Project Name: Hutong New York

Location: New York

Date Completed: June 2019

Architect: Shalat Architects

Interior Designer: Robert Angell Design International

Hotel Group: Aqua Restaurant Group

Construction Company: Wesbuilt

Hutong NYC is a depiction of Chinese modernisation and elegance with a twist of western culture. A streamlined modern concept taking inspiration from the Art Deco movement. It was a design style that was well known and prevalent in New York but also perhaps less known as being an architectural style know as Shanghai Art Deco in China. The concept is to reflect and interpret these two dynamic and timeless styles into a glamorous design. There are three main interior elements; the restaurant, the bar and the private dining rooms. Each area is strong in identity and there are strong forms, textures and materials which are deep and rich giving an individual vibe to excite and make its guest feel welcome.

As Guests arrive they first see and touch the knot handled door. This is a symbol of happiness and eternity. As they enter they are welcomed with a huge double height space with a domed ceiling. Warm perforated light adorns the ivory cracked gesso wall finish. Two huge porticos lined with white marble and surrounded with silver leaf convex mirrors bring reflection and movement too. As one enters the restaurant portico you are met by a dramatic wine hall with soaring glass fronts and a mirrored ceiling to accentuate the tall and narrow space.

Once in the restaurant the guests are wowed by a triple height volume with curved polished metal chandeliers and multiple shades and layers of blue all of which is intricately lit by grazing warm tones to give a soft and welcoming ambience to the restaurant. From a dark herringbone floor the walls tower up to a ziggurat ceiling design with silver leaf detail panels. The walls themselves are wrapped in long elegant lengths of navy fabric framed with polished nickel edging and inset with blue squared gesso lacquer finishes. These textures and tones are considered to bring about the glamour of Art Deco but it’s of now and this is reflected in the details and shapes of the restaurant.

It oozes uptown sophistication, glamour, style and a contemporary interior that engages and wows the diners as soon as you enter. The materials are considered and provide a cohesive palate that complement the massive volumes yet create an intimacy at dining height that one would expect. It is a true celebration of Art Deco from both New York and Shanghai that make you feel as though you are in a dynamic and exciting city and eating in a restaurant bespoke made for New York.