ALL design studio creates retro italian nightclub in shanghai

inspired by the mysterious, charming character of don vito corleone in the godfather, ALL design studio has imagined a private chamber of mr. don for a new nightclub in shanghai, china. the nightclub features a dramatic entrance, a seductive red and blue glow throughout the spaces and vibrant elements that electrify the night.

ALL design studio intended for the experience of don to start immediately when pushing the door open. upon entering, the red light reflecting on the curved brown glass brings a visual experience for the guests. as the guests walk in, they can see themselves reflecting on the whimsical glass. the VI & interior don were designed by ALL design studio’s head director, gnial liang, whose captivating design lures the guests into the private chamber of don.

following the steps of mr. don, the guests are led to mr. don’s living room: a huge curved bar followed by a long, back-lit liquor cabinet behind. inspired by rome’s iconic coliseum, the designer chose to use several brass cylinders to imitate the italian arena’s POWERFUL aesthetic. the dance floor is circled by red and blue laser beams to recreate the image of a cage. while some guests dance wildly to the music, the others could enjoy the scenes as ancient romans enjoyed the gladiators’ performance.

one disco ball was not enough to show the generosity of mr. don, so the designer arranged different sized disco balls to create the lighting centerpiece. the guests feel the light reflecting on their bodies while enjoying the professional sound system by function one on the dance floor.

the circular windows unify the overall vision of mr. don’s private chamber. the laminated acoustic glass used for the windows provides a __ view to ensure the guests’ privacy. the vip room located at the corner of the nightclub is a secret night garden of mr. don. covered with bead curtains and surrounded by tropical plants, this secret room provides absolute privacy for guests who wish not to be disturbed.

the restroom area and adjacent smoking area are inspired by a butcher’s stockroom with thick steel doors. as a club owned by the high quality cocktail bar ‘atelier’, the cocktails at the don keep up with the design’s standards. while enjoying the mood of the party, the guests can enjoy a perfect cocktail to complement their night at the captivating, red-lit shanghai club.

project info:

design: ALL design studio

head designer: gnial liang/ weichen

team: luffy yang / rachel wong/ michelle yip / hugo meyer

consultant: daniel an / tina ye

total floor area: 420m2

photographer: phi art design jacques bin

location: f4 no17 north xiangyang road shanghai

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.