Tanway is a minimalist restaurant interior located in Changsha, China, designed by Office AIO. Flanking the street, Tanway showcases its expansive interior through transparent floor-to-ceiling windows. Inside, prominent geometric structures delineate space, serving the dual purpose of guiding movement and demarcating dining zones. These structures foster service efficiency and cleverly carve out semi-private dining pockets for guests. The interior palette leans heavily on coal black laminates and gleaming red tile flooring – a direct reference to the dining’s central themes of “charcoal” and “fire”. Together, they craft a space that effortlessly treads the line between cozy warmth and contemporary cool. One striking design element involves the strategic splitting of these geometric volumes.
These intentional gaps not only serve as design accents but also provide glimpses of the lively restaurant atmosphere – from the rising smoke off grills to the palpable enjoyment of guests. Taking cues from the simplicity of a woodshed, Office AIO prioritized wood in its design choices. The dining blocks, painted in a matte charcoal black, subtly expose the underlying wood grains. In contrast, the interiors of these blocks celebrate the natural warmth of untouched wood, especially evident in the tabletops and seating. Overhanging these tables are uniquely designed wooden blocks, reminiscent of inverted cones. They feature chiseled panels and conceal light sources that spotlight the food below. The resultant light play adds an understated rustic charm to the entire space.
