Hik 9 Restaurant

Burnished copper panels dominate the overhead plane of Jeffrey Zee's Hik 9 Restaurant, their tessellated geometry creating a rhythmic canopy that appears to undulate with living warmth beneath integrated LED illumination that traces each modular unit's perimeter with soft aureate light. The chromatic orchestration pivots upon a sophisticated dialogue between warm metallic tones ranging from raw copper through oxidized bronze to deep umber, counterbalanced by crisp white tablecloths that anchor the dining floor with geometric precision. Compositional organization follows a dynamic diagonal recession from the lower left foreground toward the open kitchen visible at the compositional midground, where stainless steel surfaces and copper cookware create a secondary focal zone of professional culinary theater. The spatial architecture reveals careful attention to figure-ground relationships, with elegantly curved black leather dining chairs providing visual punctuation against the luminous white table surfaces, while the roughly textured crystalline formation embedded within the mirrored base creates an unexpected grotto-like element that introduces organic counterpoint to the geometric rigor above. Shadow behavior demonstrates nuanced control, with the copper ceiling panels casting warm, diffused illumination that eliminates harsh shadows while creating intimate pools of golden light at each table setting. The left wall features a decorative bovine skull with curved horns, its sculptural presence suggesting themes of abundance and sustenance appropriate to the gastronomic context, while suspended copper pots and professional kitchen implements visible along the back wall reinforce the celebration of culinary craft. Textural diversity achieves remarkable sophistication through the juxtaposition of perforated metal mesh panels creating moire-like optical effects, polished reflective surfaces, rough natural crystal formations, smooth leather upholstery, and crisp linen, each material contributing distinct tactile and visual qualities. The wine display on the right wall introduces vertical rhythm through regularly spaced bottle holders arranged against a burgundy backdrop, their circular forms echoing the curved geometry of the ceiling elements. Atmospheric resonance evokes the warm embrace of a contemporary interpretation of traditional hearth-centered gathering, where the copper warmth suggests both the ancient tradition of metalwork in cooking vessels and modern technological sophistication in its modular execution.

This project is located in Shanghai. The restaurant has a dry-aging room made from Himalayan rock salt, an open food storage area, and a professional wine cellar for an intuitive view and selection of ingredients. Also, an open kitchen allows guests to enjoy the display of different cooking techniques, creating a healthy atmosphere of mutual trust, and creating a multi-functional dining space where people's feelings and the space style are fully expressed.