FUNUN LAB: Winner of World Design Awards 2025. Mountain-Sea Chronicles draws inspiration from the imagery of mountains and seas, blending traditional Eastern culture with modern design language to create an innovative and artistic immersive dining experience. The designers use “mountain and sea” as the core concept, incorporating flowing wave elements and curved landscape walls to depict the natural scenes of mountains and seas, breaking the boundaries of space and seamlessly integrating nature with modern functionality, thus creating a unique spatial atmosphere.

The design of the restaurant is poetic, with a flexible and diverse layout. The carefully divided areas meet the needs of private dining while also accommodating family gatherings and social events. The open kitchen and barbecue area serve as the focal point of the space, with a towering oven resembling a mythical furnace nestled in the mountains, mysterious and full of charm, enhancing the artistic expression of the space. The designer cleverly uses floor-to-ceiling windows to connect the indoor and outdoor landscapes, allowing guests to experience the natural ambiance while dining.

In terms of functionality, the flexibility and freedom of the space are fully realized. The varying heights and layouts of different areas create a multi-dimensional dining experience that provides privacy while also fostering interaction and communication. Every detail of the space is crafted with thoughtful lighting and material combinations, conveying a rich Eastern aesthetic and unique emotional expression. Through the poetic presentation of natural elements, the space seems to merge with nature, stimulating guests’ sensory and emotional resonance.

Mountain-Sea Chronicles not only breaks through the traditional design framework of dining spaces but also finds the perfect balance between innovation and functionality. The designers, through meticulous spatial layout and artistic expression, successfully combine Eastern natural wisdom with modern lifestyles, creating a commercial space rich in emotional depth and cultural heritage. Every design element carries a profound understanding and interpretation of Eastern aesthetics, offering guests an immersive sensory journey.

Project Details:-
Firm
FUNUN LAB

Designer
Fan Jie

Project Name
Mountain-Sea Chronicles

Project Category
Hospitality Interior (Built)

Team
Fan jie, Li Hui, Han Bo, Wang Nong

Project Location
Yantai

Country
China

Photography ©Credit
©ICY © ICYWORKS

FUNUN LAB, founded by Fan Jie in 2016, is a design practice driven by conceptual thinking and the philosophy of “deconstructing form.” The studio offers a fresh perspective on the commercial value of space by integrating aesthetics, business, culture, and spatial logic, creating innovative and immersive design experiences.

FUNUN LAB approaches each project with a systematic understanding of scene, emotion, and brand, transforming spatial narratives into expressions of identity and culture. Its works have been widely recognized, receiving multiple international awards and media coverage in China and abroad. With a focus on design quality, experimentation, and material exploration, the studio continually seeks new ways to connect design with history, culture, and human experience, presenting a vibrant, contemporary interpretation of Eastern design wisdom.