wuji studio installs reflective riverlike ceiling within 'rêver • 玥' restaurant in china

wuji studio has designed ‘rêver • 玥’, a modern french cuisine restaurant situated on the south bank of the pearl river in guangzhou, china. rêver, which means ‘to dream’ in french, resembles the word ‘river’ in spelling, while the name 玥 is a chinese mythical reference to a sacred pearl in the sky. the seemingly simple name embodies the restaurant’s purpose to tribute to the celebrated pearl river of south china, which over the millennia has nurtured a vast range of quality ingredients, and has heavily influenced local cuisine. 

the color palette of the restaurant is inspired by the river’s changing shades of color
all images courtesy of wuji studio

wuji studio has created a modern and minimal interior, featuring details that are designed to reference the pearl river. the arrangement of seating at different levels, like terraced fields along the river allows all guests to enjoy a 180-degree view over the river and the truly vibrant guangzhou skyline. the color palette is inspired by the river’s changing colors, creating a tranquil and soothing ambiance, while the white marble on the floor forms a pattern that resembles the movement of flowing water.  in addition, the reflective ceiling that resembles a river surface, connects with the sky through the large windows, providing an interesting visual effect. 

the curved alcoves provide semi-private sofa seatings, creating a sense of a winding river channel

the kitchen was designed to be open, allowing customers to observe the preparation of the various dishes, encouraging them to appreciate cuisine as art. the whole restaurant functions in a way that resembles an art museum, with the service team acting as tour guides, sharing the stories behind each dish, as well as behind the selection and matching of ingredients. guests may even have the opportunity of a chef-led kitchen visit, to exchange opinions and experience the creation of the ‘works of art’ more closely.

the small private dining room

the large private dining room

the open kitchen is a ‘museum’ where one can appreciate cuisine as art

the open kitchen and the lighting details

the bathroom

the sofa seating areas alongside the river, with the water-rippled reflective ceiling

furniture details

the central corridor and the open kitchen

restaurant overview, the art chandelier at the center mimics water drops, responding to the concept of the Pearl River

the arrangement of seating at different levels allows all guests to enjoy a 180-degree view over the river

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: myrto katsikopoulou | designboom