Forest restaurant blurs boundary between outdoors and in

Project: Purple Moutain Courtyard Restaurant
Award: Silver, Hospitality Interiors - Restaurants & Cafe's, Medium Practice (20+ employees), 2024
Location: Nanjing, China
Design Practice: Minggu Design
Client: Nanjing Hongxiguan Catering Management Co., Ltd.

By blending indoor and outdoor spaces seamlessly, Minggu Design’s project Purple Moutain Courtyard Restaurant offers a dining environment that makes the most of its natural surroundings. The restaurant is located in a dense forest surrounded by mountains. 

The judges praised the way in which the design "makes you feel as if you're outdoors while being comfortably sheltered under the large architectural eaves" which they described as "a clever and thoughtful solution". 

The design scheme is intended to resonate with the spirit of wuxia, which represents harmony with nature, spiritual contemplation and serenity. The use of materials with a simple and monochromatic colour palette allows the beauty of the forest to be showcased through the large windows.

“In order to blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor, and maximize the outdoor landscape into the indoor vision, we used a large eave design. The big eaves represent the eastern spirit of reverence for nature. The glass of the facade is retracted behind the column split and the eaves, so that the space is effectively extended to the outside,” Minggu Design said.

“Through the design of the suspended mechanical structure, the effect of the big eaves is realized, making the space appear light and elegant, just like being suspended in the woods,” it added.

Design highlights

Glass panel walls throughout eliminate visual barriers to the surrounding landscape and seamlessly bring the outdoors in. The space is bathed in a luminous glow that evokes the warmth and tranquillity of dusk, creating a serene atmosphere. Minimalist furniture creates a sense of elegance and sophistication without distracting attention from the beautiful landscape.

The judges said: "This restaurant design is a remarkable fusion of architecture with the surrounding forest. Among the design features which stand out are the glass façade providing unobstructed views of the greenery and the cantilevered eave and platform creating a visual sensation of a floating structure."

Photo credit: Minggu Design