▲ Building facade
CHARCOHOL is nestled within a historic building in Fengsheng Village, Jing’an District, Shanghai. This cocktail bar specializes in unique charcoal-grilled dishes paired with handcrafted creative cocktails. Hachima Design led the entire project, overseeing the brand’s visual identity, architectural renovation, interior design, landscaping, and furnishings.
▲ Building facade
In the global fine dining scene, culinary creation begins with a clear concept—selecting quality ingredients, designing innovative cooking methods, mastering heat control, and perfecting every detail to craft a unique dining experience. This process parallels design. For all catering spaces designed by Hachima Design, the chef’s culinary philosophy serves as the inspiration for spatial design.
When chef Little Bear shared his vision with Shirley and Andrea, he revealed that his inspiration originated from the forest and fire. He said, “Simple, high-quality ingredients become extraordinary through the right time and temperature.” This philosophy inspired the name CHARCOHOL: “CHAR” relates to carbon, “CHARCOAL” to charcoal, and “COHOL” symbolizes the fusion of carbon and alcohol. The restaurant’s logo reflects this concept—a segment of carbon infused with alcohol.
Embracing the chef’s concept, Hachima distilled two core elements for the spatial design: time and temperature. The space extends from south to north, moving from the foyer through corridors to the main hall and back room, mirroring the timeline of charcoal burning. An east-west temperature (fire) axis intersects the center. The dining area behind the foyer is divided into three zones along this timeline, illustrating the transformation from “wood” to “carbon” and finally to “ashes.”
▲ 3D axis measurement
The concept of wood, carbon, and ash is symbolized in the main foyer by a wooden stake suspended from the ceiling, gradually “burning” from wood to charcoal. This culminates at the black volcanic rock “carbon” base on the floor, serving as a welcoming platform.
▲ Entrance
▲ Main visual column of the entrance hall
Beyond the welcoming totem lies the first dining area—the Xuan Corridor. Featuring wooden floors and green furnishings, this space embodies the forest theme of “wood.” The design respects the original building’s porch brick walls, preserved by Eight Wilderness Design.
▲ “Wooden” Xuan Corridor
The main hall represents the transition from “wood” to “carbon.” Here, floors and walls are coated in charcoal black, creating an immersive atmosphere. Beyond the main hall lies the back room, themed “ashes,” featuring soft gray-white tones where original brick walls re-emerge near the end. A temperature axis runs west to east through the dining bar, connecting the kitchen and bar. Red floor tiles symbolize fire and lead to the fireplace nestled on the west wall.
▲ Main hall bar counter
▲ Main Hall
▲ Arches
▲ Fireplace niche in main hall
▲ “Ashes” Mysterious Corridor
▲ Details of the Ash Area
To reinforce each dining zone’s concept, Hachima carefully crafts atmosphere through lighting, props, and installations. The “Wooden” Xuan Corridor faces Fengsheng Li Square, where sunlight filters through plants, casting shadows on the original brick walls. The black walls and floors of the “Carbon” main hall feature rich textures that shift with light and shadow.
At the intersection of the timeline and temperature axes, above the bar counter, a large sunflower installation designed by Hachima Design extends from a mirrored ceiling dome, creating the impression of a celestial dining feast. Beneath the small mirrored dome in the “Ashes” rear chamber hang banana leaves and eucalyptus fruit installations symbolizing rebirth.
▲ Details
▲ Garden
▲ Building facade
▲ Garden
▲ Details
▲ Main hall bar counter
▲ Main hall fireplace niche
▲ “Ashes” Corridor Decoration
Respecting the historical value of CHARCOHOL’s building, Hachima aimed to preserve its original structure as much as possible. When converting the semi-outdoor foyer and porch into an indoor dining space, designer Ba Huang created a freestanding steel and glass structure entirely separate from the building’s facade. This solution protected the original facade from any damage while showcasing its beauty with subtle interior lighting—transforming the porch space into a museum-like exhibit.
▲ Garden
Hachima Design extended the “temperature axis” concept into the outdoor garden, continuing the gray tones from the back room. At the garden’s center stands a glass sunroom made of weather-resistant steel, designed for barbecues and private banquets. Surrounding the sunroom, a garden grows herbs, flowers, and fruits used in cooking. Visitors can enjoy sunshine, coffee, and casual charcoal grilling in this inviting outdoor space.
▲ Garden
▲ Courtyard
Project Drawings
▲ Layout plan
▲ Entrance facade
▲ Timeline facade
▲ Temperature axis facade
▲ 3D section
▲ Entrance
▲ Furniture
Project Information
Project Name: CHARCOHOL Clever Restaurant and Cocktail Bar
Interior Design: Studio 8 by Hachima Design
Lead Architects: Shirley Dong, Andrea Maira
Project Address: No. 18 Fengsheng Li, Lane 245, Maoming North Road, Shanghai, China
Completion Year: 2019
Area: 300 square meters
Photography by Sven Zhang and Zhang Daqi
Photographer’s Website: __AI_ST_URL_0__
Client: Shanghai Qiaoke Catering Management Co., Ltd
Collaborator: Studio 8 team of Hachima Design
Materials Used: wood, weather-resistant steel, steel, stainless steel, cement, ceramic tiles, copper
Brands/Products Featured: Local, Lost & Found, Squeezing Sound, not made, ZARA HOME, AYTM, PUEBCO, Mosa
Construction Company: Shanghai Tuoqi Building Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd
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