FUNUN LAB & Mountain-Sea Chronicles: A Poetic Taste of Nature

“To meet the mountains, to gaze at the sea, to connect with others, to rediscover oneself.” As commercial dining spaces evolve, the focus increasingly shifts to experiences that capture emotion and delight.  

This time, FUNUN LAB, invited by [Mountain-Sea Chronicles · Oriental Banquet], crafts a curatorial-style immersive dining experience. Inspired by poetic depictions of mountain and sea landscapes, the design unfolds like a flowing canvas. Imagination shapes the contours of each scene, creating a seamless emotional journey that bridges space and the senses. Here, emotions take physical form, guiding diners’ palates and perceptions through an immersive narrative that breaks boundaries.

To feast on treasures crafted from nature’s abundance is to honor a deep connection to all living things. A thousand miles from mountain to sea, this banquet is a journey born of reverence for the world. The essence of the East lies not in the repetition of traditional motifs but in stripping away the superfluous, surrendering to the pure sensory experience of taste. Here, the designer draws inspiration from nature’s form, infusing the space with a poetic sense of beauty.

Eastern aesthetics, rooted in a thoughtful dialogue with nature, find their pinnacle in the contemplation of mountains and seas. Mountains serve as the backdrop, seas as the guide, with elements sourced from the farthest corners of nature’s bounty. Against the tide of consumerism, this creation aspires to redefine and elevate the very essence of Eastern beauty.

01 Beside Mountains and Seas, Savor the Essence of Flowing Elegance

Romance and poetry run deep in the veins of Chinese culture, shaping a uniquely Eastern aesthetic—subtle, profound, and boundless in imagination.

Mountains rise and seas stretch endlessly, waters flowing with quiet grace. At the lush foothills, waves gently lap the shores, leaving traces of their journey. Here, the designer transforms imagery into form, evoking a momentary taste of the sea’s vastness and timeless allure. Floor-to-ceiling windows blur the boundary between indoors and out, while curved planting walls and flowing textures guide curiosity into deeper exploration.

The open kitchen and grilling area form the focal point of the space. A towering, open-flame oven reaches skyward, resembling a mystical furnace hidden in lush mountains. One might imagine soaring among clouds, traversing mountains and rivers in carefree adventure. This experiential design blends a touch of human warmth with the wild beauty of nature, crafting a stage that excites the palate and sparks curiosity. The restaurant’s artistic expression irresistibly draws diners from all corners.

In this Eastern reverie, guests find tranquility and communion with nature. The space merges with its surroundings, echoing the ancient Chinese saying: “In silence, hear the thunder’s roar.” This interplay of movement and stillness captures the essence of Eastern aesthetics, revealing their true soul.

The tiled floors evoke the lushness of green fields, imbued with the charm of a mountain retreat: “The door opens to distant peaks; the waters pull long grass to shore.” Lush greenery flourishes with abandon, narrating a timeless story of renewal. Layered façade walls rise like lofty mountains, their crisp white surfaces brushed with strokes of flowing amber light, exuding life and energy. Step into the mist-laden mountains, where hidden delicacies await discovery.

The space embraces an open layout, where walls of varied shapes carve out distinct zones, creating spontaneous pathways for diners to roam freely. In this unrestrained, romantic atmosphere, the poetry of the East lingers, infusing the air with its quiet allure.

02 The Form of Essence, A Feast of the East

The open dining area unfolds along the flow of undulating waves, leading the eye from near to far. Against a backdrop of soft, luminous floor-to-ceiling windows, sunlight dances upon rippling waters and hidden reefs. White linear structures and curvilinear forms evoke the fluid motion of the sea. Within this space, mountains and seas stretch endlessly, their rhythms weaving a dynamic harmony.

Tiered seating designs create a sense of depth, accommodating varied dining scenarios—whether intimate dates or family gatherings. Privacy is thoughtfully preserved, while diverse perspectives and settings infuse the space with vitality and lingering imagination.

Hidden corridors offer an immersive narrative journey, leading to private rooms adorned with innovative green tones. These hues exude both vitality and a refined elegance. Eschewing conventional symmetry and linearity, the space reimagines form through a language of asymmetry and dynamic contrast. Undulating walls and intersecting lines blur sensory boundaries, opening the space to boundless possibilities.

Deep jade-green marble, carved into monumental barriers, rises with grandeur. Above, a gilded ceiling captures attention, its saturated hues contrasting boldly with the understated elegance of the main hall. This juxtaposition delivers a stunning visual symphony of light, color, and shadow.

Framing mountains and seas as art, the design sculpts an aesthetic vision of Eastern tranquility. Drawing upon the essence of nature, it creates a poetic tableau that captures fleeting moments of romance.

Through FUNUN LAB’s modern design language, traditional Eastern culture takes on the lightness of coastal waves, evolving and innovating within a contemporary context. Infused with the cultural imprint of the East, the brand’s mission carries forward an aesthetic philosophy rooted in balance, harmony, and spirituality. Amid the rising tide of commercial dining spaces, this vision reveals the singular charm of Eastern culture and the profound wisdom of nature.