Header: Courtesy of ARTTA Concept Studio
ARTTA Concept Studio has recently completed the design for Peony, a new Chinese restaurant in Discovery Bay, Hong Kong. The new space integrates spectacular panoramic views of the South China Sea and Hong Kong’s skyscrapers with a concept inspired by traditional Chinese themes of good fortune, prosperity, and honor.
The interior draws heavily on the Buckeye Belle peony flower for its palette and materials. Rich red tones are combined with grey upholstery and bronze-colored metallic partitions to define the dining area. The designers’ goal was to reflect the warmth and familiarity of traditional Chinese restaurants while incorporating the refinement associated with the peony, often referred to in China as the king of flowers.
At the center of the dining space, a Peony-inspired ceiling feature takes the guests’ attention away from conversations and towards itself, easily becoming the conversation’s topic. Designed using 3D technology, it captures the movement of sunlight throughout the day, creating warmth and light that filter through curved corolla-like structures. This element addresses the site’s unique challenges, such as varying ceiling heights and excessive sunlight, by balancing natural light and temperature control.
The use of advanced technology played a key role in the project’s execution since ARTTA Concept Studio employed 3D computer simulations to optimize the layout, sunlight exposure, and functionality of each design element. As mentioned above, prototypes of the ceiling design were produced using 3D printing, allowing the team to refine both the aesthetic and practical aspects of the space without ramping up the project’s cost.
Designing Peony involved in-depth research into its cultural and historical significance, so the designers became experts in its forms, colors, and symbolic meanings from both Eastern and Western perspectives. The findings shaped the overall concept, tying traditional influences to a restaurant in what many describe as one of the world’s most futuristic cities.
