Banu by Studio Link-Arc and Kane AUD: 2019 Best of Year Winner for Casual Dining

Chinese civilization first started some 5,000 years ago in the basin of the Yellow River, so named for the color of its silt. It remains an important part of life for those living on its banks today. Here, its turbulent flow inspired the 25,000-square-foot Banu Hotpot flagship designed by two firms, Kane AUD and Studio Link-Arc, for a growing local chain. The two studios collaborated on the facade as well as the interior, which has a flowing plan encompassing two levels, with open kitchens and private dining. “We sought to honor the river’s history with a fluid layout,” Studio Link-Arc principal Yichen Lu says.

The project’s perforated metal lattice is another nod to the waterway. It appears on the ceiling inside the eatery, but actually begins outside the building, where the facade is lifted to provide continuity between outside and in. “It’s a recognizable landmark for the community,” Kane AUD principal Ted Kane adds. The rippling element also calls to mind the spicy, roiling broth served at Banu’s tables.

Project Team: Kane Aud: Sanhoi Lam. Studio Link-Arc: Viviana Wang; Mariarosa Doardo.

> See more from the December/January 2020 issue of Interior Design