If it’s one thing we know not to take for granted nowadays, it’s the experience of dining out with family and friends, freely enjoying each other’s company, the food and ambience

The importance of a restaurant setting is therefore brought to the fore, and well-considered, thoughtful establishments are becoming a core priority. Lunar, a modern Chinese restaurant inside a standalone villa at the heart of Shanghai, highlights this exceptionally. Headed by Chef Johnston Teo, the namesake pays homage to the Chinese lunar calendar. Resonating with the lunar customs is essential to the ethos of dining experience design, thus embracing the seasonality and terroir is at its core. Sò Studio was tasked with creating the 260 square metre space to exude a sense of tranquillity and comfort, and provide a stark contrast to the bustle and dazzle of the city centre.

They’ve ensured that instead of following rigid traditional Chinese architecture, Sò Studio utilises substantial geometric proportions and balances beauty with the past. This is evident through the shapes of the furnishings, the shelves, the suspended light features, the undulating curves of the walls and stone structures. In addition, the bamboo curtains allow natural light to softly filter through. Poetic touches are abound throughout Lunar, taking diners on a journey back into nature. In the tea stalls on the first floor, the scene evokes tea pavilions in the moonlight with the combination of soft lighting, tea brick and terrazzo tiles with a wooden floor. The mural hand-painted renders adorning the walls evoke the moonlight, with orange fluorescent colours and white layers.

Ascending along the stairs, a pebble-paved trail takes one to the second floor dining area of the restaurant. Referencing the natural world as well as the traditional landscaping style of Chinese gardens, a distinctive hanging cornice outlines the curves of the space – this guides patrons to the seating areas and private dining spaces, which are tucked behind semi-transparent partitions. Through textures and a matte surface finish to avoid glare and excessive reflection, Lunar uses lighting effects and minimalistic natural design to create a strong visual impact for cherished fine dining experiences.