Di Qin · CLIENT: Zhengyang Design Agency
Xiaoman Hotpot is a restaurant interior of 800 square meters in Changchun. The design is inspired by the Chinese solar term Xiaoman and by traditional landscape painting. Raw wood, stone, and rattan are combined with handcrafted ceramics and celadon tableware. Partitions, screens, and platforms divide the open plan into layered seating areas. Vertical greenery and natural material installations add ecological art. Soft indirect lighting supports a calm atmosphere. The intent is to make dining a quiet cultural experience.
Press Kit
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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