Project Overview

Cong Banquet is a restaurant that specializes in creative Cantonese cuisine located in Yuniaoji, Liangzhu, Hangzhou. The restaurant has a gross floor area of 1,800m², with a 1,300m² indoor area and a 500m² outdoor garden.

Project Commissioner

Associate Interior Design

Project Creator

Cong Banquet

Project Brief

The restaurant's name, Cong Banquet, is derived from the shape of the Cong, a long hollow piece of jade with rectangular sides and a central round hole, which symbolizes the formation of divine authority or identity consciousness and proves the beginning of civilization.

A homage to the traditional ritual heritage, the restaurant's design takes inspiration from Cong's shape, color, meaning, and quality to interpret the taste, charm, significance, and soul of new fusion cuisine, striving to create a classical dining space that has an everlasting charm.

Solid walls and glasses act as the boundary to enclose an L-shaped open-air water courtyard, which provides sufficient daylight for the internal space and introduces the seasonal scenery indoors.

Project Innovation/Need

Since food evolved in line with the development of civilization, the brand origin of Cong Banquet is closely related to the history of the site. The design team precisely captured the essence of the brand and interpreted it into the shape of the space. As a result, regardless of the craftsmanship of cuisine or utensils, the individual tastes, aesthetics, cognition, and associations about them are always iterated and updated with the times, but the pursuit of mental state has never changed.

Design Challenge

Echoing the square and round shapes of Cong, the restaurant's outdoor area features circular functional components of different sizes placed on the square water surface, with the largest circular outdoor rest area connected by the verandah formed by the eaves and the setback building facade. It is a perfect space for parties and talks among friends at night.

The entrance is adorned with an art installation that reflects the joy, enthusiasm, and organic agility of the flowers, forming a sharp contrast with the darkness and order of the surroundings.

The concept of a round sky and square ground is not only conveyed through graphic shapes but also rooted in ancient philosophy. It is embodied in the circular hole in the wall that allows for a shift in diameter and stagger between the inner and outer circles. They are interconnected to create a landscape scene together with the adjacent space, making the thick facades light and poetic.

Sustainability

The room incorporates a large floor-to-ceiling window to allow natural light in, which helps to reduce the need for artificial lighting. Insulated and laminated windows are used to minimize noise while still allowing light to enter the room. Additionally, the windows can be used in conjunction with indoor air conditioning to conserve energy. To further reduce noise, various sound-absorbing panels and coatings are utilized to decorate the room.