Photography by Lu Haha
Golucci International Design have recently completed Si-Pu Nabe, a modern hotpot restaurant in Shanghai, China, that features a forest-like appearance.
Before heading into the main dining area of the restaurant, there’s a reception area that has a palette of gray tiles and wood. To create a welcoming experience for the guests and to make them feel at home, they’re given a pair of disposable slippers to wear when dining. A wall of lockers provides a place for guests to store their shoes, and in-floor heating makes sure their feat never get cold.
Photography by Lu Haha
A sculptural installation of hanging bamboo and light fills a small space as you walk into the restaurant.
Photography by Lu Haha
Uplighting throughout the restaurant highlights the edges of the walls and hallways.
Photography by Lu Haha
The restaurant’s bar has hanging wood shelving to match the live edge wooden bar top.
Photography by Lu Haha
The restaurant has a variety of 27 private tables, ranging from two-person tables up to 10-people rooms for families. Each “room” is semi-enclosed by tall wooden strips with curved tops to provide interest and privacy.
Photography by Lu Haha
The strip of lighting and plants that guide you throughout the restaurant are meant to represent vapor rising from the floor and make the guests feel as though they’re dining in a forest fairyland above the clouds.
Photography by Lu Haha
Some of the tables, like the one below, allow you to sit slightly raised up from the floor, with your legs tucked in underneath the table.
Photography by Lu Haha
Other rooms are much more private and have a door to close them off from the other guests. They also have chairs and regular style tables instead of the other tatami style tables.
Photography by Lu Haha
Here’s a diagram and floor plan that shows how the ‘forest’ is located in the center of the restaurant.
