within the urban fabric of hangzhou, china, PIG design has renovated the GUI restaurant & bar following the theme of a ‘diamond house’. the revamp of the existing restaurant draws influence from the hexagonal diamond-shaped building in which it is situated, its textures and materials. symmetrical mirrors, creative lighting solutions, and dark hues complete the interior, generating a mysterious, psychedelic atmosphere.
all images courtesy of qi shuoqian
‘the original building is an unpolished raw diamond’, shares PIG design. ‘the surface is clumsy and filthy, yet it follows its own order in darkness and chaos.’ led by li wenqiang, the team sculpted and polished the diamond-shaped building in a sustainable way and embedded urban fabrics into the space, creating a retro but surreal futuristic effect.
the design preserves the original structure, simply adding a gate, which is 9 meters high and 1.5 meters wide. the polyhedral structure together with reflection and refraction of mirrored materials reveal the primitive charm of the building in a metaphorical manner, representing the imagery of a raw ‘diamond’ before being polished. the curvy exterior facade and the entrance feature distinctive forms. lighting and horizontal stripes are combined, which echo the enclosed steel grid of the building and render an artistic sculptural form. as night falls, the symmetrical mirrors generate a psychedelic atmosphere. the silent dark hue extends into the interior space, filling it with mystery and unknownness.
upon entering, visitors are welcomed by a 30 sqm hall on the first floor, before proceeding to to a larger one of nearly 500 sqm on th second floor. as they move through the different spaces and levels, the guests come across a wide range of visual and emotional experiences, full of surprises. a clear circulation route is organized on the diamond-shaped hexagon plane. the main space on the second floor is divided into two bar counters and a stage, which integrate into a continuous hall. differentiated functions such as craft beer bar, performance stage bar, and whisky bar are properly accommodated.
the layout of the space is like ‘cutting’ a diamond, clear and passive, implying natural division but fitting human’s intuition. through the addition of stone, metal, leather elements, as well as curtains, the space is restructured by line, surface, volume, and fabric without altering its original physical form. this constitutes an overall scene that is precisely calculated, cut, and polished like a diamond.
geometric forms complement the organic composition of the space, and various levels of brightness eliminate the dreary color scheme, hence properly accentuating the visual highlights. the imagery o the ceilings and walls are combined with hidden light sources. the diffusing light creates a subtle atmosphere, encouraging guests to gaze outwards or explore inwards. the light belt featuring color gradients connects the ceiling to the wine rack, while the suspended rough stone art installation highlights its materiality and aesthetics.
name: GUI restaurant & bar design firm: PIG design
design team: liu chao, wu yicheng, xiao fei, qian mengmeng
construction firm: hangzhou dianchang decoration design engineering co., ltd.
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edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom
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