Laolao, Vienna

Laolao is a restaurant in Vienna‘s 7th district on the busy Mariahilfer shopping street. It specializes in hand-made noodles and authentic Zhejiang cuisine. The design focuses on expressing a raw materiality and clear lines while still creating an atmosphere marked by warm tones and a differentiated seating landscape where one can find hidden niches and corners. It provides a respite from the relentlessness of the surrounding commercial district. The walls and ceiling are articulated by rough sprayed plaster, giving the impression of a large grotto. During construction, original 19th c. ceiling frescoes were exposed after being hidden by a series of dropped ceilings. Furnishings are a mixture of wood and leather. The central kitchen is open and defined by industrial materials: stainless steel, raw steel plating and stone. The bathrooms are in defined by individual timber cabins and a large granite stone basin.