- Project: Poetry Wine (Solana)
- Architect: LDH Design
- Location: China, Solana, Chaoyang District, Beijing
- Year: 2021
- Area: 1000 m2
Reviving Memories Through Architecture
Poetry Wine—whose name translates to Shijiu, “picking up the taste of old days”—is more than a restaurant. Conceived by LDH Design, it is a poetic architectural expression that weaves the nostalgia of Beijing’s traditional homes with contemporary dining culture. The design recalls the warmth of childhood memories—chimneys, flickering sunlight, shadows, and leaves—while situating itself within the lively district of Solana.
A Dialogue Between East and West
Lead designer Liu Daohua approached the project with a philosophy rooted in oriental aesthetics: seeking harmony without uniformity. Drawing inspiration from the architectural techniques of Kerry Hill, the building was reconstructed to balance restraint and warmth.
Externally, the bare concrete façade communicates strength and modernity, its texture illuminated by shifting light throughout the day. At night, red-framed windows glow warmly, symbolizing memory, childhood, and Beijing’s architectural heritage.
Spatial Experience: Layers of Light and Shadow
Inside, the atmosphere transforms constantly—light and darkness, virtual and real—depending on time of day and vantage point. Floor-to-ceiling windows invite the park’s greenery into the restaurant, erasing the boundary between architecture and nature.
The interiors echo the red and glazed hues of the Forbidden City, instilling a sense of cultural familiarity while infusing spaces with vitality. The result is a restaurant that feels both deeply local and strikingly contemporary.
Materiality and Texture
The central bar area is a striking composition of glass bricks and textured artistic finishes. Roughness and refinement coexist, shifting with daylight and glowing from within at night. This duality—strength and delicacy, permanence and transience—reflects the restaurant’s core philosophy.
Elsewhere, asymmetry defines the spatial order, blurring traditional Chinese references with Western modernity. Every surface, from the copper-toned spiral staircase to the walls adorned with curated artworks, enriches the tactile experience.
Courtyards and Private Spaces
On the second floor, LDH Design reimagined the building’s sloped roofline into a series of private dining rooms reminiscent of traditional Chinese courtyards. Furnished with tea tables, fireplaces, and intimate arrangements, these rooms balance seclusion with cultural storytelling, evoking the essence of “home.”
The ground floor doubles as an art appreciation space, where simplicity frames curated artworks, transforming the restaurant into a gallery-like environment.
The spiral staircase, painted in textured copper and accented with artworks, rises like a sculptural centerpiece. With each step, guests encounter shifting perspectives, echoing the project’s theme of layered experience.
A Unified Dining Concept
Just as Poetry Wine’s cuisine preserves the flavors of old Beijing while presenting them in a modern form, the design embodies the unity of dining and artistic conception. The interplay of materials, light, and cultural symbolism produces a dining atmosphere that is extraordinary in every moment.
Through its careful balance of memory and innovation, LDH Design has created not just a restaurant, but a cultural landmark where architecture, cuisine, and heritage converge.
Plans
