HONEYCOMB In Shenzhen / SAKO Architects

Architects: SAKO Architects
Area: 1,300 m²
Year: 2008
Photography: Misae Hiromatsu
Architect Team: Keiichiro Sako, Takeshi Ishizaka, Keigo Miyaichi
City: Shenzhen, Guangdong
Country: China

HONEYCOMB in Shenzhen, a Chinese restaurant designed by SAKO Architects in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, caters primarily to young families and couples aged 20 to 35. The 1300 square meters project features distinct large and small spaces, with numerous private rooms to accommodate group dining. The design incorporates a flower motif, reflected in the special dishes and carefully chosen tableware. Custom-designed items include the logo, menu, chopsticks rest, napkins, business cards, staff uniforms, matches, umbrellas, and plates. Completed in 2008, HONEYCOMB enhances the dining experience through its unique and cohesive design.

HONEYCOMB in Shenzhen, designed by SAKO Architects, is a Chinese restaurant located in Shenzhen that caters to young families and couples aged 20 to 35. The restaurant externalizes ordinary eating and drinking behaviors to create an extraordinary space for enjoying delicious food prepared by skilled chefs or holding special events.

Occupying 1300 square meters, the project comprises a large space (W23m × D50m × H9.2m) and a small space (W14m × D16m × H3.6m). The entrance penetrates lengthwise through the small space, leading to the large space. Like other typical Chinese restaurants, HONEYCOMB has a large hall for group use and VIP rooms for private use. The design distinguishes these two types of spaces in nature. For partitions, white opaque surfaces are used in the large space, while transparent acrylic surfaces are used in the small space.

The white surfaces of the large space undulate in planes, forming six bands of ‘pleats’ that act as boundaries for each space. In this section, they resemble six ‘honeycombs.’ Over 1000 oval-shaped holes have been opened on the surface, establishing subtle continuity between the two areas. These holes bulge on the outer surface like empty pots, enriching the space with an organic expression. A hall with a ceiling height of 9.2 meters forms on the outer side, and VIP rooms for private use are on the inner side. The diameter, angle, and level vary for each of the six honeycombs, creating hierarchies in VIP room sizes and ceiling heights.

The curtain wall, made of half-mirror panels, reflects the white surface around it at night, creating a scene as if waves of ‘pleats surround the hall.’ From the outside, light rays shoot out from the countless holes of the white surface, making the entire space look like a giant organism. The inner side of the white surface is divided into two levels, consisting of large rooms and private rooms. A spiral staircase penetrates between the levels, and in the center, about twenty-five thousand acrylic balls hang from the 9.2-meter ceiling above. Drops of water dribble along the lines of acrylic balls, glittering under the strong ceiling light, resembling a waterfall running down from the ceiling. This waterfall catches the eye from the entrance and draws customers’ attention to the back of the restaurant.

The transparent surface of the small space forms a smooth wavy line in the plane and has many openings. The entrance space, located on the outer side, is dimly lit, while the inner side houses the big hall. The composition of black granite flooring, stainless mirror finish ceiling, and transparent acrylic partitions blurs the profile of the entrance spaces, giving people a feeling of looking out at a different dimension while enjoying their meal.

In the theme of ‘unordinary space,’ HONEYCOMB presents an idea where customers can enjoy their meal and the space simultaneously. The restaurant features numerous private rooms to accommodate families and groups of friends, especially on weekends when the complex sees a high influx of couples and families.

A notable aspect of HONEYCOMB is its special menu and service. Dishes resemble flowers surrounded by bees, aligning with the space’s design theme. Tableware is carefully selected to complement the design, with oval-shaped dishes arranged to appear like flowers on the table. All items within the restaurant, including the logo, menu, chopsticks rest, napkins, business cards, staff uniforms, matches, umbrellas, and plates, are specially designed to enhance the cohesive aesthetic.