Located in the bustling coastal city of Wenzhou in the southeast of China, known for its mild subtropical climate, Xiaoshi (小十) restaurant draws on the local environment, creating a heightened, aesthetically refined dining atmosphere for its guests. Designer Wang Lianglong (汪良珑) has taken inspiration from Chinese classical aesthetics, which represented by Tang and Song Dynasty Culture, fusing them with the project’s operational requirements and the scale and conditions of the existing site, on the upper level of a busy mall – a common location for many Chinese upscale restaurants.
During Wang’s first site visit, the unfinished mall was still open to the sky, as the roof had not yet been built. Moved by the atmosphere evoked by the gentle rain and shifting clouds, he recalled the lyrical images of raindrops falling on lush forest leaves in ancient Chinese literature, and their association with sentimental contemplation. This revelation provided him with an intuitive template which would provide the basis for the design which followed.

The outer area of the restaurant presents a kind of landscaped stage to visitors, setting the large dining room of the restaurant back from the main space of the mall. The provision of this intermediary space references nature while creating a heightened sense of transition and anticipation, and ultimately allows for a more private dining experience. The curved landscaped area incorporates a series of bamboo stalks and a raised stone walkway w