Mix It Up

Maria Shollenbarger -- Interior Design, 5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

Firms: Steve Leung Architects and Alan Chan Design Company

Site: Hong Kong

Like so much else in Hong Kong, the MX concept—food served up at light speed in mega-kilowatt interiors—is an archetype of the great things that happen when the best of East and West meet and merge. Steve Leung Architects and the Alan Chan Design Company were hired by the local fast-food chain Maxim's to spin off and roll out a restaurant brand that brings together vibrant color and graphics with dim sum and tea. Now one of approximately 60 locations, this one in the Quarry Bay district is a slick, super-clean, dynamic 2,700-square-foot space.

The MX exploding-hearts logo is the dominant motif, repeated on ceramic wall tiles and molded into the backs of the groovy contoured fiberglass chairs and benches. To take the heart idea a step further, Steve Leung and Alan Chan commissioned artwork from emerging talents in Asia, Australia, and Canada and blew up the results to line the sidewalls. This being a major international city, technology is omnipresent, too. Installed in the tops of two tables, mini LCD screens show financial and entertainment reports as well as music videos. And news tickers alert customers when their meals are ready.

Clockwise from left: The hearts logo appears on custom molded-fiberglass seating at a MX restaurant in the up-and-coming Quarry Bay area. An anime-style image by Koji Takeuchi was scanned, blown up, and printed on canvas. The 2,700-square-foot dining room seats 172.

From top: Custom lamp shades are plastic. A glass partition features vinyl graphics. LCD screens in an "information bar" keep diners abreast of news and entertainment.

THROUGHOUT MISSION CONTRACT FURNITURE CO.: CUSTOM FURNITURE. ART CREATION LIGHTING DESIGN: CUSTOM LAMPS. SPOT LIGHTCO.: TRACK LIGHTING. LIGHTING WORKSHOP COMPANY: LIGHTING CONSULTANT. MING TAT ENGINEERING CO.: GENERAL CONTRACTOR.