neri & hu evokes an abstract landscape in chi-q korean restaurant in shanghai

neri & hu evokes an abstract landscape in chi-q korean restaurant in shanghai
images courtesy of neri & hu

the upscale korean restaurant ‘chi-q’ is an addition to shanghai’s expanding collection owned by chef jean-georges vongerichten. situated within the historic three on the bund building, locally based studio neri & hu were commissioned to reflect the up-market aesthetic of the restaurant into its interiors. the resulting design has an abstracted quality, reminiscent of a landscape complemented with features often seen in traditional korean homes. the layering of charcoal, concrete and timber, gives the space texture and a sense of earthy rawness. on entering, guests are lead naturally into the long bar along the window which opens up to a view onto the raised garden. meanwhile, a dramatic and four-storey atrium forms the core of the restaurant, where suspended bulbs float above a long banquet table. wood slats have been arranged on each side of the atrium walls in a unique composition producing a play of light and reflective patterns- mimicking the canopy of a forest.

charcoal wood slats and concrete floors, is reminiscent of the discrete entrances found in traditional korean houses

a large atrium where the communal table is based

this architectural feature based at the heart is a highlight of the spatial experience