Zhang Lan, chairwoman of the South Beauty chain of restaurants, has recently opened her 21st restaurant. These upscale Chinese restaurants serve Sichuan favourites in stylish environment. But LAN's interior is different from all others.
LAN is an incredible restaurant-bar-nightclub wonderland. It is huge in all dimensions:
- 6,000 sqm space
- Capacity of up to 1,000 diners at one time
- Several millions of dollars costs
- Designed by world-famous designer Philippe Starck.
Where other designers think about trend, Philippe Starck says, he thinks about ‘vision, love, surrealism, poetry, surprise’. Not to compare with Starck’s famous Felix bar in Hong Kong’s Peninsula Hotel, Starck’s LAN is a high stylised mish mash of chaise longues, rhino heads, ornate mirrors, leather seats, chandeliers of plastic junk, classical paintings suspended, face down, from the ceiling. The private rooms in style of Mongolian tents and the ‘powder rooms’ are a must see.
LAN, Starck’s first project on the Mainland, definitely adds a new spirit to Beijing.
And soon to New Year too! Site renovation for a new restaurant in New York City's Times Square begins later this year. The $3 million to $4 million Philippe Starck-designed New York locale is to include a Chinese modern art gallery.
By 2008 Zhang Lan wants 100 restaurants, at least half of them overseas. Other spots should include Japan, France, Italy and India.
LAN's price category: $$$
4/F Twintowers B-12
JianguomenwaiAvenue
Chaoyang District - Beijing
Tel : (+86 10) 5109 6012/6013
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