green chinese gardens enclose qu yuan plus restaurant by LDH design in yangzhou

'qu yuan' embraces modern architecture and urban life while preserving the delicate flavors of chinese culture.

AO Zhang edited by christina vergopoulou March 11, 2024 4 min

LDH DESIGN conceives Qu Yuan Plus Restaurant

Qu Yuan Plus Restaurant by LDH DESIGN in Yangzhou artfully captures the city’s historical charm and tranquility, mirroring the sentiments expressed in the Song Poetry ‘Slow Life in Yangzhou.’ Rooted in the city’s unique character, the restaurant pays homage to Yangzhou’s enduring essence, emphasizing leisurely living amidst the bustling world.

The garden-inspired views draw from the region’s landscapes, notably the Slender West Lake, embodying a poetic blend of stones, forests, towers, bridges, and solitude. Reflecting the city’s spirit, the design unfolds ‘scenes within scenes,’ creating a realm where leisure transitions seamlessly from the profound to the subtle.

Nestled on the banks of the Slender West Lake, amidst grand estates, Qu Yuan stands out as a distinctive gem, showcasing the beauty of all four seasons. Linked to Emperor Qianlong’s poetic musings, the name ‘Qu Yuan,’ where ‘Qu’ translates to ‘Fun’ or ‘Interesting,’ and ‘Yuan’ means ‘Garden’ in Chinese, encapsulates the experience of morning tea time, Yangzhou Pinghua performances, and bustling market strolls, as built form merges with the landscape in a constant dialogue between indoors and outdoors.

green chinese gardens enclose qu yuan plus restaurant by LDH design in yangzhou - 1 — all images by Wang Ting

gardens merge with Qu Yuan’s built forms

In the changing times, ‘Qu Yuan’ has witnessed fluctuations, embracing urban life while preserving the delicate flavors of Chinese culture. The addition of ‘Qu Yuan Plus,’ led by Chen Wanqing, brings new vitality to the garden, blending classical Chinese garden traditions with modern architecture—a symbol of the youthful lifestyle in Yangzhou.

Designer Liu Daohua’s approach seamlessly integrates the charm of gardens into the interior design while achieving an intricate play between light and shadow. Visitors’ experience is similar to exploring mountain forests and serene solitude, where the classical oriental essence converges with the sleek modern architecture. The design creates a tangible habitat for the soul, where tranquility embraces dynamic movements, and emptiness holds myriad realms.

green chinese gardens enclose qu yuan plus restaurant by LDH design in yangzhou - 2 — Qu Yuan Plus Restaurant by LDH DESIGN captures historical charm and tranquility in Yangzhou

green chinese gardens enclose qu yuan plus restaurant by LDH design in yangzhou - 3 — rooted in Yangzhou’s character, the restaurant pays homage to leisurely living amidst the bustling world

green chinese gardens enclose qu yuan plus restaurant by LDH design in yangzhou - 4 — gardens draw from the region’s landscapes, embodying a poetic blend of stones, forests, and solitude

qu-yuan-plus-restaurant-yangzhou-ldh-design-designboom-1800-2 — ‘Qu Yuan’ embraces urban life while preserving delicate flavors of Chinese culture

green chinese gardens enclose qu yuan plus restaurant by LDH design in yangzhou - 5 — the design creates a realm where leisure transitions seamlessly from the profound to the subtle

qu-yuan-plus-restaurant-yangzhou-ldh-design-designboom-1800-3 — ‘Qu Yuan Plus,’ led by Chen Wanqing, blends classical Chinese gardens with modern architecture

green chinese gardens enclose qu yuan plus restaurant by LDH design in yangzhou - 6 — Qu Yuan, nestled on the banks of the Slender West Lake, showcases the beauty of all four seasons

green chinese gardens enclose qu yuan plus restaurant by LDH design in yangzhou - 7 — designer Liu Daohua integrates garden charm into the interior design, playing with light and shadow

green chinese gardens enclose qu yuan plus restaurant by LDH design in yangzhou - 8 — visitors experience exploring mountain forests and serene solitude in the design’s classical oriental essence

qu yuan plus restaurant by ldh design 4

qu yuan plus restaurant by ldh design 3

project info:

name: Qu Yuan Plus Restaurant
architect: LDH DESIGN | @ldhdesign_2022

lead architect: Liu Daohua

location: Yangzhou, China

photography: Wang Ting

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