Restaurant, Sichang Park

Kunshan, China
Northeast view of the building
Photo © Pu Miao
The main entrance at the south end of the building
Photo © Pu Miao
From the second floor looking into the foyer
Photo © Pu Miao
From the foyer looking into the dining spaces separated by linear courtyards
Photo © Pu Miao
Looking south through layers of linear courtyards, in which climbing plants are planted
Photo © Pu Miao
One of the first-floor dining spaces defined by linear courtyards, looking toward the deck
Photo © Pu Miao
Northwest view of the building
Photo © Pu Miao
Southwest view of the building
Photo © Pu Miao
First Floor Plan
Drawing © Pu Miao
Section
Drawing © Pu Miao
Architects
Pu Miao
Location
Sichang Road at West Qianjin Road, Kunshan, China
Year
2012
Client
Kunshan City Construction Investment and Development Co. Ltd.
Team
Pu Miao
Structure
Shanghai Yuangui Structural Design Inc.
Plumbing, HVAC, and electrical engineering
Hanjia Design Group

The restaurant is located in a linear park along a preserved natural river in a newly developed suburban area of Kunshan, a booming industrial city west of Shanghai. A school and a future apartment project flank the east and west sides of the park.

The river-front building has distinctively different west (facing the river) and east facades. A mostly solid wall on the east indicates that the building opens up toward its river side, where transparent surfaces dominate.

The landscape architect adopted an urban agriculture theme for the park. Strips of vegetable beds were laid out in the areas along the east side of building site. The architectural design made the strips appear to “penetrate” into the building. Once inside, the strips become linear green courtyards, dividing the first-floor dining area into semi-private spaces. The climbing plants in the linear courtyards create the effect of latticed screens that provide certain privacy but do not completely separate the semi-private spaces from each other, avoiding a problem common to current restaurant designs in China. 

A two-story-high foyer welcomes dinners to the second floor. On both floors, there are outdoor terraces or roof decks next to the indoor dining spaces. People can easily choose their favorable dining spots between indoor and outdoor settings. The adjacent climbing planters provide not only the visual pleasure of nature but also the sun shading needed in the summer. It is the architect’s attempt to borrow one of the fundamental concepts of traditional Chinese architecture that “pairs” each indoor space with one or more outdoor spaces to serve a building function. 

Publication
Architectural Review (UK, 9/2012)
Time+Architecture (China, 6/2012)

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Other Projects by Pu Miao

Visitor Center, Lake Yangcheng Park
Kunshan, China
Pavilions in Lake Yangcheng Park
Kunshan, China
Zhuting Church
Zhuzhou, China
Hillside House
Suzhou, China
Sichang-Road Teahouse
Kunshan, China