hotpot restaurant by MUDA-architects weaves its way through a eucalyptus forest

MUDA-architects has completed the design of a restaurant in southwestern china that weaves its way through a eucalyptus forest. located in a rural area of chengdu, the design celebrates hotpot, a popular dish that has become synonymous with the region. taking advantage of the region’s climate, and in order to immerse diners within the natural landscape, ‘garden hotpot restaurant’ has no walls. instead, thin three-meter-tall (9.8ft) columns support a roof canopy that meanders alongside the site’s lotus pond.

all images by arch-exist, unless otherwise stated

mirroring the galvanized steel canopy, the platform below is made of anti-corrosive wood and is populated by tables of different sizes. the columns, which have a diameter of just 88 millimeters (3.5 inches), allow the restaurant to blend into the forest. in order to respect the natural environment and minimize human intervention, MUDA conducted extensive mapping of the site. the building, and its distinctive roof canopy, was then designed in response to the location of eucalyptus trees and the lake itself.

MUDA saw the project as an opportunity to experiment with small scale and low cost architecture. as the construction team was formed of local migrant workers, who have no professional knowledge and tools, the architects simplified complex structural nodes and made necessary strategic adjustments. the project’s first phase, which completed in april 2019, is now open to the public.

image by MUDA-architects

image by MUDA-architects

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project info:

name: garden hotpot restaurant
location: no.588 fujiang road, jinjiang district, chengdu, china
design area: 1,800 sqm / 19,375 sqf
design time: 2018-2019
client: xinhua nufang restaurant
architect: MUDA-architects
chief architect: yun lu
design team: yun lu, jiandan xu, qiming sun, xue chen, yixiu he, xiaoqiao liu, dian rong, shangyun zhou
construction supervision unit: chufeng architectural decoration design co., ltd
construction supervision team: xianyong wu, fei jiang, wenjie tang, songlin li
construction team: hao chen, chuangui zhou, etc.
materials: galvanized steel sheet, fluorocarbon paint, wood plank
photography: arch-exist, MUDA-architects