The bold red hue of Da Ya Li restaurant in Chengdu is intended to trigger the taste memory of the city’s spicy Sichuan cuisine. Beijing-based design firm IN.X covered the ceiling surface in woven red rattan, which extends to the treehouse centerpiece, where a solid weave pattern rises from the entrance of a staircase in a rippling effect. “[It’s] like a childhood dream,” says firm founder and creative director Wu Wei. “The undulating shapes weave a beautiful vision, evoking the most rustic and authentic memory of the diners.” Smoky black brick walls and floor tiles bring the design down to earth, while the private dining areas channel a more sober atmosphere with bamboo sliding doors that divide the restaurant’s open areas.


This article originally appeared in HD’s  May 2020 issue.