Siji Minfu Essence Store by IN.X: Cultural Restaurant in Beijing's Business District

At the heart of Beijing's bustling international financial center, IN.X Space Design reimagined the Siji Minfu Essence Store, a 7,319 square foot restaurant that flawlessly blends cultural heritage with modern elegance. Located in the famous business district of 'Golden Square,' the project elevates the Siji Minfu brand, offering a refined dining experience for elite clientele, financial professionals, and contemporary urban dwellers.

Concept: Tradition Meets Modern Commercial Space

The design explores how to integrate Beijing's historical context with the fast-paced demands of the Financial Street zone. For IN.X, the challenge was threefold: overcome the lack of natural light in its underground location, embed cultural essence into a high-end commercial space, and stand out among competitors in the food industry.

The result is a space where tradition, nature, and modern commerce intertwine. Inspired by imperial Beijing architecture, historical houses, and everyday urban textures, the design translates familiar cultural motifs into a contemporary aesthetic, creating a multi-layered and immersive experience.

Spatial Perception and Atmosphere

From the moment guests enter Essence Store, their perception of underground dining shifts.

• Lighting and Ambiance: Soft grays and earth tones dominate, with gentle light streams reminiscent of moonlight. Hidden lighting reveals textures and creates a cozy, soothing atmosphere.

• Materials and Cultural References: Columns, red brick, gray walls, and carved screens evoke Beijing's architectural legacy. These elements—simplified and reinterpreted using modern materials—harmonize across time and meaning.

• Natural Motifs: Bar counters and tea tables are designed as miniature landscapes, evoking literary studios and northern gardens. These abstracted 'urban nature' elements allow guests to momentarily escape into an imagined scenery.

• Art and Decoration: Selected paintings and plaques featuring Buddhist statues and literary landscapes serve as symbolic windows, filling the space with moments of mountain brightness and poetic reflection.

Together, these layers create a dining experience that is both urban and natural, rational and poetic, aligning with Siji Minfu's identity as a brand rooted in Beijing but with broader ambitions.

Design Based on Strategy

The strategic approach philosophy of IN.X is key to the success of Essence Store. The design not only enhances the dining experience but also responds to the business context of Financial Street:

• Supports both casual dining and high-level business meetings.

• Creates a relaxed, restorative atmosphere for white-collar professionals seeking respite during workdays.

• Strengthens the brand through cultural enrichment and design precision, ensuring long-term impact in a highly competitive environment.

By blending traditions with modern commercial space, the design allows guests to savor Beijing flavors while finding peace amid urban intensity.

Siji Minfu Essence Store on Financial Street by IN.X Space Design is more than just a restaurant. It's a cultural statement. Combining history, art, and urban energy, the project creates a dining space that serves as both sanctuary and stage for modern life. In doing so, it reinforces Siji Minfu's brand identity where space, culture, and taste are inseparably linked.