x+living adorns children's restaurant in beijing with theatrical furniture

x+living, the chinese architecture firm that brought the whimsical swimming center, unveiled yet another parent-and-child-friendly restaurant in beijing, yooyumi. true to their style of dramatic interiors paired with strong colors and soft shapes, the new restaurant has a more sophisticated and elegant undertone. featuring furniture that seems to be taken from castles and curtains that enclose mini stages for children, the new venue let children play with their imaginations while parents can comfortably have a nice meal.

guests enter through the grand front hall that includes the reception, some retail and leisure space, among other functions. the designers created an elegant living room with several sets of elaborate cabinets and comfortable sofas that adorn the space. other pieces of furniture such as chairs and coffee tables are used for retail display of the curated products by the owner. clients developed trust in the owner, appreciating the parent-child products carefully selected by the owner.

the decorative style of the front hall extends to the shoe-changing area, which imitates a castle’s corridor, massive and opulent for children. the large wardrobe and display cabinet are used as shoe cabinets, which not only protects guests’ privacy, but also appear as an elegant space that disguises its function. for the shoe-changing area, the designers used the space in the western aristocratic life scene to evoke a sense of ritual, which inspired the elegant etiquette atmosphere present in the decoration.

the restaurant boasts a theatrical theme, complete with upholstered seating and draped curtains to create a dramatic but playful atmosphere. the furniture appears to come straight out of a castle in a fairytale, as if they were adorning a banquet hall. the center of the room, a static scene, is visible from all sides, following the open plan and extensive feel of the space. the designers built a castle-like children’s play area on the sides of the restaurant area and a path to connect the various JUEGOS.

the way x+living laid out the dining area and children’s play area, creates a separation between the atmospheres so the parents enjoy a relatively elegant dining environment but also can keep track of their children. at the same time the playground area is sufficiently apart, so the children feel independent when playing.

beyond the dining area lies the rest space, where the romantic and elegant environment encourages both children and parents to have a relaxing time. the designers chose to take from traditional chinese paper-cutting mixed with western aesthetic lines to create the elements and physical environment for the resting area. furniture and lamps seem to fold out of the walls, in a sophisticated yet childlike well. this not only adds a three-dimensional layer, but also adds fun details and artistic craft to the space.

the eclectic mix of materials, shapes, colors and textures throughout the spaces work harmoniously to create an atmosphere suitable for parents and children. the pure, white stripes that outline pieces and walls bring out the vibrant colors of the spaces. x+living choose to clad surfaces and wrap furniture in a delicate flower pattern, that cohesively links all the areas together. the aesthetic charm of china meets a western style, resulting in a fairy-tale-esque restaurant enjoyable for any guest.

project info:

project name: yooyumi

architects: x+living

location: beijing, china

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: cristina gomez | designboom