1921 Hot Pot Restaurant by HuaWei Dai

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

HD : Taking the culture of historic street in Chongqing as the main line, it is extracted in the old shop during the period of the Republic of China, restoring the streetscape of an era outdoors and indoors.

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

HD : I designed this work to focus on the air circulation between the indoor and outdoor, to solve the alternation of indoor air and outdoor air.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

HD : This verifies the sustainability of design theory.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

HD : Three days

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

HD : Promote natural ventilation, reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. This design is my own idea.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

HD : Yes. Used by restaurant owners.

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

HD : Dedication to local culture.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

HD : Restaurant experience

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

HD : I am inspired by the regional architecture.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

HD : 1921 was the invention of the hot pot to illustrate the tradition of culture.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

HD : Pencil, computer, sketch master

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

HD : Have a profound study of history and culture

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

HD : Liu Min, as well as professional lighting designers.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

HD : Solve the traditional crafts of woodworking, professional hardware.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

HD : Yes! I analyzed the operation status of the market hot pot, chose a different sense of the age, triggered people's memory of the founding era of hot pot, studied the architectural characteristics of Chongqing in the 1920s, and extended it to interior design.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

HD : Because in China in the 1920s, there were very few color photographs. In the case of only black-and-white photographs, a large amount of information was read to find the color of the material that matched the era and restore history.

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

HD : Submitting the design to the world's most influential design competition organization is a test of oneself and a glory.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

HD : Let me have a new understanding of the Chinese classical wood structure.