Chinese luxury department store chain SKP has welcomed a new iteration of Rendez-Vous to its Xi’an location. The “intimate hub [is meant] for people to meet friends and relax,” explains Torquil McIntosh, director and cofounder of London firm Sybarite. Linked by a grand staircase, the bi-level space brings together an artisanal cheese store, TWG tearoom, Without Borders restaurant, and a curated bookstore. Here, black lacquered steel mixes with warm walnut shelving and brightly colored aluminum tables in various heights. Vivid blue hues, found on ceiling panels and banquettes in the restaurant, and red back-painted glass draw “visitors from a distance to explore the space,” doubling as a warm contrast to the cool, textured marble wrapping floors and columns. The ambiance is dictated by the lighting: Soft, atmospheric overhead fixtures illuminate bar and seating areas, while directional lighting in the bookstore hones in on book covers, which are presented like artwork. Rendez-Vous is an all-encompassing place, McIntosh adds, where customers can “linger in quiet contemplation, catch up on work, or refuel for more shopping.”