Michelin-level refinement with a raw industrial shell. Structurally preserving the skylight grid while upgrading insulation, waterproofing and concealed services required precise coordination. Balancing openness with intimacy in a column-free volume demanded strategic insertion of circular elements. The design avoided excessive decoration, ensuring dialogue with the original architecture rather than superficial overlay.
- Realization and Technology
- The intervention optimized the existing steel structure and skylight system while concealing MEP lines within upgraded roof assemblies to improve waterproofing and thermal insulation. A circular glass revolving door was repurposed into a bottle-shaped wine cellar, acting as a spatial mediator. Custom metalwork, inverted copper stove fabrication, art paint finishes, handmade brick and gold foil detailing were integrated with precise lighting coordination to maintain tectonic clarity.
- Operation and Interaction
- Guests enter through glass revolving doors into a fluid, open hall. The circular wine cellar and copper stove organize circulation, creating intuitive movement without partitions. Daylight animates the space through skylights; at night, layered lighting forms intimate dining zones. Seating layout ensures river views for each table, while indoor and outdoor scenes visually interact through large grid glazing.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in January 2025 and finished in May 2025 in China.
- Specifications
- The total project area is 626 square meters. The existing double-height, column-free industrial volume is retained. The original skylight grid is preserved and structurally reinforced. Integrated HVAC and concealed lighting systems are embedded within the roof build-up. Main materials include art paint, metal plate, handmade brick, gold foil, and glass. A circular wine cellar is inserted within the linear plan to optimize spatial circulation and visual focus.
- Keywords
- Adaptive Reuse, Industrial Heritage, Michelin Restaurant Design, Light Narrative, Spatial Dialogue, Experiential Dining, Column-Free Space, Glass Wine Cellar, Urban Riverfront, Contemporary Nordic Influence
