Sofa Dining Area
This project is located in the heart of Shanghai’s central commercial district, inside the Lujiazui Center MALL.
Tahar has become well-known for its Xinjiang cuisine, which often carries certain stereotypical connotations.
In this design, the designer challenges the traditional color palette associated with Xinjiang — typically yellow, green, and blue — as well as outdated national aesthetic concepts. Drawing inspiration from the ancient and now-lost Loulan culture, the aim is to create a fresh, modern national style.
Lujiazui Center
Design Elements – Cooling Room
The design balances contemporary aesthetics while preserving some traditional Western Region elements. Inspired by local adobe cooling rooms used for drying grapes, the designer reinterpreted these features using modern crystal-clear glass bricks, giving them a renewed and vibrant character.
Glass Brick Cooling Room
Design Elements – Xinjiang Old Wall
A solid red brick wall separates the interior and exterior spaces at the main entrance area. The embedded pointed windows are inspired by unique artistic symbols native to the Western Regions, blending traditional motifs with modern design.
An Old Wall with Modern Ethnic Flair
Design Elements – Grape Trellis
Grape Trellis Structure
To prevent a claustrophobic feel within the narrow restaurant space, the designer incorporated a “grape trellis” element. Combined with the ancient Loulan earthen house concept, this creates a unique, layered framework structure that adds depth and interest.
Sofa Dining Area
The rammed earth wall serves as a low partition to separate dining zones. This ancient rammed earth technique is paired with golden stainless steel accents, creating a harmonious contrast between old and new, resulting in a rich and balanced space.
Through the aluminum tubes, the adjacent area remains subtly visible, maintaining openness.
The staggered arrangement of high and low elements adds a geometric rhythm to the space.
The wooden grain aluminum tubes forming the grape trellis are arranged in square grids overhead, embedded with colored fiber straw paper. This creates a dappled light and shadow effect in the outdoor courtyard.
Colored Fiber Straw Paper on Top
Dining Area Close-up
Dining Area Close-up
Dining Area Close-up
Ming File Area
The open stalls at Tahar are positioned right next to the main walkway, ensuring that nearly every visitor passes by to enter the dining space. The area is defined by continuous, slender windows that create a clean, transparent look with a strong modern feel.
Main Corridor
Ming File Area
Design Elements – Loulan Symbolism
The bright moon rises over the Tianshan Mountains, surrounded by an endless sea of clouds.
Throughout the restaurant, flattened design elements evoke the vast landscapes of Gululan — deserts, camels, boundless mountains, and the dazzling Milky Way (inspired by BIM training) — creating a narrative rich in cultural symbolism.
Ceiling Lights Inspired by the Milky Way
Private Room Ceiling
Floor Plan
Project Information
Project Name: Tahar Midi Lane – Shanghai Lujiazui Center Store
Location: Shanghai
Building Area: 326 m²
Design Firm: Hangzhou Woye Space Design Co., Ltd.
Main Designer: Su Jing
Project Leader: Ah Chao
Project Development: The Great Courage of the Party
Photography: Su Jing
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