Simply divine: furnishing the TRB, Temple Restaurant Beijing

TRB, was a study in elegant design. The showcase restaurant of the boutique Temple Hotel, resides within the confines of a sympathetically restored 600 year-old temple complex and presents a dramatic architectural journey of contrasts and contradictions. As they enter the restaurant, guests pass through a series of portals, each of which changes their perspective on the space and creates an anticipation of what is to come.

Nestled in the warren of narrow streets surrounding the Forbidden City, the entire experience of finding TRB,is transformative. From the noise of the outside hutong to the art-strewn courtyards of the temple, to the starkly elegant bar and lounge, guests are led towards the cathedral-like main room, where the towering ceiling, full-length windows and minimalist, secluded dining niches create an experience which is both mysterious and dramatic.

Each space in the restaurant has its own distinctive style, but all support the underlying design ethos of creating a space that is both dramatic and contradictory, where the mystery and drama of the dining experience is accentuated by the voyeuristic sensation of sitting in an elegant, contemporary time-capsule looking out over 600 years of Chinese history.

Restaurateur Ignace Lecleir was familiar with MatzForm’s work which was delivered in collaboration with architect Thomas Juul Hansen for Jean Georges New York, and gave Soren free rein to select elegant, comfortable furniture that would elevate the design concept. The results are stunning, and the restaurant has taken a prominent position in the Beijing dining scene as a one of the most impressive fine dining experiences available.