Hospitality Design - August 2013 - 107

Located on the second floor of the Four
Seasons Hotel Pudong, Shanghai, in the
city’s glittering Lujiazui business district, it
was inevitable that fine dining restaurant
Shàng-Xí would become the site of power
lunches and elite gatherings alike. With this
in mind, Hong Kong-based design firm AB
Concept carved the space into five discreet
private dining salons, while an exclusive
public area seats just 22 guests.
“We always find inspiration in the
history, culture, and geography of a
location,” says AB Concept co-founder
and director Ed Ng. There was much
for the team to delve into, including the
French Renaissance-inspired neoclassical
architecture of the city’s Old French
Concession area, Shanghai’s pervasive
aesthetic of unabashed lavishness, and
traditional Chinese symbols, all of which
translate to elements such as lofty ceilings,
marble pillars, and bronze finishes.
Beige parchment panels and jade
inserts set the tone at reception, leading
to a striking corridor of mosaic tiles and
handpainted silks. In Tiger Eye, the public
dining room, a recessed ceiling is adorned
with the recurring motif of a celestial
cloud—representing prosperity, happiness,
and longevity—and houses two large
pendant lights. There is also a dramatic
glass curtain and tactile peacock feather
wallpaper. “The space is opulent without
being clichéd, with everything in proportion
to achieve a timeless elegance,” Ng explains.
2

3

Then there are the private dining
rooms—Pearl, Amber, Agate, Jade, and
Purple Jade—that seamlessly flow from one
another through verandas and alcoves. Each
one is inlaid with its namesake stone, filled
with detailed treasures like jade-finished
door handles, mother-of-pearl panels, and a
purple agate-encrusted table. For example,
Amber shines with gold offset by timber, but
the more masculine Pearl, with its Récamier
sofa, is swathed in heavy velvet. Spacious
Purple Jade features Art Deco lighting,
while Jade enjoys a private lounge and
garden views from its choice corner perch.
Ng says these grand spaces were
particularly challenging. He wanted to
create “five distinct dining rooms, but still
have an overarching design narrative that
is consistent and clear. Each space needed
to have its own personality, yet retain a
unifying elegance and refinement.” hd
abconce pt . net ; fou rse asons. com

1. Shàng-Xí’s graceful
glass façade integrates
the Shanghai skyline
into the second-floor
restaurant.
2. Commodious Jade has
a choice corner locale
overlooking greenery.

3. The entrance corridor,
lined in mosaic tiles
and handpainted silks,
leads to Tiger Eye, the
restaurant’s public
dining room.

4

4. Beige parchment
panels and jade inserts
set a tone of grandeur at
reception.

Shàng-Xí Restaurant at
Four Seasons Hotel Pudong
Shanghai

Owner

Shui On Land Limited

Interior Design Firm

AB Concept, Hong Kong

Contractor and Purchasing

Pat Davie

Area Rugs

Tai Ping Carpets

Furniture

AB Concept collection

Corridor Wallcovering

Fromental

Upholstery Fabric

Maharam, Jim Thompson, Edelman,
Schumacher, Pollack, Manuel
Canovas, Zimmer + Rohde, and
Moore & Giles

Mosaic

Sun Yiu Gemstone Ltd.

Glass Panel and Antique Mirror

Rahmen (Asia) Ltd.

Wood Veneer

Schorn & Groh

hospitalitydesign.com August 2013

107
http://www.abconcept.net http://www.fourseasons.com http://www.hospitalitydesign.com
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