Not A Studio · CLIENT: Olivino
Olivino is a restaurant created within a former industrial exhibition hall in China. The original double height, column free volume and the skylight grid are retained and reinforced, while services and lighting are concealed within an upgraded roof assembly. A circular glass wine cellar and a copper stove are inserted to guide circulation without partitions. Materials include art paint, metal plate, handmade brick, gold foil and glass. Daylight and layered artificial light shape open and intimate dining zones. The total area is 626 square meters.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This project transforms a former industrial "white box" exhibition hall into a Michelin-level restaurant through a strategy of dialogue rather than coverage. By retaining the original steel dome and column-free volume, and integrating refined insertions such as a circular glass wine cellar and copper stove, the design reconciles industrial rationality with culinary warmth. Light becomes a spatial medium, shaping an immersive emotional container within a preserved architectural framework.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- The total project area is 626 square meters. The existing double-height, column-free industrial volume is retained. The original skylight grid is preserved and structurally reinforced. Integrated HVAC and concealed lighting systems are embedded within the roof build-up. Main materials include art paint, metal plate, handmade brick, gold foil, and glass. A circular wine cellar is inserted within the linear plan to optimize spatial circulation and visual focus.
- Tags
- Adaptive Reuse, Industrial Heritage, Michelin Restaurant Design, Light Narrative, Spatial Dialogue, Experiential Dining, Column-Free Space, Glass Wine Cellar, Urban Riverfront, Contemporary Nordic Influence
- Production Technology
- The intervention optimized the existing steel structure and skylight system while concealing MEP lines within upgraded roof assemblies to improve waterproofing and thermal insulation. A circular glass revolving door was repurposed into a bottle-shaped wine cellar, acting as a spatial mediator. Custom metalwork, inverted copper stove fabrication, art paint finishes, handmade brick and gold foil detailing were integrated with precise lighting coordination to maintain tectonic clarity.
- Design Challenge
- The primary challenge was reconciling Michelin-level refinement with a raw industrial shell. Structurally preserving the skylight grid while upgrading insulation, waterproofing and concealed services required precise coordination. Balancing openness with intimacy in a column-free volume demanded strategic insertion of circular elements. The design avoided excessive decoration, ensuring dialogue with the original architecture rather than superficial overlay.
- Project Duration
- The project started in January 2025 and finished in May 2025 in China.
- Operation Flow
- Guests enter through glass revolving doors into a fluid, open hall. The circular wine cellar and copper stove organize circulation, creating intuitive movement without partitions. Daylight animates the space through skylights; at night, layered lighting forms intimate dining zones. Seating layout ensures river views for each table, while indoor and outdoor scenes visually interact through large grid glazing.
- Research
- This project is a practice-based spatial research exploring the adaptive reuse of an industrial exhibition hall for fine dining. Through spatial analysis, studies and on-site structural assessment, the design team developed strategies to integrate refined hospitality functions within a preserved industrial shell. The result demonstrates a balanced transformation model that enhances user experience while offering a replicable approach for heritage revitalization and urban cultural activation.
- Inspiration
- The project was inspired by the intrinsic experiential commonality between exhibition and dining spaces. Rather than replacing function, the design continues the emotional narrative of the original industrial architecture. The motivation was to respect the building's artistic heritage while introducing warmth and refinement. The concept evolved from studying spatial memory and user perception, seeking a balance between industrial austerity and Nordic-influenced humanistic comfort
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Photographer Mountain imagery, Olivino, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer Mountain imagery, Olivino, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer Mountain imagery, Olivino, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer Mountain imagery, Olivino, 2025.
Image #5: Photographer Mountain imagery, Olivino, 2025.
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