Chengdu, 2018
Thai Gallery - a Thai Hotpot Restaurant locating at 4/F Renhe Spring International Plaza, Chengdu.
Unlike conventional showy front shops, the restaurant resembles outer shell of a cave with the white stalactite as the rugged wall, enclosing in the middle a deeply-drilled hole, which serves as the entrance. The opening of the hole extends into the interior space of the restaurant, as if it was a time tunnel between the restaurant and the mall. The front shop makes a vivid contrast with the exterior and hints a sense of mystery, leading the customers into another world.
The design is inspired by the Deer Cave of the Gunung Mulu National Park. The entrance extends with the twists and turns in the circulation towards the dining space. Curved tables and seating are embedded in the sand, blending with the environment with a single concept – the cave.
No sharp-cut barriers are placed in between each table, yet, with varied orientations, privacy and comfort are guaranteed. Meanwhile, various views and perceptions are brought to different customers, exciting them every second.
The designed changing lighting acts in concert with the wavy ceiling, which extends all the way from the entrance towards the end. The ambience of a cave is emerged through.
The background wall of the bar is a series of light box. Contrast of light and shadow is exhibited when wine bottles are placed in different ways, making unique artworks inadvertently.
