JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio’s concept for Xiao Ting was the brand’s first collaboration with The Four Seasons. The 5-Star dining concept opened in spring 2021, replacing a café, Xiao Ting is a Guangdong-style casual dining and tea-house destination at The Four Seasons Hotel Macao Cotai Strip, inspired by the region’s history as a Southern Chinese trading port, a former European colony, and the birthplace of Lingnan arts, culture, and poetry. These influences gave the designers an opportunity to inject a fresh perspective for the spirit of the refurbished space.
The design works with these European elements and utilised the delicate placement of Asian embellishments throughout the restaurant, such as the incorporation of Lingnan forms on the metal and timber screens, bespoke carved brass inlays located on all tabletops and counters, as well as the use of fabrics with patterns and embroidery showing off oriental motifs on bold and fluid rattan-backed chairs and banquettes. The design’s aim was to create a novel journey, destination, and experience for all guests each time they visit, experiencing meals day and night with various seating configurations and perspectives. Refined design details make use of luxurious materials that celebrate the spatial narrative. In addition, JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio sought to inject the space with a bold and youthful approach to selecting materials with pops of colour and texture, maximising natural daylight with new sheer curtains, and bringing in fresh greenery with indoor plants and bespoke ceramic pots to bring the outside in.
Collaboration was key throughout the project. Seasoned hotel and hospitality FFE expert, Emma Maclean, provided invaluable partnership, collaborating with JJ Acuna every step of the way. Unique metal works by French artist Elsa Jean De Dieu, custom area rugs by Malaysian Designer Omar Khan, and Chinese ink brush works Hong Kong Artist, Night Fung, infuse the space with custom pieces, amplifying the bold and poetic approach of the restaurant’s conceptual narrative. Elsa’s artworks revolve around celebrating Macao as a contemporary and luxurious seaside travel destination by reflecting on its diverse vegetation and its fascinating past as a trading port carrying precious cargo and sails. Omar created elegant custom-made area rugs highlighting the intricacy of rattan weaves referencing Macao’s colonial history and the weaving in materiality used throughout the project. Night Fung’s work is inspired by Southern China’s painting culture, creating moody and atmospheric pieces linking the concept to another time and place while utilising youthful, fresh, and refined colour palettes.
The marrying together of Asian and western flavours was the fundamental inspiration behind the design. The hotel’s existing colonial architectural elements from a time gone by are referenced and highlighted in the site’s elegant mouldings, wainscotting, and existing stone fireplace which the design’s concept has carefully retained and incorporated.