Natural is Best, Xiqu Centre

Natural is Best is an established snack food retailer with stores throughout Hong Kong and China. Metagram has designed their flagship concept store in the West Kowloon Xiqu Centre for Chinese Opera, Hong Kong.

Metagram drew inspiration from traditional Chinese Opera sets, and added a contemporary twist. Throughout the design are Chinese inspired shelves and lattice detailing. The bright colours of China red and sky blue were inspired by colour symbolism in Chinese Opera, where brightly coloured costumes and makeup symbolize different character traits within the opera narratives.

The design fundamentally creates a theatrical experience for visitors. Outside the store, visitors are addressed by a formal central axis. Zones along the axis are divided by a series of ‘moon gates’ - a traditional architectural element used in Chinese gardens - each signifying dramatic progression into a distinct new space.

The entry space acts as a grand lobby, first welcoming visitors through the narrow site-entry. Visitors are treated to a cloud-like banket of lanterns, while symmetrical full height curved shelves add grandeur to the space. This entry space is focused toward a central display, featuring the brand and a display of Chinese style chests - a reference to costume chests owned by Chinese Opera performers.

After passing through the second moongate, visitors find themselves in the main space of the store. Framed in the moongate is a striking hanging sculpture of celebrated Chinese Opera artists 譚穎倫 (Alan Tam) and 杜詠心 (Christie To) floating above an illuminated platform.

The most striking architectural feature in the main space are layered red drapes pulled away from the central axis.Following the axis to the back of the store, framed like a stage, is the main feature of the design - a stunning artwork of 瓊花女 (King Fa Lui) an also celebrated artist, illuminated and set behind mesmerizing coloured gradient glass.

Inside this main space, visitors can browse the store's products while enjoying the artistic installations and pausing at the central communal bench to enjoy a snack before an opera performance.