The restaurant is located in the harbor of Oslo, in Aker Brygge, a very tourist area and appreciated by the inhabitants of Oslo, especially in summer.
Built on Tingvalla Pier, the Ling Ling Restaurant is a unique structure consisting of four small conical shapes, all of which have a different slope and angle, creating the illusion of a wave. Inspired by the maritime environment and the Norwegian tradition of wooden construction, the restaurant takes the form of a boat hull.
This restaurant not only has great gastronomic ambitions, but also sets a new standard in aesthetics with its creative design, striking architecture and the silver color of its Kebony wood cladding. Ling Ling has the shape of a wave, which gives the building its distinct identity. Project architects Alliance and MAPT chose Kebony Clear for the exterior cladding of the restaurant and Kebony Character for the pier floor. Kebony wood fits perfectly into its marine setting thanks to its subtle silver gray patina.
The architects wanted to design a sustainable building with a strong symbolic value. The building has no face or back and offers great flexibility both indoors and outdoors. For example, the ability to move freely between the outside and the inside is preserved by glass doors. The different functions of the building are wrapped in a simple form with a clear identity and the building is a natural addition to this site facing the Oslo fjord. All service related functions are grouped in a central core on the ground floor. The core occupies a small concentrated area, allowing the rest of the building to be flexible and with larger rooms. The wharf can still be viewed and used as a public space and as a multipurpose area for various cultural and recreational activities.
The interior is largely influenced by the structural elements: The wood ribbon is visible from the inside and with a coating of ash, which is also used in the stairs. The floor is polished concrete, and the glass wall is mounted with minimal joints for maximum transparency. The mezzanine is attached to the roof construction, with a glass balustrade that reflects the aesthetics of the glass wall on the ground floor. The ribbon of wood floats above a wall of glass. Thus, the transparency of the base and the fluid form strengthens the connection between the restaurant and the pier.