padded cylinders in soft nude colors flood noodle restaurant's interiors by office aio

Office AIO introduces playful Pang Mei Noodle Bar_LFS in Beijing

Office AIO’s design for Pang Mei Noodle Bar_LFS in Beijing emphasizes playful and community-focused elements, enhancing interaction within the restaurant and connecting it to the surrounding area. The restaurant, known for its distinctive Sichuan dishes, is located on the ground floor of a commercial complex among the hutongs, sharing an open-air yard with nearby office buildings and cultural establishments.

To cater to a diverse clientele, including office workers and cultural enthusiasts, the restaurant employs a hybrid service model that varies throughout the day. Office AIO designed a flexible interior that adapts to different operational needs. The wide facade features a corridor for grab-and-go orders and double-sided window seats, taking advantage of the high foot traffic into the courtyard. Service windows of varying sizes streamline the process in this bustling section.

At the spacious eastern end, the design includes single-party tables and flexible seating, doubling the seating capacity during peak hours. A roller shutter is key to the restaurant’s transformation: closed for quick counter service during off-peak hours and opened for full table service during peak hours. This flexibility allows the restaurant to extend hours and offer a seasonal ‘tapas’ menu for late-night clients.

all images by Wen Studio

Pang Mei Merges Minimal Design with Community-Centric Spaces

The facade features long tables that extend beyond the building, with seating on both sides to encourage social interactions in the plaza. Upward bi-fold glass windows along the tables blur the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. A stainless superstructure projects above the bi-fold windows, creating a playful and monumental presence. This structure, with its tubular pill shape and reflective surface, offers shading over the al fresco patio with a rollable membrane.

Inside, the design incorporates elements inspired by the improvisation spirit of hutong furniture. Bespoke sling chairs crafted with rubber bands, cork, and aluminum, along with puck pendant lights, complement the flexible and minimalist interior. Padded cylinders in soft nude colors along the walls mimic noodles, hinting at Pang Mei’s famous dishes. The padded wall and gradient fog mirrors are consistent features across Pang Mei’s restaurants, tying together the aesthetic.

The design team at Office AIO successfully combines minimalistic aesthetics with functional design, creating a space that impresses the community and fosters connections. The design reflects the spirit of pop art, community engagement, and Sichuan cuisine, making Pang Mei Noodle Bar a notable addition to Beijing’s dining scene.

Office AIO’s design for Pang Mei Noodle Bar enhances interaction and community connection

located in Beijing’s hutongs, Pang Mei Noodle Bar features a playful and community-focused design

the restaurant is situated on the ground floor of a commercial complex with an open-air yard

service windows streamline the process for the bustling grab-and-go section

the flexible interior adapts to different operational needs throughout the day

single-party tables and flexible seating double the capacity during peak hours

padded cylinders in soft nude colors mimic noodles, hinting at the restaurant’s famous dishes

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project info:

name: Pang Mei Noodle Bar_LFS
architect: Office AIO | @office.aio

location: Beijing, China

photography: Wen Studio | @wen_studio2020

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom