Yum Cha | Sylvia Park

Project Team: Grant Cooksley and Reid Solomon | Designed by Pennant and Triumph | Completed September 2021 Yum Cha restaurant is located in the heart of the food precinct at Sylvia Park shopping centre - home to a mix of hospitality spaces that all contribute to the bustling Food & Beverage precinct. The design of this space is strongly influenced by traditional Chinese architecture but fused with contemporary materials, finishes and construction methods to suit the New Zealand market. We wanted the space to reflect and honour Chinese food and tradition whilst providing a minimal yet welcoming interior. Authentic materials such as oiled European oak, textured solid hand-rendered plaster, chiselled stone tiles, off-white textured linen and a polished concrete floor provide a neutral setting engaging to the eye from inside and outside of the space. Our intention was to create a minimalist aesthetic whilst breaking the large 425m2 space into clear and defined areas to provide a sense of intimacy. Private dining rooms formed with curved walls are set at the rear of the space, bespoke curved banquette seating and tables throughout ensure all customers have a real sense of space whilst maintaining sightlines through out the restaurant and into the hear of the space – the open display kitchen. Yum Cha provides customers with a unique and authentic experience – a detailed and fully considered design that allows the people within to be immersed with another culture, relax and enjoy traditional Chinese cuisine.