Xiaoman Hotpot Te Hoahoa o Roto o te Wharekai by Di Qin

Xiaoman Hotpot Te Hoahoa o Roto o te Wharekai by Di Qin is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Parahi in Hoahoa Roto Whare me te Whakaaturanga Competition Category.

ParahiRoto Whare· 2026

Xiaoman Hotpot Te Hoahoa o Roto o te Wharekai

by Di Qin

Client: Zhengyang Design Agency

A' Design Award Parahi Winner in Roto Whare Category

6,850

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #176470

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Xiaoman Hotpot Te Hoahoa o Roto o te Wharekai

He whare kai a Xiaoman Hotpot, e 800 mita pūrua te rahi o roto, kei Changchun. I whakaaweawetia te hoahoa e te wā rā Hainamana a Xiaoman me ngā peita whenua tuku iho. Ka whakakotahitia te rākau mata, te kōhatu, me te rātana ki ngā uku i hangaia ā-ringa me ngā taputapu kai celadon. Mā ngā ārai, ngā pātū wehewehe, me ngā papa ka wehea te wāhi tuwhera hei ngā wāhi nohoanga paparanga. Ka tāpirihia e te otaota tū poutū me ngā whakaturanga rauemi māori te toi taiao. Ka tautokona e te rama ngāwari, kore hāngai, tētahi hau marino. Ko te whāinga kia noho te kai hei wheako ahurea mārire.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Parahi

Ko Xiaoman Hotpot Te Hoahoa o Roto o te Wharekai te toa o te A' Design Award Parahi, he whakaaetanga tino whai mana e hoatu ana ki ngā hoahoa kōeke e tohua ana mā te auaha, te mahi mōhio me te whakaaro hōhonu. Ko ngā toa Parahi he mahi pukenga e rite ana, he auaha mīharo, e whakatūturu ana i te wheako nui, te whakaaro me te mōhio-ā-ringa o ā rātou kaihoahoa. E tūmanakohia ana ko Xiaoman Hotpot Te Hoahoa o Roto o te Wharekai he taonga whakanuia, whakamīharotia, aroha nui, he ngaio, he auaha hoki. Ko tēnei hoahoa i toa i te Parahi e whakauru ana i ngā tikanga pai rawa i te toi, te pūtaiao, te hoahoa me te hangarau, ā, he tino mīharo ki ngā taipitopito. Ka whakatutuki a Xiaoman Hotpot Te Hoahoa o Roto o te Wharekai i ngā hiahia, ka pā ki ngā hiahia, ka whakaoho i ngā kare-ā-roto, ā, ka kume i te pākiki.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This dining space reinterprets the Chinese solar term "Xiaoman" through a modern narrative of landscape painting and Zen philosophy. Using raw wood, stone, and rattan, it blends ecological art with Eastern aesthetics, emphasizing simplicity, tranquility, and blank space. Unlike conventional hotpot restaurants, it offers an immersive cultural and sensory journey where dining becomes both poetic and contemplative.
Dimensions & Packaging: The project covers a total area of 800 square meters. The spatial system is organized through partitions, screens, and platforms to create layered circulation and visual rhythm. Finishes include natural wood, stone, rattan, and celadon, combined with indirect warm lighting for atmosphere. Art installations employ logs, stones, and natural textures to achieve both sustainability and aesthetic authenticity.
Tags: Dining Space Design, Xiaoman Solar Term, Eastern Aesthetics, Zen Hotpot Restaurant, Ecological Art, Landscape Painting Narrative, Raw Wood and Stone, Wabi-Sabi, Poetic Dining, Cultural Sensory Experience
Production Technology: The design employs natural and sustainable materials including raw wood, stone, and rattan, paired with handcrafted ceramics and celadon tableware. Ecological art methods such as plant integration, vertical greenery, and natural material installations are applied. Soft indirect lighting, dynamic projections, and minimalist furnishing techniques create spatial hierarchy and atmosphere.
Design Challenge: The greatest challenge lay in balancing cultural subtlety with functional dining needs. Translating abstract Eastern philosophies of "simplicity and emptiness" into practical space required rigorous material selection and restraint. Limitations in construction techniques and sustainable sourcing were overcome by close collaboration with artisans, achieving harmony of tradition, ecology, and modern lifestyle.
Research: The design is grounded in cultural research on the Chinese solar term "Xiaoman," aiming to translate its symbolism of growth and balance into space. Methods included studying traditional aesthetics, observing lifestyles, and testing natural materials and lighting. Results show that seasonal colors, blankness, and Zen order create calm atmospheres. Insights highlight how cultural narratives transform dining into poetic sanctuaries, enhancing user well-being and business value.
Inspiration: The project is inspired by the seasonal philosophy of "Xiaoman,"symbolizing growth, vitality, and reverence for natural rhythms. Drawing from the principles of Eastern aesthetics and traditional landscape painting, the design seeks to transform the dining experience into a meditative encounter with nature and time, reflecting both cultural heritage and modern life.
Project Duration: The project started in March 2025 and finished in August 2025 in Changchun.
Operation Flow: Guests are welcomed into an open-plan dining space where circulation follows the rhythm of a landscape painting, creating exploration and discovery. Seating areas are softly divided by furniture, rugs, and screens, while lighting, greenery, and art encourage contemplation. The interaction extends beyond eating, offering a holistic cultural and sensory journey.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer Qin Di, Xiaoman Hotpot, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer Qin Di, Xiaoman Hotpot, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer Qin Di, Xiaoman Hotpot, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer Qin Di, Xiaoman Hotpot, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer Qin Di, Xiaoman Hotpot, 2025.