Nanyang Blossom

Nanyang Blossom, a contemporary Asian restaurant specialising in Nanyang dishes from celebrated Asian and Cantonese Chef de Cuisine Daren Liew, has opened in Knightsbridge, a stone’s throw from Harrods.

Nanyang Blossom is a celebration of the rich heritage and thriving food culture of the Nanyang region around the South China Sea, and each dish is carefully crafted to accentuate the vibrant and diverse culinary traditions of the region, showcasing traditional flavours with modern culinary techniques.

Co-owner Daren Liew is one of the most highly regarded and experienced Asian and Cantonese chefs in the UK and has worked all over the world at some of the best Asian and Chinese restaurants.

These include The Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, and the Four Seasons Hotel in Malaysia.

In the UK Daren was Executive Sous Chef at Hakkasan Group and moved around Europe as one of the launch team for Hakkasan group restaurant openings.

Set over two floors the 56-cover restaurant and bar is visually striking; a contemporary design with touches of tradition, influenced by Nanyang culture and cuisine as well as the unique landscapes of Southern China.

Design

Architect Alex Cheregi of architecture and design studio, Iungo Studio, discusses his approach to the project: “All our hospitality concepts kick off with a collaborative research phase, during which, together with our clients, we try to pick out the most relevant and interesting facets of their vision, culture and cuisine.

“What follows is a long process of ‘weaving’ an atmosphere based on these pillars, which is ideally coherent and expressive enough to sustain a meaningful customer experience.

“We had extensive conversations with Chef Patron Daren Liew about his vision and the Nanyang region around the South China Sea – a melting pot of different cuisines with a common denominator of freshness, brightness and variety coming from the fertile lands, abundant rain and the sea.

“We also spoke about his childhood and favourite ingredients, home cooking, spices and herbs.

“The elements which inspired us most and we chose to explore further revolve around landscape, nature and the archetypes of local cultures.

“Specifically, the fertile lands, the rain, the estuaries filled with labyrinthine nets and poles – traditional oyster farms and fishing boats, a testament of centuries past.”

Iungo Studio have crafted an interior which represents a collaborative interpretation of the Nanyang environment, the earth, the rain, the sea and its estuaries from which abundance, freshness and blossoms emerge.

At ground floor, a bespoke clay plaster texture was developed to resemble the earth after torrential rain.

Deep wood tones complement and wrap up the remaining walls, while brass curtains, inspired from the local fishing nets, hang at high level and add transparency and lightness, balancing out the weight of the earthy surroundings.

The restaurant’s basement was designed to accommodate private parties and late evening themed dining.

Here, a warped bronze cladding reminiscent of water ripples covers the upper sections of the walls and, at the junction with the wood cladding, an ice container running front to back through the space serves as wine cooler for all tables.

Subtle South East Asian influences can be observed within the design of the dining chairs and other details, however Iungo refrained from deploying any obvious ethnic aesthetic.

Thoughtful use of artificial lighting is a key aspect, primarily because the several layers of different natural and muted colours and textures require certain types of light to highlight their subtle qualities.

Concealed LED strips are pointed parallel with the surface of the clay plasters at a carefully considered distance to ensure the depth of the texture is highlighted.

Localised lighting over the table areas is created by using pendant and table lights and this enables the general lighting to be dimmed to avoid overpowering the table setting.

The predominant quality of the restaurant’s atmosphere is warmth.

It is a low-lit and beautiful space where guests are surrounded by naturally tactile surface materials that combine artfully illuminated earthy tones and textures.

These are balanced by the colourful presentations of fresh and vibrant dishes and cocktails which, by the way, are sensational.

Nanyang Blossom, 12 Knightsbridge Green, SW1 7QL. 

Iungo Studio is a growing architecture and interiors studio with offices in London and Bucharest, on a mission to support the most ambitious hospitality businesses by telling complex, beautiful and multi-layered stories through design.