Mercato Restaurant Shanghai by Neri&Hu

Situated within the prestigious shopping centre Three on the Bund, Mercato restaurant is Shanghai’s latest culinary destination by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Designed by Neri&Hu, the interior is inspired by the chef’s culinary vision and the restaurant’s rich historical context of early 1900s Shanghai, when the Bund was a bustling industrial hub.

In keeping with the restaurant’s name, the vibrant atmosphere inside the main dining space is reminiscent of street side marketplace. The central Bar and Pizza Bar are both encased in steel mesh and wire glass boxes with recycled timber canopies. A network of tube steel elements, inspired by old butcher’s rails, interlock with the exposed ductwork and form a system for hanging shelving and lighting. The banquette seating along the edge of the dining area is made from timber salvaged on site.

Stripping back the layers of finishes that have built up after years of renovations, the design concept celebrates the beauty of the bare structural elements. Three on the Bund was the first building in Shanghai built out of steel, and the architects’ decision to reveal the original steel columns pays homage to this extraordinary feat. Against the textured backdrop of the existing brickwork, concrete, plaster and mouldings, new insertions are clearly demarcated. Constantly playing the new against the old, Neri&Hu’s design is a reflection of the complex identity of not only the historical Bund, but of Shanghai at large.

The beautiful space bridges the organic, raw and industrial with elegance and modernity. Reclaimed timber and warm leather tones complement the exposed steel, glass and concrete to create an atmosphere that is polished yet warm and inviting.

See more projects by Neri&Hu on Yellowtrace.