Restaurant Y Sea / Vector Architects

Architects: Vector Architects
Area: 713 m²
Year: 2018
Photographs: Vector Architects, Shengliang Su, Hao Chen
Lighting Consultant: X Studio, Tsinghua University, School of Architecture
Principal Architect: Gong Dong
Project Architect: Kai Zhang
Design / Construction Management: Chen Liu, Dongping Sun
Design Team: Xiaokai Ma, Cunyu Jiang, Peng Zhang
Site Architect: Zhao Zhang, Dan Tu
Structural Consultant: Congzhen Xiao, Dewen Chu
Structural Engineering: China Academy of Building Research
MEP Engineering: China Academy of Building Research
Client: Beijing Rocfly Investment.Co.Ltd.
Country: China

Restaurant y Sea, designed by Vector Architects, completes the seashore trilogy at Aranya Community, Beidaihe New District, following the Seashore Library and Seashore Chapel. Positioned behind the library, it fosters a casual atmosphere, treating the ocean as a backdrop rather than a focal point. The structure resembles a floating canopy over an undulating landscape, layering tree crowns, the roof, and dining space to enhance the connection with nature. Tree courtyards introduce light and airflow, while cast-in-place concrete walls support the load, allowing slender steel columns to blend with tree trunks. Glass sliding doors along the perimeter dissolve boundaries, transforming the space into a pavilion, while light-filtering waffle beams create a floating cloud effect, reinforcing the integration of architecture and nature.

Following the “Seashore Library” and “Seashore Chapel,” “Restaurant y Sea” serves as the final project in Vector Architects’ seashore trilogy at Aranya Community in Beidaihe New District. Positioned directly behind the library across the beach, the restaurant was conceived through an exploration of how to establish a harmonious coexistence with the library’s imposing solid volume.

The library functions as a spiritual space with a clearly defined boundary, where natural elements such as wind, light, and surrounding views are carefully framed, allowing visitors to gaze at the sea from its terraced seating. In contrast, the restaurant was designed to foster a more open and casual atmosphere. Rather than making the seascape the focal point, as in the library, the ocean serves as a backdrop, subtly drawing attention as diners observe activities on the water through incidental glances.

Trees are seamlessly integrated within the fragmented spatial boundaries and courtyards, allowing the architecture to resemble a floating, non-directional canopy above the undulating landscape, blending into the surrounding woods. Structurally, the design consists of three sequential layers: the tree crowns at the top, the building roof in the middle, and the dining area below. As the branches sway with the sea breeze, they cast shifting shadows through skylights onto the walls and floors, creating a dynamic interplay of light and movement. This ever-changing pattern enhances the dining experience, fostering an indirect yet immersive connection between space and nature.

The inner tree courtyards introduce natural light and airflow deep into the restaurant, while also serving as structural anchors that function like hinges, both dividing and connecting the surrounding spaces. The full-height, fair-faced cast-in-place concrete walls of the courtyards absorb the sheer forces of the building, enabling the thick eaves to be supported by slender steel columns measuring just 120mm in diameter. These thin structural elements, closely resembling the surrounding tree trunks, allow the architecture to seamlessly integrate into the wooded environment.

The restaurant has no designated main entrance; instead, clear glass sliding doors are positioned along the perimeter. When fully opened, these doors dissolve spatial boundaries, transforming the structure into a pavilion-like space accessible from any direction. Visitors first step into a transitional area with a lowered eave before gradually entering the main dining space, where a raised central roof allows immersive natural light to flood the interior.

The design intentionally limits excessive side light by carefully controlling the eave height, creating the sensation of being beneath a floating “cloud” through the use of light-filtering waffle beams. These beams eliminate the need for strictly aligned load-bearing elements and reduce the number of structural walls, allowing for a staggered and fluid spatial arrangement.

The design reflects the belief that each architectural typology embodies a distinct lifestyle and emotional expression. These public spaces hold significance beyond their everyday function, shaped by the needs of the people who use them while, in turn, influencing and enriching their daily experiences.

Light, wind, and views serve as essential elements in architecture, guiding people toward a deeper connection with nature. These elements seamlessly integrate individuals with their surroundings, allowing everyday spaces to acquire a profound spiritual significance.