Xiaoman Hotpot uYilo lwaNgaphakathi lweRestyu by Di Qin

Xiaoman Hotpot uYilo lwaNgaphakathi lweRestyu by Di Qin is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Ibhaso Lebhronzi le-A' Design Award in Uyilo lweNdawo yangaPhakathi kunye noMboniso Competition Category.

IbhronziIngaphakathi· 2026

Xiaoman Hotpot uYilo lwaNgaphakathi lweRestyu

by Di Qin

Client: Zhengyang Design Agency

Ibhaso Lebhronzi le-A' Design Award Winner in Ingaphakathi Category

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Verified Award Winner

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Xiaoman Hotpot uYilo lwaNgaphakathi lweRestyu

IXiaoman Hotpot yindawo yangaphakathi yerestyu engamamitha-skwele angama-800 eChangchun. Uyilo luphefumlelwe lixesha lelanga laseTshayina elibizwa ngokuba yiXiaoman kunye nemizobo yemveli yemibono yendalo. Umthi ongaphucululwanga, ilitye, kunye nerattan zidityaniswa nezitya zodongwe ezenziwe ngezandla kunye nezitya zokutya ze-celadon. Izahluli, iikhusi, kunye namaqonga zahlula isicwangciso esivulekileyo zibe ziindawo zokuhlala ezinamaleko. Ubuluhlaza obuma nkqo kunye nofakelo lwezinto zendalo zongeza ubugcisa bendalo esingqongileyo. Ukukhanya okuthambileyo okungangqalanga kuxhasa imeko-bume ezolileyo. Injongo kukwenza ukutya kube ngamava enkcubeko azolileyo.

The Recognition

About the Ibhaso Lebhronzi le-A' Design Award

Xiaoman Hotpot uYilo lwaNgaphakathi lweRestyu ngumphumeleli weIbhaso Lebhronzi le-A' Design Award, ukuqatshelwa okuhlonitshwayo kakhulu okunikwa imiyilo ephawulekayo eyahlukaniswa kukuyila, ubukrelekrele nobukrelekrele. Abaphumeleleyo beBhronzi ziimveliso ezinobuchule obukhulu nezidala ngokumangalisayo ezingqina amava aphangaleleyo, ukucinga nokwazi ukuzenzela kwabayili bazo. Xiaoman Hotpot uYilo lwaNgaphakathi lweRestyu iyathenjwa ukuba ibe yimpahla exatyiswa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo enobungcali obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha. Lo myilo uphumeleleyo weIbhaso Lebhronzi le-A' Design Award ubandakanya iindlela ezilungileyo kakhulu kubugcisa, inzululwazi, uyilo kunye nobuchwephesha kwaye ugqwesile ngenxa yokunikela ingqalelo kwiinkcukacha. Xiaoman Hotpot uYilo lwaNgaphakathi lweRestyu iyanelisa iimfuno ngokumangalisayo, ichukumisa iinqwenelo, ikhwebela iimvakalelo kwaye itsala umdla.

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.