© DTZW / Photography: Songmao Hou

The joys of communism may once have been reaped exclusively by loyal party officials, but the newly opened 27 Shou He Huo restaurant changes all that. Well, sort of. Situated alongside an inconspicuous courtyard in the southern part Beijing‘s shopping area of Sanlitun, the venue was initially founded as a simple canteen of a state-run enterprise in the 1960s. Its transformation into an appealing eatery was supervised by Chinese architecture and design practice DTZW, and sees a balanced fusion of old and new. Measuring 268 sqm. (2,885 sq.ft.) across a ground floor and basement section, many original architectural elements have been retained to preserve the look and feel of the place, but at the same time a number of modern interventions have been added to create a contemporary setting. The latter is most notably captured by a new extension which has been attached to the façade and serves as 27 Shou He Huo‘s main entrance. Indoors, the utilitarian blueprint shows by way of sections of exposed concrete, but it has largely has been softened by using a mix of concrete and stone to plaster walls, and apply rounded corners across the premises. Furnishings comprise of sturdy 1960s-inspired Formica tables and chairs, in addition to prefab seating attached to an undercarriage. Large suspended lighting beams blend tie in beautifully well with the exposed ceiling and exposed utility pipes. The menu at 27 Shou He Huo is mainly noodle-inspired, featuring a range of dishes, in addition to skewered meat options and a wide range of side dishes.

27 Shou He Huo
34 Hao Yuan (Sanlitun)
100000 Beijing

© DTZW / Photography: Songmao Hou