During the period of the Republic of China, an upper-class family moved into a mansion on the shores of West Lake which would serve as a gathering place. In response to new development trends, and the evolving needs of the owners, Daxiang Design was entrusted to complete a renovation to transform the mansion into a restaurant.

Situated in an obscure location near West Lake, the surrounding environment is characterized by charm and nature, as opposed to other nearby properties. The residential villa has now been transformed into a hidden private restaurant in a peaceful setting.

The restaurant entrance integrates the functions of a covered bridge, foyer, patio, and lobby. The designer added a volume to the L-shaped building's concave point, which led to a central orientation to highlight the importance of the entrance, while also guiding people to the entrance.

Walking into the main hall, busy chefs in the kitchen can be seen through the glass of the heavy lattice door, thus whetting the appetities of arriving guests. The living room area is partitioned by a wine cabinet, providing the room with a bar counter, a stove, and a sofa.

The original entrance, located in the corner of the building, was transformed into a secondary entrance, with the staircase redirected to create a bright and spacious new path. The challenge was to link the upper and lower floors of the original site, marked by a distinct sense of separation. The sense of separation of each floor was softened through the implementation of a giant spiral staircase, creating a natural connection between the two-and-a-half levels of space. The spiral staircase becomes the focal point of this area, spiraling upwards under bright light emanating from above.

The second floor adopts a montage technique to separate a traditional staircase and the modern elevator. Bright red, white, and gray colors form a sharp contrast that renders the elevator hall memorable to guests.

The low-set second layer of the original site limited its space significantly. Therefore, the  height and width were expanded by exposing the pitched roof structure. The designer then used the height of the sloping roof to increase the attic space, which is now used as a catering R&D room and KTV leisure area.

The supporting beam-column structure uses different colors of wood, and the attic design lowers the ceiling of the dining area. The mirrored surface not only deflects from the volume of the roof and the columns, but also projects reflections of the dining table and outdoor scenery. A corner of the original roof was lifted and converted into a terrace. When it rains, a glass roof shelters guests in the spirit of rain on banana leaves found in traditional Suzhou gardens. The designer uses the linkage of auditory taste and seasonal climate change to infuse the space with the beauty of artistic conception.

In the private room created on the second floor, a box with heavy gray as the main tone contains a water bar and a rest area, which not only makes efficient use of the small space, but also reflects the profound meaning of "the courtyard is a small courtyard". The design added a new water element to the room, allowing guests to enter the room on a bridge at the end of the creek. The skylight of the room scatters light over the water, sparkling alongside flames beside the creek.

The style of IN VILLA is elegant and gentle. The white grille is matched with the gray silk surface of hand-painted fine brushwork as if the petals are gently falling, and the crisp chirping of birds can be heard. The restaurant also provides a "butler service", including reservations, a hotel shuttle, a box layout, taste preferences, and more, ensuring a guest experience reminiscent of an aristocratic comforts.

Outside the dining hall, across the path, guests can sit by the courtyard pool and watch the water cascade against a rock. When night falls, a private house party comes to an end.