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AB Concept makes its first foray into the United Kingdom with Asian fine-dining restaurant Mei Ume | 設計公司AB Concept呈獻高級亞洲餐廳Mei Ume項目進軍英國市場
East meets West is hardly a novel concept in design. But harmoniously bridging the gap between the two often disparate aesthetics poses a unique challenge – especially when the project site in question is the 1922 headquarters of the Port of London Authority. When Hong Kong-based luxury design studio AB Concept was tasked with creating Asian fine-dining space Mei Ume – one of two flagship restaurants at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square – it was presented with the problem of preserving the building’s heritage while evoking the Eastern sensibilities of the venue. Ed Ng and Terence Ngan, the duo behind the design studio, conceived a space that does just that. The restaurant opened this June, marking the studio’s first foray into the United Kingdom.
The pair decided to draw on the cross-cultural background of the building when seeking inspiration for the restaurant’s design. As a shipping and freight trust, the Port of London Authority has long been a gateway for trade between the United Kingdom and East Asia. Walking into Mei Ume, you’re greeted by a glass screen adorned with a colourful plum blossom design in enamel paint, calling to mind the restaurant’s name, which uses the Chinese and Japanese words for the flower. Accents of bold red – representing luck, prosperity and happiness in Chinese culture – run throughout the main dining room, with the centrepiece of the space a gilded triptych in a red lacquer
中西合璧不再是新設計概念。但要和諧連繫兩個看似毫不相關的美學元素卻是挑戰重重——特別是當項目所在地位於倫敦三一廣場內的倫敦港務局1922總部。駐香港豪華設計公司AB Concept獲邀打造Mei Ume時(倫敦三一廣場四季酒店兩間旗艦餐廳之一)，重點就在於保留建築的原有歷史特質，而同時帶起所在地的東方魅力情懷。設計公司主腦Ed Ng和Terence Ngan想出非凡概念，並為這本年六月開幕的餐廳換上亮眼面孔，也就是公司打進英國市場的里程碑。
這對設計組合從大樓的跨文化背景獲取靈感，想出設計方向。倫敦港務局原為英國與東方國家往昔交易茶葉、絲綢及陶瓷等商品的通商之門。走進其中，迎面而來就是以瓷漆繪製的梅花屏風，跟餐廳以中文、日文「梅花」之意命名的稱號互相呼應。抹抹鮮豔紅調——中國文化中帶幸運、豐盛和
frame. Traditional Asian design techniques and materials, such as silk embroidery, maintain the restaurant’s character down to the details, although the embroidery is granted a modern feel thanks to more muted colours.
An old English maritime vibe was brought into the space thanks to the portholes spanning the space, as well as antique windows, consoles and table lamps that wouldn’t be out of place in a Victorian mansion. Much of the structure’s shell is still intact, such as the columns and mouldings, as Ed and Terence were advised to not alter them. The columns – some of which run straight down the middle of the restaurant – were integrated into the design, with metal motifs on top of each column from which three halos are suspended. These alcoves also provide cosy cocoons for guests to linger if they desire more privacy.
Aside from the main dining room, there is also a semi-private dining room and a bar. The latter features grid-patterned flooring of black timber and white marble, granting it a
幸運之義——點綴主廳四周，但人們的目光還是聚焦於一套以紅漆畫框裱起的三層鍍金三聯畫。傳統亞洲設計技術和物料如絲綢刺繡從細節上保留餐廳的個性，而同時以啞色處理，混入現代風尚。
空間四處可見的舷窗勾起舊日英式航海風格，還有古董窗戶、桌案、檯燈，看來就好像來自維多利亞式別墅。結構大部分元素均獲完整保留，就如Ed和Terence受委託不能改裝的支柱和線腳。設計師們把支柱也和諧混入整體效果之中，即使部分柱身置於餐廳正中央也無阻完美成果，並在每根柱頂加上金屬花紋點綴，豎立起中央環形照明。如此小暗處正好為客人提供流連休息的舒適天地，更能帶來私隱享受。
look distinct from the rest of the restaurant. Custommade lanterns of patterned glass hang down from the pavilion structure covering the bar. Porcelain sculptures, plenty of natural light and an adjoining garden make Mei Ume a space where diners are sure to linger long into the evening. //
除了主廳外，空間更設半私密餐室和酒吧。後者以格紋黑木和白色大理石地板裝飾，跟餐廳其餘各處的設計佈置截然不同。特別訂製的圖紋玻璃燈籠掛放於以中式樓閣為靈感的酒吧。陶瓷雕塑、大量天然光和相連花園讓Mei Ume成了一處客人流連忘返的好去處。//