- Project: BLG French Restaurant
- Architect: Tanzo Space Design
- Location: China, Qinhuangdao, Hebei
- Year: 2022
- Area: 540 m2
- Photography: UKStudio-Ricky
A Restaurant That Became a Landmark
More than a dining space, the BLG French Restaurant at Haibi Terrace has become a cultural landmark on Qinhuangdao’s coast. Designed by Tanzo Space Design, this 5,812-square-foot project redefines how restaurants contribute to urban renewal.
By fusing architecture, gastronomy, and lifestyle, BLG has achieved what few venues can: people are drawn not only to the restaurant’s cuisine but to the idea of living nearby. It has transformed into a social hub and destination, anchoring Haibi Terrace as one of the city’s most sought-after coastal communities.
Context: Haibi Terrace and Urban Renewal
Haibi Terrace, masterplanned by Moshe Safdie, is a prime sea-view residential development featuring terraces, sky bridges, and interconnected gardens. While originally envisioned as real estate, its success has been reinforced by the inclusion of cultural and hospitality venues like BLG.
The restaurant is more than a tenant—it is a catalyst for community life, attracting local elites, business communities, and visitors. Its influence extends beyond gastronomy into real estate and cultural identity.
Design Concept: An Ark on the Shore
Tanzo Space Design envisioned the restaurant as an “ark” within an existing gray box, inserting a cylindrical volume with long strip windows. This “architecture within architecture” strategy creates contrast while symbolizing shelter, rebirth, and continuity.
The interior is conceived as a sanctuary—its enveloping surfaces suggest a vessel shaped by waves, its spaces alternating between enclosed intimacy and openness to the sea. The result is a poetic balance of imagination and materiality, where visitors feel both grounded and transported.
Spatial Experience
Ground Floor – Bar & Social Hub
Visitors enter through a narrow wooden door into a black-and-white corridor leading to the bar. Large glass panels blur the boundaries with the Bohai Bay outside. By day, the sea and sand become part of the space; by night, the lighting transforms the room into a luminous stage.
The semi-parametric design evokes the textures of sand and waves, with curved bars resembling floating islands in a sea of stone and light.
Second Floor – Dining with a View
Ascending a dim stairwell, guests emerge into a bright dining room where Chef Peter—known for authentic Southern French cuisine—oversees an open kitchen. Copper cookware, handcrafted black bricks, and Mediterranean oysters set the tone for a culinary performance framed by architecture.
Beige fabric ceilings, Spanish stone floors, and smoky pink glass reflect light like wine and sunset. Folding doors open to terraces, merging indoor dining with coastal panoramas.
Atmosphere and Community
The BLG French Restaurant is not just a commercial venue but a shared cultural space. Its design allows for flexibility—quiet dining, lively gatherings, or immersive nightlife. The architecture supports the rhythm of Qinhuangdao’s coastal lifestyle while ensuring timeless elegance.
Since its opening, BLG has remained vibrant, demonstrating how design, cuisine, and community values can sustain long-term relevance in a competitive hospitality market.
The BLG French Restaurant by Tanzo Space Design exemplifies how a project can transcend its function, becoming both a destination and a cultural anchor. By merging French cuisine, architectural innovation, and Qinhuangdao’s coastal setting, BLG sets a new standard for hospitality-driven urban renewal in China.
