Mansion Feast Restaurant, Beijing

As is typical of siheyuans, the compound has three conjoined courtyards surrounded by a series of chambers with traditional, grey, pitch-tiled roofs. These chambers are connected by a corridor running through the middle of the compound.

From the entrance, one passes through an archway then a corridor into the first courtyard where marble paving stones set amidst landscaped waterways lead to an open kitchen that’s semi-concealed by a bamboo “forest”. From behind the bamboo trees, guests can see scrumptious roast duck hanging in the display case of the open kitchen.

To the right of the entrance, is a terrace that functions as a three-dimensional viewing platform where guests can look down at the courtyards, the Beijing Imperial Academy and hutong beyond the compound’s walls, and also take in views of the sky above. A stone staircase leads up to this terrace. LDH Architectural Design installed mirrors panels on the wall of the staircase landing on the terrace level, so a reflection of Beijing’s old town and the golden roof of the Beijing Imperial Academy can be seen before guests step onto the terrace.