- 2026 Silver Prize
- From Dining Space
Xibeitang YAKITOR Japanese Restaurant
Project Description
We explored materials time and again:
gold bricks on the floor, glazed curved kiln bricks on the walls, straw panels for partitions, raw stone blocks, and the space’s standout material—FRP (fiberglass-reinforced plastic) panels. Most of the light in the space filters through these panels, casting a warm glow. The FRP panels were crafted into Japanese-style partitions and light fixtures, adding a “gentle touch” to the overall lighting atmosphere.
Its matte and delicate surface softens the light—it produces neither the glaring reflections of glass nor the harsh, cold feel of stone. Instead, it acts like a warm “soft-light canvas,” evenly diffusing both spotlights and ambient light, imbuing the originally sharp architectural lines with a warm, soft glow and creating a layered contrast with the straw panels and dark gold bricks.
When the warm orange panel surface interacts with the lighting, it casts a soft, warm filter over the light, softening the contrast between light and shadow. This creates a smooth and layered transition from the corridor to the private dining rooms, preserving the delicate texture of the material while allowing light to flow more gently and serenely throughout the space, evoking a relaxed, Eastern Zen-inspired atmosphere.
Mo Fan Design Studio was founded in 2011. Based in Jiangsu, the studio’s design projects span all of China and extend overseas.
Yidi’s design work takes the project’s environment fully into account, covering architecture, residential, office, and commercial sectors. It balances design vision with practicality. From the design concept to the final outcome, quality is strictly controlled at every stage, with equal emphasis placed on the big picture and the details. Today, we have developed a keen interest in comprehensive projects that integrate various disciplines. Crossing boundaries between architectural fields enables us to create more complete and harmonious works. Our projects convey contemporary Eastern culture and interpret the true essence of space through the philosophy of nature. We emphasize humanism, emotion, and art, tracing the origins of people, objects, and space, and continuously break away from established patterns while prioritizing environmental sustainability and harmony with nature.