The fast-food chain’s CUBE stores by Steve Leung Design in China kick off a refresh of its outlets.
March 25th, 2021
Globally, there is arguably no other brand more familiar than McDonald’s. When it was announced that Steve Leung Design (SLD), usually known for its design of high-end residential properties, had designed the fast-food juggernaut’s latest flagship restaurants in China, the news came as a surprise to say the least. Nonetheless, its contemporary proposal for how McDonald’s restaurants in China can be reimagined is unwaveringly true to the brand’s DNA.
SLD had taken on the ambitious task of reimagining how McDonald’s restaurants in China could look like, beginning first with its Chengdu and Shenzhen outlets. The design team’s CUBE design scheme aptly started with the Happy MealTM. Wrapped up in that simple cardboard box are fond childhood memories of eager anticipation, yummy treats and fun surprises. It followed that both restaurants integrate the cubic proportions of the box with fresh but familiar references to childhood memories of McDonald’s.
Modular square elements make up the formal and graphical foundation of the restaurants and are designed to be adaptable to different settings. “Whilst having to carefully consider the restaurant’s daily operations, we also had to make sure our design scheme could be highly versatile and flexible in different settings. We had to carve a design that could be easily adopted and executed by any contractor in different locations with diverse floor plans and spatial constraints, and targeting a clientele with heterogeneous social and cultural backgrounds,” says the firm’s founder, Steve Leung.
Projecting an easy familiarity that most associate with McDonald’s, a warm palette of colours was chosen and applied consistently throughout both restaurants. Iconic ingredients such as the meat patty, lettuce and mayonnaise are represented as brownish-red, lime green and warm grey respectively. These colours are fleshed out not just in the interior and furniture, but in graphic representations of the menu. The mood is distinctly McDonald’s—happy.
And if one is attentive, you’ll find the restaurant actually smiling. The signature smile on the Happy MealTM box is subtly incorporated throughout the design as a “Hidden Smile”. The gentle curve of a lamp or the rounded profile of furniture and decorations are examples.
“The collaboration was truly one of a kind, compared to any other SLD projects in the past,” says Leung. “I hope our CUBE design will inspire unforgettable dining experiences by creating cheerful spaces for people of all ages to connect with moments of carefree happiness, spreading my design philosophy of “Enjoy Life, Enjoy Design.”
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
A hospitality venue in the heart of Osaka comprising four dining options – a place where nostalgic pastimes meet high-end dining.
Extrapolating the typology of farmhouse architecture, Cameron Anderson Architects (CAARCH) has drawn on the local architecture of Mudgee in both form and materiality to deliver a surprising suite of buildings.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
London-based Carmody Groarke and Paris-based TVK have been announced as winners of a milestone competition for the new Bibliothèque nationale de France conservation centre.
Eccentricity and refinement blend at Giant Steps Wines’ new Tasting Room – a picture-perfect place for guests to wine down.