There are many stories behind the Zhenting Restaurant, from the name taken from Xiao Ma's grandparents, to the turning around and finally participating in the design, to the metal net foundation, framework, lighting and other details, as well as the food itself and Chaoshan culture, etc. The length is a bit long, if you are interested, you can do something extra.

But this time I want to talk about what is behind the design of Zhenting Restaurant.

This is a mixed space with many elements, designed by me in a diverse and mixed environment: in New York in early 2019. Now that I come to think of it, one should leave one's environment completely and go "somewhere else" for a while. That leads to a more interesting state of mind.

At that time, not only space and language were separated from domestic contact, but also time difference. In the reversal of time between night and day, worrying about the other side of the ocean, seeing the first snow in New York, seeing several exhibitions, I have found a different consistency in the space between the different faces.

The self-consistent wallpaper becomes the "pure Chinese flavor" in the windowless room, using the mirror to traverse the past and the present and the real illusion; It has become a variety of color blocks, red and blue, contemporary and traditional, mixed with a strong yearning that can not be broken. I imagine myself standing in it...

The overseas, the modest, the bold... It was all mixed up in the sunlight of the New York winter, or the wind outside the apartment at night. I am very close to the world, but also very far away. I had a friend give me a list of Manhattan must-haves, and like Chinese Food App“Dianping”, I really did eat one round. This kind of experience let me have a lot of different "appreciation point", big small, embrace of crowded, artistic, novel, tacky... Serious has serious fun, web celebweb celebrity has BBB1 steady, everything dissipates and dissolves after summarization, what I get is a kind of feeling that I seldom contact in daily life, meaning is not clear, but it is very consistent with my life and study state of being alone at that time.

Many of the usual small details, in that period of time more a different perception, as if extra mobilize the five senses, temperature, humidity, wind direction can be touched up. In front of the drawing, both the mind and the mind can be more extended and open, and the focus seems to be a more macro life setting mode, rather than just the project itself, not limited to a table, a chair, a scene and a pair of eyes.

Chaoshan food itself is very interesting, from one or two heads of abalone to a variety of rare fish belly, gold hook wings big ring gong... Own its luxury, taro round fish rice, shrimp jujube flesh, oyster, melon baked...... Each has its own use, are welcome from the five senses to the five zang organs and converted into energy things, colorful vitality, full of fireworks. You can imagine that people come and go in the Zhenting Restaurant, bringing their own attributes and colors, together with the food, using space and reverberating into a new story in a short time. Mass, modest, elitist or not... There is nothing false or more real than the essence of it. All of it is a new balance.

People melt into the space between heaven and earth, and with their interpretation of the living beings to the environment, a bunch of wintersweet and a lobopine tree can respond to the call of nature, and a piece of moss can be introduced to a short place of rest. So you don't have to worry about the limitations of being in a less than ideal environment, having no natural dialogue with the outside world.

Each of us is a blend of characters, and at the same time, we enjoy the wisdom of the human aggregate. In fact, every design technique and every dish has been summarized and breakthrough by countless predecessors. Every moment, every section of the road, in fact, good and bad are interdependent, mixed with happiness and sorrow. When I was in New York two years ago, now I am in Shenzhen. I am separated by a lot of people and a lot of things, by the fact that we all have the same experience, but also by the global situation, opportunities and tests. All kinds of emotions blend together.

Back to what you may want to know in the design of Zhenting Restaurant: Argentine artist Julio Le Parc has influenced the graphic image relationship of this project, and Wu Hong's "Women's Space in Chinese Painting" has influenced the design. Chaozhou culture has been dealt with explicitly in the space, mainly in the display, calligraphy and paintings are Ma Zong's personal collection. A total of 13 private rooms, theme, size, color, design techniques are different; The lamps and furniture were designed separately for this project. They look good and are comfortable to use. The selection of red and pattern in the hall reflects the folk customs of Chaoshan culture. Still have all sorts of small device, small lamp, light and shadow relation to wait for details, everybody is interested can look for.

Construction began in August 2019 and will be completed in August 2020. The most difficult part of the process was to make a courtyard in the mall and change the facade of the building. Before nightfall, you can see the hustle and bustle of the whole city. After that, you can feel all the emotions in the private room. The facade of the entrance is made of concrete blocks, and when you look closely you can see the changing patterns and the relationship of light. The inverted pyramid and golden rice bowl at the water scene behind the entrance are a device, which not only become the unified elements with lamps and devices in the Courtyard of Zhenting Restaurant, but also a good omen of geomancy. When the door opens, people will see happiness, good luck and beauty, so that they can stop for a second or two, wait, or be happy.

I am very glad to design the Zhenting Restaurant, just like the original design of Dongxiaodong courtyards, although the attributes are different. This more pyrotechnic design is kind of like a glue, connecting the city, the people, the sky, information, thoughts, emotions, friends appreciate each other, talk to each other, receive goodwill before the food... It is a realistic landscape that is more down-to-earth and can change and grow with the city and its people. It is a kind of spatial field that promotes and maintains the relationship together. In the end, design itself is not specifically mentioned.