Header: Topia Commercial Photography
Wanwea · Yuan Restaurant is the name of a restaurant that recently received awards for its interior design, after having been completed in 2023 in Chaoyang District, Beijing. The work was carried out by Tanzo Space Design, with WANG Daquan as lead designer, alongside lighting studio Guangyan Shengpin Lighting Design.
The design sets the restaurant as a series of spaces that lead from the exterior courtyards into the indoor dining areas. The objective was to have people always understand when they are moving from outside to inside without feeling disconnected from previous scenes. The project is influenced by traditional Chinese philosophies, but it does not attempt to imitate any single historical style in its layout or details.
Once inside
Several elements shape the interior: a hand-hammered copper bar that weighs 386 kilograms, mirrored surfaces that lengthen and multiply views through the space, and stainless-steel pieces that are treated as sculptural objects. Together, these features cause light and shadow to change noticeably across the interior. At the entrance, a tall chimney-like structure and a parametric metal leaf serve as the main architectural features. They mark the point of arrival, direct people into the interior, and set up the sense of movement that continues through the rest of the restaurant.
Specific rooms are designed for particular activities. Some private dining rooms include fire as a main feature, making it part of what people see and focus on while they are inside. Other spaces are set up for wine tasting rather than general dining. Reflective water features are also incorporated into the project and are treated as another spatial element that shapes how the restaurant is experienced.
