Xiaochunshan Courtyard Restaurant: Reinterpreting the Fuchun Mountain Aesthetics in Contemporary Dining
Along the banks of the Fuchun River, hidden deep within a forested mountain slope, stands a former 1980s complex—originally a rural primary school and later a local eatery. With dark pitched roof tiles and weathered grey bricks that follow the rising terrain, the architecture naturally merges into the surrounding greenery. Subtle from afar, its entrance slowly reveals itself as one approaches along the winding path.
Seeking to honor the cultural heritage of Yuan Dynasty painter Huang Gongwang’s masterpiece Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, Daxiang Design translated the poetic essence of traditional ink landscape painting into an immersive, contemporary dining sanctuary—a courtyard space where guests can contemplate nature, wander through gardens, and savor culinary arts.
01. Structural Stitching: The "Courtyard within Courtyard" System
The original site occupied a mere 400 square meters—isolated in layout, with low clear heights and aging structural timbers. Rather than a complete demolition, the design team broke through the limitations through a strategy of "structural stitching" and "localized reconfiguration."
By reinforcing the mismatched column grids and low beams, while integrating adjacent disused structures and leftover edge spaces, the design dissolved the rigid legacy layout. In its place, a multi-layered "Courtyard within Courtyard" (院中院) system was established, anchored by a spacious central gathering court.
02. The Joy of Wandering: Step into a Painted Realm
Pushing open the gate, guests are guided by covered corridors running along winding water features. Serving as both a functional transition and a mental reset, the light turns of the gallery shield external noise, encouraging a slower pace as visitors immerse themselves in the warm, serene order of the space.
The arrival courtyard acts as a hub for guest circulation and ritual transition, unfolding like the opening of a handscroll. Stepping through, cavernous voids, stacked stones, cascading streams, and moss-covered paths present themselves sequentially—each turn offering a unique landscape fragment.
Indoors, the staircase features light-colored terrazzo with a floating, open-riser design that lightens the spatial volume. Concealed warm yellow LED strips beneath each tread cast a soft glow at night, giving the steps a levitating quality that subtly enhances the play of light and shadow.
03. The Open Hearth: Zen Serenity Meets Everyday Life
At the center of the common dining hall sits a traditional earth stove (Mingdang). Live flames and rising steam showcase the raw vitality of cooking directly before diners. The semi-open white clay stove interacts with the outer timber decks, reflecting pools, and leaning trees—balancing oriental Zen tranquility with a tactile, inviting warmth.
Adjacent to the open hearth, the general dining section adopts a flexible layout: functioning as an open hall for daily service, it can be partitioned into private dining spaces or opened up entirely into a spacious banquet hall. Regardless of the configuration, guests always maintain a visual connection to the hearth's glow, uniting visual and culinary pleasures.
04. Landscape-Infused Dining: An Oriental Gathering Between Water and Wood
Set along the water’s edge, the dining area is enveloped by gentle streams, rockeries, pavilions, and moss-lined views framed by interior openings, accompanied by the soothing sound of water.
A stroke of "Sunset Coral Red" (晚霞红) serves as a striking accent against the subdued, ink-inspired base palette, infusing the space with grounded warmth. As dusk falls, the warm glow of the red window frames contrasts softly with the silhouettes of outdoor pavilions, elevating the meal into a classic literary gathering amidst real mountain scenery.
Private dining rooms are nestled among bamboo and mature trees, each named after historic inscriptions found on Fuchun landscape paintings. Each room acts as a restrained viewfinder: open the window to embrace distant peaks and garden foliage; close it to enjoy absolute quiet. At the end of the main corridor, light and contrasting material textures naturally guide guests toward a borrowed courtyard view, stepping away from the lively dining scene into a quiet, peaceful haven.
Deep within the courtyard, an open teahouse reveals itself to the garden: two seats facing each other across a small hearth, a pot of tea, and a calm water mirror—cleansing the mind of daily distractions.
Design Philosophy
Xiaochunshan Courtyard Restaurant is a contemporary translation of the Fuchun landscape spirit articulated eight centuries ago—incorporating ancient charm without literal historicism, and achieving poetic elegance without losing everyday warmth. The courtyard landscape serves as the unifying narrative thread, guiding guests from their very first step into a living landscape painting designed to be walked through, contemplated, and lived in.
As everyday warmth merges with the joy of wandering, the architecture becomes a vessel for nature. Amidst growing trees, flickering hearths, and the aroma of tea, guests rediscover a sense of belonging—finding their own Fuchun Mountain Dwelling within the dining experience.
Team:
Design Firm: Daxiang Design
Design Team: Jiang Jianyu, Dong Yuanjun, Lou Ting, Liu Yongliang, Li Zhengui, Wang Zhibin, Zhao Weisheng, Chen Rui, Li Jialu, Gao Feng
Courtyard Landscape: Zhonglan Environmental Art
Lighting Design: Li Bing
Photography: here_space_photography
