TAKENAWA YAKITORI RESTAURANT | NONG STUDIO

In his famous essay "The Existence and Discovery of Beauty," Yasunari Kawabata wrote: "Fengya is the discovery of the beauty of existence, the feeling of beauty already discovered, and the creation of beauty that has been felt. Indeed, what is crucial is the "natural environment in which it exists," and the true appearance of the natural environment may be the gift of the goddess of beauty."

The pursuit of beauty, especially the beauty of nature, is perhaps the greatest similarity between writers and designers. This has become the theme of our project: "How to make people in the city center feel the elegance of nature?"

Takenawa Yakitori restaurant, located on the 5th floor of CITIC Tairui Mall in Shanghai's CBD core area, was originally connected to an outdoor terrace. Through the terrace, one could directly overlook the intersection of Nanjing West Road and Shaanxi North Road, where the Hong Kong-based mall, Henglong, is located. The heavy commercial atmosphere, along with the sound of car engines, enveloped the area.

With the determination to explore the theme of our project, we began our design journey. Almost all natural materials, such as stone and wood, were used for the entire project. We used four types of green stones, each with different surface treatment methods, resulting in more than eight visual variations. For the facade facing the mall, we used green sandstone, limestone, granite, and natural green agate, which were cleverly combined to create a complete transformation of the commercial space into a natural environment. The light refracted through the hand-carved surfaces or passed through the green agate, which had been compressed and accumulated for millions of years, ultimately guiding people to the entrance.

The interior space was divided into two sections. In the layout of the front hall, we referenced the Chinese traditional garden's "obstructed view" and "leaky view" techniques, creating a "first entry" and "second entry" hierarchy through the use of a glass wine cabinet as a shield, a transition of materials between the interior and exterior floors, and the interior doorframe. The mirror and agate background at the bar, as well as the custom-made bamboo surface changing closet on the right, enriched the visual experience of this space, allowing guests to feel relaxed and curious about the internal space before even sitting down.

As if being led, one walks into the true dining area: the first thing that catches the eye is the green plant art constructed by avant-garde floral designer "21" on the ceiling, which is as elegant as a poem, as powerful as a sculpture, and full of vitality. The sunlight passing through the black veil shines on the green moss surface, making the seated person feel as if they are under a huge tree. The seats use traditional black lacquer, emanating an oriental aura. Running one's fingers over the engraved black oak table top while listening to the crackling charcoal fire, the simple stomach, unburdened, begins to feel hungry.

As we were enjoying the carefully prepared skewers, the sky began to darken and the staff suggested we go outside for a walk. We arrived at the outdoor platform and were no longer surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city center, but instead enveloped in a peaceful natural setting. Large bamboo tree boxes, dense clay flower pots, and a variety of plants shielded us from dust and noise, allowing only the sun's rays to shine on our faces. The green checkerboard ground and stone table top added to the overall luxurious atmosphere. Being on this platform, compared to the busy crossroads below, felt like being in two different worlds. Taking a deep breath of the fragrant air, as Kawabata once said, this nature is truly a gift from the goddess of beauty.