Atelier I-N-D-J has completed their latest project; Located on HuaiHai Road, Shanghai G2极贰 is a contemporary Cantonese seafood restaurant.
A dramatic 14m long Jelly fish aquarium bisects the restaurant, creating an engaging entry sequence screening the main dining space with the narrow aquarium. The entry corridor allows mediated views through the tank to the dining space beyond with areas of overlap to allow playful views between users - perfect photo-opp for the social-media addicted Chinese youth.
Corrugated sheet, warm uplights and smoked glass line the corridor walls lending perspective and depth - Custom lights fabricated from Fresnal lens cast light and shadow onto the floor in forms akin to water droplets.
At end of the entry corridor patrons are met with an aligned view of an experimental lighting product by I-N-D-J - 'Parabola L' is a 1.2m diameter lighting piece that amplifies the light emitted from standard Edison bulbs.
A deep blue coats the entire ceiling, pipes ducts and all casting a reflected royal blue over the restaurant, juxtaposed with this deep blue is a glossy white triangulated ceiling that defines seating areas that benefit from rare leafy views out over Shanghai's People's square.
A second Aquarium of a mere 8m in length sits along the rear wall of the restaurant, neon signage shines behind the aquarium in a further play with layers of light. this second tank leads patrons out onto a 'secret garden' terrace.
Private rooms leading off the central corridor continue the aquatic theme with laser cut panels of abstracted underwater photography, canted mirror strips lend privacy to the adjacent space whilst allowing glimpsed views into the private rooms from the space beyond.
A large basin accessible off the entry corridor adds a sense of theatre to the simple act of washing ones hands before a meal, slivers of mirror and layers of glass produce multiple illusory reflections.
Marble, walnut, steel create an honest palette of materials to backdrop against the drama of aquariums, mirrors, royal blue ducting and bespoke lighting pieces.
