Xi Ding by RIGI DESIGN

Dumplings in China represent much more than just a delicious dietary staple; they are a symbol of the nation’s traditional culture and century-old superstition. Eaten to welcome in the Chinese New Year and at special family occasions, dumplings are believed to bring good fortune because of their resemblance to ancient ingots, a formerly used Chinese currency. RIGI Design was commissioned to design the first flagship restaurant of high-end dumpling chain Xi Ding. Breaking away from the brand’s existing “fast-food” image, RIGI Design has used robust materials and soft, subtle tones to offer a far finer dining experience, one that draws attention to the long-standing importance of dumplings in the Chinese tradition.

在中国，饺子可不仅仅是一种美食，更是代表了一种民族传统文化和古老的象征之意。在中国新春团圆之际，合家举杯庆祝之时，饺子都是极受欢迎的食物，并且因为与中国最早的货币“交子”谐音，饺子也通常被赋予了带来好运的吉兆。RIGI睿集设计为高端连锁水饺品牌——喜鼎，设计首家旗舰店，旨在打破现有连锁品牌固有的快餐化大众品牌印记。睿集设计公司采用了粗旷的建筑材料与轻柔的色调相结合，营造与众不同的体验式餐饮休闲空间，以突出中国传统中悠久的饺子文化。

Blocks of concrete-like Stucco frame the restaurant’s impressive front entrance. Panels add texture to the dramatic design; their fossil-like appearance a sign of the historical role of dumplings in China. Metal panels cut with dainty geometric shapes flank the entrance, their partial transparency adding a softer sense of mysticism to the design.

一进门就是大面积水泥质感的灰色浮雕墙面迎面而来。墙面上的浮雕藤编图案设计精巧，呈现一种化石感，从而加深了时间的印记，并与古老传统的饺子产生了一种隐喻的呼应。金属雕刻的传统几何图案格栅，与入口处的敞亮透明相呼应，增添了几分神秘的设计感。

RIGI’s design of the dining area maintains a visual juxtaposition; harsh white walls and dark brown seating are offset by textured panels and marbled tabletops. All of the materials have clearly been carefully chosen to maintain design continuity. Rattan baskets, a symbol of traditional craft and design, are carefully placed at the restaurant’s entrance to emphasize Xi Ding’s skillfully homemade, fresh cuisine. Rattan is also used to panel the central block of seating booths; its varying shades of brown are congruent with chunky, wooden lampshades that dangle at differing heights from the smooth, chamfered ceiling. Half-hidden by metal panels, the lampshades float mysteriously above the tables.

RIGI睿集在餐饮区的设计上，保持一种错落有致的视觉冲击感，凌厉的白色墙壁配以深棕色的座椅，并以立体墙面装饰和大理石的桌面相调节。所有材料都经过精挑细选，保持整体设计风格的一致性。象征着传统工艺和设计之美的藤编特意排放在餐厅入口处，突出喜鼎的手作、朴素的品牌精髓。藤编的元素同时还嵌入座椅的中心柱中，深深浅浅的棕色藤编配合错落有致的木质吊灯，尤其和谐统一。吊灯半隐于花格灯罩中，隐约为餐桌中再添浪漫神秘氛围。

Traditional Chinese characters from Xi Ding’s logo hang on the wall on display between symmetrical rows of white, sculpted dumplings and dinner sets. The composition is almost skeletal, reminiscent of an age-old fossil. RIGI has also designed marine-inspired wave patterns lit up by blue, wall-wash lighting to emphasize Xi Ding’s star dish, “the seafood dumpling”.

白色的雕塑饺子和餐具的立体墙面上，均嵌入传统书法字体的“喜鼎”标识，结构纹理充满轻巧的风骨，让人联想到古老的化石。RIGI睿集在餐厅风格的设计上也深受海洋波浪启发，嵌入蓝色的墙面式照明，为店铺的明星产品——海鲜水饺提供了遥相呼应的点睛之笔。

By using traditional, rustic elements, complimentary materials and modern techniques, RIGI has redefined the simple, delicate, traditional and oriental spirit of Xi Ding. By innovating the style of Xi Ding dumpling stores RIGI Design has explored a new approach to the brand’s development and created a beautifully designed ode to the history of the traditional Chinese dumpling.

RIGI睿集设计通过传统古朴的藤编元素的运用，用心的材料搭配和现代化的工艺，打造了一个细腻、精致而质朴的空间，不仅是该品牌终端风格的新尝试，同时也是对“喜鼎”东方传统精神的现代化诠释，以现代的精美设计理念颂扬中国独有的饺子文化历史。