Nin Hao is a harmonius fusion of Fujianese heritage and Nordic-inspired design

An image featuring the Nordic-inspired decor of restaurant Nin Hao in Brooklyn. — Nin Hao is a captivating Fujianese restaurant, located in Brooklyn's Prospect Heights.

From art installations to surprising dining setups, every detail of Brooklyn restaurant Nin Hao is crafted to invite curiosity and connection. Finnish Design Shop’s Contract Sales were involved in curating the unique scene – join us as we explore this ever-evolving space where culture, design, and community come together!

RESTAURANT NIN HAO, a Fujianese gem nestled in Brooklyn's Prospect Heights, artfully marries traditional Chinese aesthetics and culture with modern design. With soaring 16-foot-tall curtain walls that let in abundant sunlight and the clever use of translucent materials, this restaurant transforms throughout the day. Whether basking in soft daylight or glowing like a lantern at night, Nin Hao beckons guests to savor a blend of cultural richness and contemporary flair.

The interior design of Nin Hao comes from the creative minds of Buzz Wei, Yu-Hsiang Lin, Chung-Wei Lee of Plan Plan Architecture. We sat down with designer Chung-Wei Lee to learn more about the poetic space.

Hello, Chung-Wei! We are in awe of Nin Hao's layout; the open space and the expansive glass façades served as an intriguing starting point for this project. How did you still manage to create such an intimate ambiance?
“The restaurant is situated at the corner of a newly completed mixed-use building in Brooklyn, New York. The 16-foot-high ceilings and full-height glazed storefronts, which bathe the space in natural light, formed the foundation of our design approach. When we first encountered the site, it was an unfinished shell – devoid of character, as is often the case with new developments in the city.

“The carefully curated surfaces and their distinct characteristics not only complement the building’s architecture but also reflect the restaurant’s unique identity”

By introducing a series of light-filtering and diffusing elements above seat level, we created a "lightbox" effect, playing with both natural and artificial lighting to soften the intense interior exposure while generating moments of visual intrigue for passersby.

For balance, we employed opaque yet smooth materials in warm gray tones and wood textures, fostering an intimate, tactile connection with guests. These carefully curated surfaces and their distinct characteristics not only complement the building’s architecture but also reflect the restaurant’s unique identity.”

What were your biggest challenges during the project?
“In this project, we introduced an unconventional combination of materials – translucent curtain textiles, transparent polycarbonate multiwall panels, cement tiles, aluminum panels, and wood. Together, these materials act as a bridge connecting the expansive, light-filled space and the tactile, personal dining experience of each guest.

While it was challenging to seamlessly integrate materials with such distinct appearances, textures, and levels of transparency, it was equally enjoyable to orchestrate their transitions and fine-tune their details, creating an effortless sense of cohesion.”

Did your initial vision evolve during the process?
“We were fortunate that many of our initial design concepts were successfully executed, thanks to the client’s trust and support throughout the process. A series of mockups of different sections of the space informed us how to fine-tune the installations of each material and lighting fixtures, to achieve the spatial quality we envisaged.”

You’ve chosen quite a few Nordic-inspired furniture and luminaires for the space. How did you arrive at this delightful fusion of cultures?
“We discovered an intriguing similarity between Nordic or Nordic-inspired furniture and traditional Asian furniture. For example, the Mattiazzi MC5 Solo chair, designed by Studio Nitzan Cohen, features a curved backrest that evokes the form of the Chinese round-backed armchair (圈椅), providing a sense of comfort with its smooth shapes while doing away with decorations.

“Universality across cultures fascinates us and inspires us to create dialogues between objects from different origins”

This universality across cultures fascinates us and inspires us to create dialogues between objects from different origins. The pairing of Isamu Noguchi's Akari globe pendant lights with the cone-shaped Wästberg W151 extra-large pendant was in line with this thinking.”

An image featuring designers of Plan Plan Architecture. — From left to right: Buzz Wei, Yu-Hsiang Lin, and Chung-Wei Lee

Could you tell us a bit more about Plan Plan: do you mainly focus on hospitality, or do you work with a wider range of projects? What drives you?
“Plan Plan is a relatively young practice, though collectively, the three of us bring nearly a decade of experience from working in various firms before founding the studio. Our interests span a wide range of scales and typologies – from residential, hospitality, and commercial projects to institutional and installation works.

What drives us is a deep curiosity to uncover the unique potential of each project – guided by diverse perspectives, cultural contexts, and narratives. Our goal is to craft spaces that resonate with people, revealing layers of meaning and possibility through thoughtful, intentional design.”