The Noodle Rack, appetising interior by Lukstudio

Lukstudio led by Christina Luk has designed “The Noodle Rack” for Long XiaoBao - a convivial and very inviting space that blends the tradition of Chinese noodles with contemporary design. Because food is both a treat for the palate and a feast for the eye.  



Chinese noodles are a traditional dish, one of the very first examples of street food, that continue to enjoy the favours of the public. Architecture and design firm, Lukstudio led by Christina Luk, in Shanghai, took up the theme of this street food by delivering a mix of tradition and contemporaneity that gives a truly unique “visual identity” to the restaurant in question.





Located on a shopping promenade along the Xiangjiang river, Lukstudio has managed to ensure that this tiny venue of only 50 square metres already engages with customers from the outside. The facade is made of bamboo cast concrete forms and two steel boxes reach out of this - one vertically, covered in Corten steel, and marking the entryway, the other glazed and framed by metal scaffolding that reconnects with the interiors, whetting the curiosity of passers-by.





Concrete and bamboo feature once again in the counter. Then an open rack separates the dining room from the entrance, and decorates the room. The theme of the rack - which Lukstudio already alludes to outside - becomes the dominating theme in the interior, not only in terms of visual impact but also as a structural element, with different sized open wooden display cabinets fitted here and there to showcase fine porcelain. 





Fine metal wires hang down from the scaffolding, as a clear reference to the noodles hung out to dry on racks, but also practical because some of them are the actual wiring for the many lamps that light this convivial space.



“The Noodle Rack” by Lukstudio in Shanghai combines tradition and present, the idea of a fast food chain and fine dining blended together in a very captivating design and material mixture. Thanks to Christina Luk, the venue has been given a contemoporary visual identity, making it stand out pleasantly from the kitsch stereotype of the typical noodle street stall, opting for a sleek design with strong roots. 

Christiane Bürklein

design: Feb – April 2015
construction: May– July 2015
project team: Christina Luk, Alba Beroiz Blazquez, Cai Jin Hong, Pao Yee Lim (Lukstudio)
general contractor: Shanghai MaiChang Construction Project Co., Ltd.
photography: Peter Dixie for LOTAN Architectural Photography