Chinese architecture firm MUDA-Architects has designed a snake-like restaurant surrounded by a lotus pond and trees in a eucalyptus forest in Chengdu, China. 

Called Garden Hotpot Restaurant, the 1,800-square-metre restaurant doesn't have any wall or partitions, the building is completely opened to the natural surrounding enclosed by a forest. 

The 88-mm slender columns of the building mimic the green environment comprised of the straight trunks of eucalyptus trees, the building tends to act to disappear as much as possible in this calm atmosphere. 

Located in Chengdu's leisurely and warm temperament, known as a tourism magnet in Southwest China, the architects paid attention to to the natural environment by inserting a lightweight building in the middle of a forest. Garden Hotpot Restaurant is in the hinterland of Sansheng Township, surrounding a lotus pond, hidden in a eucalyptus forest. 

MUDA-Architects decided to eliminate the architectural scale, leaving out walls, only using pillars and boards to lightly hide the building in the woods, letting the building gently integrate with the site and delineating the shape of lake in a light and peaceful way. 

Garden Hotpot Restaurant was realized as part of the local cultural characteristics, and it has become synonymous with Chengdu, which is not only a food culture, but also a leisure lifestyle. 

"At the end of 2018, MUDA-Architects received a renovation design commission in Sansheng Township, Chengdu. Sansheng Township is located in Chengdu suburb, known as "Chengdu green lung", with unique natural conditions and ecological resources," said the architects. 

"MUDA takes this opportunity to integrate hotpot culture with natural ecological environment, creating a restaurant that respects the original ecology and in line with modern consumption style."

The construction forms along the lake, looking like the steams and smokes from the boiling pots curling between the pillars and trees. Slender columns are evenly distributed on both sides, and the free curve of the roof forms several transparent viewing frames, so that different views can be appreciated during the whole process of walking. 

The bottom platform is consistent with the curve of the roof, and the same method is used in the design to echo each other, demonstrating the consistency and integrity of the whole space.

In total, the building has a circumference of 290 meters, with the height of 3 meters, and the width varies with the natural environment. The platform is made of anti-corrosive wood, and the roof is made of galvanized steel sheet, coated with white fluorocarbon paint, which complements the surrounding lush environment. 

A series of steel columns with a diameter of 88 mm is used as the supporting structure, and it blends into the straight trunks of eucalyptus trees and disappears into nature. 

The curved wooden railing by the lakeside is built for customers to enjoy the views, and blur the boundary of the lake, which brings people closer to nature.

"The natural environment of the site is beautiful but complex. Tens of eucalyptus trees must be preserved, and the terrain is tortuous with a maximum drop of nearly 2 meters," added the firm. 

"In order to respect the natural environment and minimize human intervention in this natural site, MUDA conducted manual mapping and recorded of the site in person, and the building was designed according to the location of eucalyptus trees and lake. Moreover, the free curve of the roof is designed according to the site characteristics and function."

Image © MUDA-Architects

At the same time, the restaurant is also an experiment for the studio in small scale and low cost architecture. The construction team, local migrant workers, have no professional knowledge and tools. 

Image © MUDA-Architects

"In order to ensure the quality, architects simplified complex structural nodes and made strategic adjustments in a way that workers could understand. The whole building applied steel structure welding technology, which greatly shortens the construction period and reduces the cost," added the firm. 

Image © MUDA-Architects

Image © MUDA-Architects

Image © MUDA-Architects

Image © MUDA-Architects

Image © MUDA-Architects

Image © MUDA-Architects

The first phase was completed in April and is open to the public, which is highly integrated with the nature. The building is light and transparent. Users sit around the lake, and the landscape spray permeates the whole space, starting a romantic and wonderful ecological hotpot tour.

All images © Arch-Exist unless otherwise stated.

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