How to relocate one of Shanghai’s most successful and popular restaurant to a new prime location on the South Bund overlooking the river and towards Pudong, while maintaining the energy of the old much smaller restaurant to it's new but much larger home? Ignoring the image of the old El Willy, a new tailored restaurant concept was developed that balanced the persona of the owner and Chef Willy Trullas with distinct old school Barcelona cool.

Planning the restaurant around Willy and his kitchen, the design allowed, through various level changes the opportunity for all guests to blend the whimsical and fun environment of the restaurant with the absurd spectacle of the futurama skyscrapers and neon nonsense outside the windows.

Using mainly recycled items; colourful traditional ceramic tiles and patina floors, a bar counter made of solid wood from an old factory that wraps the semi-open kitchen, coupled with painted sliding glass panels of funky graphics and recipes, all gently lit, evokes memories of the traditional tapas bars of Spain.

Banquet seating, eclectic colorful leather and fabric chairs, bare wooden tables, and quirky decoration from Spain complete the playful fun environment topped of with an Iberian leg of ham.

completed spring 2012