YAUATCHA
Restaurant in Riyadh
Modern Chinese fine cuisine and patisserie brand by the Hakkansan group opened in Feb 2020. Its first restaurant in the Middle East, and the 8th worldwide, is located inside a newly developed shopping district. This 5200m² indoor and outdoor restaurant at roof and lower level includes 350 covers at front of house, facilities for back of house and support kitchen.
ROLE
Interior designer and Technical support from Concept stage through to Construction detailing.
YEAR
Designed 2016
Opened 2020
The main entry to the restaurant from the shopping mall is through a feature staircase. The intricate lattice screen was built off site precisely into multiple types of panels, then installed on site like jigsaw pieces, fitting around the stairs opening.
The Patisserie also marks the start of the restaurant’s exciting experience, where customers can get lost by looking at the carefully crafted dessert. These are also to be purchased as beautiful gifts upon exiting.
DETAILING
With the sophisticated type of food and beverage that the brand has already developed, the restaurant design wishes to bring out the spirit of a modern Tea house experience, with balance between intimate spaces and socialising atmosphere.
The central dining area creates flexibility to accommodate various group sizes with a decorative screen and display shelving units.
Bespoke embroidery on the furniture, and harmonious criss-cross patterns were carefully integrated to lift the brand identity as well as keeping to the original design concept by Christian Liaigre for the first Hakkansan restaurant in 2001.
PRIVATE DINING
Many details have been developed to be compatible with the local workman skills and site condition, as well as unique requirement for the branch.
Sky Bar (above) with starry night ceiling brings atmosphere to dine with lighter food and heavier on drinks.
Private dining rooms (left) provide more formal ambience which can hold meeting and business events. Blue glass inserted detail gives semi-private space. Sliding-folding walls enhance the flexibility of room sizes.
BAR TERRACE
A key feature space is the terrace dining area viewing directly to popular Olaya Street. A retractable shading system overhead was added to improve comfort of the fully glazed terrace, using air conditioning to adapt to the desert heat of the Middle East.
The rooftop bar animates the space and also acts as theatre backdrop for the whole restaurant.
In fine weather days, the indoor space can join with the terrace by opening up the sliding glass doors between the two spaces.
Cherry Blossom was the signature of the brand. The artificial trees were carefully crafted and delivered to the site.
