Bronze Interior Space and Exhibition Design · 2019
Howard's Gourmet Restaurant
by Monique Lee
- A' Design Award 2019 Bronze Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Awarded April 15, 2019
- CLIENT: Howard's Gourmet
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 15,226
- Verification code 2A08ED1472 · Verify this award
About Howard's Gourmet Restaurant
Howard’s Gourmet design concept combines classic Chinese architectural elements with contemporary materials and design concepts for a novel visual gradient. The layout of restaurant consists of private dining rooms and is based on the old Siheyuan concept. With massive use of gold in modern forms, it creates a contemporary palatial grandeur. Ancient views of formation of Sky and Earth, the 5 elements of Cosmology are major forms and shapes used to decorate the interior of the dining rooms. Adorned with rich colors, floral and geometric fabric, the environment is enriched with cheerful vibe.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Antique Chinese culture is presented in a modern style. Entrance is classic lattice pattern made in steel. Massive use of gold offers a modern palatial grandeur. The layout of dining rooms surrounding a wine cellar follows the old Siheyuan concept while interior of rooms is formed with Circle and Square symbolic of Sky and Earth. Decorations are a mix and match of ancient Cosmology of the 5 elements of gold, wood, water, fire, earth with cheerful matt fabric in floral and geometric patterns.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The site area is 767.5 sq.m
- Tags
- Classical Chinese style, Fine Dining, Siheyuan, Modern Chinese style, The 5 elements of gold, wood, water, fire, earth.
- Production Technology
- The Siheyuan layout is designed to offer high level of privacy for restaurant’s celebrity guests. Flexible panels are installed for partitioning interior of rooms for smaller gatherings. To sustain big seasonal temperature differences, wooden materials are minimized while stainless steel, fabric and marble stones are adopted as major materials. With special arrangement of colors and shapes, it offers a vivid visual gradient.
- Design Challenge
- Since the design consists of high privacy VIP rooms, each room is well-equipped with independent facilities. To build washroom facility in each room required a full scale re-construction of drainage system which was only possible after a lengthy approval process by the mall management and relevant governmental departments. Progress was further delayed by drastic weather conditions.
- Project Duration
- The restaurant is located in Beijing, Capital of China. The location was picked by restaurant founder Mr. Howard Cai and is situated in the landmark mall WF Central with a panoramic view of the Forbidden City.The project started in April 2017 and finished in October 2017.
- Inspiration
- Design is inspired by restaurant founder Mr. Howard Cai's culinary philosophy. Classical Chinese ingredients combine Western chemistry to reconstruct and create contemporary tastes based on essential Chinese flavors. Located in the modern landmark mall WF Central overlooking China’s cultural heritage of the Forbidden City, the design is a Modern Chinese style with essential Chinese elements presented in contemporary style.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Xiao Song , Howard Gourmet BJ, 2018.
Image #2: Photographer Xiao Song , Howard Gourmet BJ, 2018.
Image #3: Photographer Xiao Song , Howard Gourmet BJ, 2018.
Image #4: Photographer Xiao Song , Howard Gourmet BJ, 2018.
Image #5: Photographer Xiao Song , Howard Gourmet BJ, 2018. - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Monique Lee, 2017.
Colors of Howard's Gourmet Restaurant
Design Interview about Howard's Gourmet Restaurant
The framework of design is based on Ancient Chinese views about formation of Sky and Earth, and the long established concept of the Five Elements which explain natural phenomenon.
We focus on applying traditional architectural elements into modern design concepts. By doing so, it also presents the restaurant founder’s culinary philosophy of combining Chinese food ingredients with western chemistry.
We hope that through application of these classical Chinese architectural concepts into our designs, we could keep our cultural heritage alive.
It took us 2 weeks to develop and finish the whole design concept.
Our business partner presented us the restaurant’s unique culinary philosophy and we were amazed at the concept and took up responsibility of making interior design for their restaurant in China’s Capital – Beijing. Since the restaurant’s location is adjacent to the Forbidden City, we decided to make a design embodying essence of classical architecture.
Yes, the design has been completed and executed as the interior design of the restaurant.
We always aspire to give new life to classical design ideas and preserve spirit of vintage designs.
Things and happenings around us are sources of inspirations and ideas. Creative designs of other designers always drive us to improve and excel.
I personally think that each creatvie design attracts admirers from different sectors in the population. All of us always look for advancement and innovations in life.
I guess each designer has their own ways of perceiving beauty. What makes this design unique is that it presents our views about beauty and it also embodies spirit of the restaurant founder’s enthusiasm to infuse Chinese dining culture with new energy.
The name is from the cuisine founder. Mr. Howard Cai.
Our design tools are mainly Auto CAD, Adobe Illustrator, 3D Max, Photoshop, Microsoft windows and internet resources.
The design is unique in the sense that we try to preserve the disappearing ‘Shiheyuan’ design concept and let it be mentioned and seen in a new face in Beijing which is well-known as a city of cultural heritage.
In most cases, we collaborate with the fitting-out and engineering team to clear all kinds of obstacles, ensuring that the final product and dress-up are in good quality and user-friendly.
We use modern materials to withstand extreme weather conditions and big seasonal temperature changes and minimize maintainence work.
Yes, it is. We reviewed a lot of data about qualities of different construction materials and study historical archives about cosmology, ancient architectural forms and shapes.
Main challenges come from extreme weather conditions which delay progress of contruction works. Meanwhile, we re-constructed the sewage system in order to excute our design concept. It was a lenthy process and had important impact on construction cost.
It was a quick decision. We always want to improve and enhance quality of our designs. A’ Design Award is an open platform where designers from around the world can see our design and we get their comments on our design. It helps us understand where we are and we also learn from other outstanding designs.
We are inspired by the restaurant founder’s advanced culinary concept and see the zest for creative aesthetics in modern China.
Yes, one thing we would always bear in mind. We must respect the culture of any population. Provide spacial comfort and offer design solutions to enhance quality of living.