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Stonesal

JFR Studio

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Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
Restaurant
4.78
5.74
5.19
4.12
4.96
Mark Bithrey
Mark Bithrey Founder and Creative Director at B3 Designers
Expensive looking restaurant. the c...
5
5
4
3
4.25
Simon Schmolling
Simon Schmolling Head of Architecture at Meiré und Meiré
4.06
5
5.13
3.98
4.54
Ad de Hond
Ad de Hond Founder and Creative Director at ADH.design
5.02
6.1
5.33
4.04
5.12
Daniel Kaven
Daniel Kaven Co-Founder at William Kaven Architecture
6.33
5.86
6.67
5.67
6.13
Darren Xu
Darren Xu Founder and CEO at Spider Creative
4.14
5
5.64
5
4.95
Asha Sairam
Asha Sairam Principal at Studio Lotus
Struggling to find any narrative or...
3
6
4
3
4
Andrew Martin
Andrew Martin Founder and Creative Director at AMD Interior Architecture
It feels like money no object desig...
4
6
5
3
4.5
Pengzhan Du
Pengzhan Du Chief Architect at Engineering Design Management Center of Bureau of public works of Shenzhen Municipality
4.8
5
5.5
4.5
4.95
Zhongli Wang
Zhongli Wang Partner at Catanian
5
5
5
5
5
Philip Staszewski
Philip Staszewski Partner Architect at Ivy Studio
6
6.5
5.5
5
5.75
Catalina Soffia Baeza
Catalina Soffia Baeza Creative Director at Yáneken
I don't see the connection of the c...
4.34
5.69
4.13
4.55
4.68
Lindsay Roth
Lindsay Roth Design Director at Gensler
5
7
6
3
5.25
Katie Kasabalis
Katie Kasabalis Cofounder at Kasawoo
5
7
6
4
5.5
Steve Lastro
Steve Lastro CEO and Future of Living Advisor at Linq-X
5
6
5
5
5.25
Mauro Brigham
Mauro Brigham Founder and Creative Director at ncbham
Although the spaces are very impres...
5
5
5
3
4.5
Designer
Client
Stonesal
Floor area
850 ㎡
Completion
2022
Social Media
Instagram
Sanitary

Located in Shenzhen's Nanshan district, also known as China's Silicon Valley, STONESAL is a restaurant and bar concept where the chef's ingenious culinary creations and avant-garde design aesthetics come together to mesmerize the senses of every guest.

New tech enterprises have attracted young and trendy crowds demanding more diverse establishments into the city. However, in contrast to the surrounding’s fast-paced, tech-overload lifestyle, as perceptible by the monotonous glass-cladded building blocks, STONESAL is inspired to create a refreshing yet nostalgic, authentic yet precise, audacious yet playful sanctuary experience for its guests. Through combining various textures and customized installations, the design reinterprets the traditional decadent steakhouse with dramatic materials and artistic expressions inspired by our culture, evolution, and natural habitat.

Composed of an interior space of 850 square meters and a lush outdoor patio area of 450 square meters with a total capacity of around 140 seats, the venue’s main features include the double height dry-aging room, the “octopus” translucent central bar, a generous open kitchen, a mezzanine wine showcase, 5 private dining rooms and the main dining area with a ceiling height of over 5 meters.

The exterior façade composes a collage of textures with copper, marble, and glass, while the interior materials include translucent marble, Himalayan salt blocks, metal mesh, antique wood planks, stained glass, perforated metal panels, textured paint, cowhide leather, and rough dark stone, etc. Measuring over 2.6 meters in diameter and weighing around 1 ton, the upside-down hanging octopus sculpture was 3D modeled, printed and refined before it was finally casted in copper.

To achieve the customized, genuine expression of installations and materials, numerous pieces and sculptures require specialized manufacturing at various factories all over the country. However, pandemic travel restrictions and lockdowns had caused delays for all manufacturing and transportation processes throughout its 7-month construction.

Since its November 2022 opening, the establishment has received rave reviews from guests across the country. Investors, the chef team as well as all consultants involved were very thrilled with the completed project as expansion plans to other cities are already in discussion.