As a pioneer in the sphere of Chinese boutique hotel and commercial design, Wang Daquan, Chinese interior architect at Tanzo Space Design, compares architecture to a child. This analogy encapsulates his approach to design—unrestricted by dogmas, brimming with curiosity and ever-evolving. The Chinese designer lets the spaces grow organically, nurturing their development akin to a child’s journey through life.

Central to Daquan's philosophy, Meng Du Hui Restaurant is imbued with the dichotomy of Huizhou city's historical identity and Beijing's contemporary allure. Poised amidst the urban cadence of Beijing’s Wanshou Hotel, the studio's restaurant design transcends the mere act of dining. Tanzo Space Design curates a narrative that pays homage to Huizhou’s archetypal black-tiled roofs, pristine white walls, timeless courtyards and rich culinary art heritage while embracing the urbane dynamism of its new locale. “Meng Du Hui was always destined to be a space of overlapping contrasts — Huizhou’s nostalgia and Beijing’s cosmopolitan air; the boundless beauty of Eastern aesthetics and the expansive inclusivity of global culture,” Daquan mentions in an official release. "The space would be crafted at the intersection of new and old, of Anhui (province housing Huizhou city) and Beijing, of nature and the city,” he continues.

The 1600 sqm restaurant emerges as a liminal space seen through a circular aperture in the partition wall, a deliberate nod to the ‘moon gates’ of classical Chinese gardens. Water features flank the entry steps, guiding the gaze toward a minimalist pavilion design with irregular columns that dissolve into a dense bamboo grove. “Through precise treatment of elevation, the architecture, plants, pavilion, and water features layer and overlap in the field of view — much like the fusion and reinterpretation of Huizhou architecture with Beijing’s style,” the studio remarks in the press statement.

Meng Du Hui’s interior design is a meticulous study of balance, juxtaposing the austerity of grey slate with the warmth of deconstructed wooden elements. Inspired by the Huizhou philosophy of outward adaptability and inward authenticity, the hospitality interiors weave courtyards, corridors, atriums, window lattices, and classical ‘ruyi’ gates into a choreography of connectivity and discovery. The project’s spatial design unfolds like a cinematic journey transitioning from the reflective ceiling that captures the verdant scene of the hemmed courtyard design on the ground floor to an intimate, layered bamboo garden on the second floor.

In the spirited reflection, “the ordinary households of Huizhou’s long streets and alleys reappear, with ancestral elegance and the never-ending sounds of children reading, as if the passage of time has paused,” Daquan narrates. However, from a discrete perspective, “the bamboo grove and ceiling become a piece of contemporary art, drawing inspiration from nature, seamlessly blending into the rustic ambience,” he adds.

The layered approach extends to the dining areas, where intricate lattices and minimalist furnishings frame views of lush greenery and sculptural water features. A U-shaped wine cellar and a serene tea room further enhance the sense of revelation, offering curated spaces for indulgence and reflection. Each element—the stillness of water ponds or the flickering light from paper lanterns—evokes the calm of Eastern aesthetics.

A restrained yet evocative material palette of viridescent bricks, weathered stones, warm woods, polished lacquer and subdued paper permeates the interiors with vehemence and tactility, forging a deep connection to the textures of Huizhou’s natural landscapes. The locally sourced materials and natural light underscore a commitment to sustainability and a conscious environmental design. Meanwhile, subtle manipulations of ceiling heights and reflective surfaces distort perceptions of space, conjuring an infinite openness within the restaurant’s compact footprint. The dynamic layering of spaces fosters a sense of organic growth, a testament to the Chinese architect’s vision of blending traditional design with modernity.

“Within the city’s hustle, Meng Du Hui carves out a pocket of nature, where time flows at its own leisurely pace,” asserts the press statement. The hospitality design is a sensory journey where time, space and memory converge. From the rhythmic interplay of light and shadow to the tactile allure of wood and stone, the space transcends its physical boundaries, offering diners the reimagined, ancestral elegance of Huizhou.

Project Details

Name: Meng Du Hui Restaurant (Beijing Branch)
Location: Wanshou Road, Haidian District, Beijing, China
Architect: Tanzo Space Design
Chief Designer: Wang Daquan
Design Team: Jin Ping, Ma Hongxu, Zhang Xiangrong
Lighting Design: PROL Lighting
Landscape Design: Wild Green Botanic Garden - Zhang Xiaoguang, Yu Yan, Wang Yue
Floral Design: Xixi
Construction Company: Beijing Huanrun Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd.
Area:1600 sqm
Year of Completion: 2023