MARS Studio Transforms Beijing Underpass into Split Restaurant and Public Walkway
MARS Studio, which started in New York and is now located in Beijing, has completed a unique restaurant project under an active highway in Tongzhou, Beijing. The Intime Group commissioned this restaurant, part of the growing Tongzhou High Line Park. The design divides the space into two parts: one side has a glass-fronted dining area and bar, while the other serves as a corridor for pedestrians and cyclists, separated by a mirrored glass wall that reflects the bridge’s structure. Named LUMINOUS TUNNEL – DOS RESTAURANT, this 108 square meter (1,163 sq ft) venue features new arches to match the bridge design. The space offers a calm blue interior during the day, shifting to vibrant colors at night. Design occurred from December 2025 to February 2026, with construction from March to May 2026, led by Ma Ning and Fu Yajie, with lighting by Chen Mengting and photography by Luo Canhui. This project highlights how urban infrastructure can be creatively reused, maintaining public access while adding commercial spaces.
Key facts
- MARS Studio turned an active highway underpass in Tongzhou into a restaurant.
- Commissioned by Intime Group for a site in the under-construction Tongzhou High Line Park.
- The space is split in half by a mirrored glass wall: one half is a glass-enclosed restaurant and bar, the other remains a public walkway.
- The project is named LUMINOUS TUNNEL – DOS RESTAURANT.
- The interior is 108 square metres (1,163 sq ft).
- Design ran from December 2025 to February 2026; construction from March to May 2026.
- Team: Ma Ning (director designer), Fu Yajie (main designer), Chen Mengting (lighting design).
- Photography by Luo Canhui.
Entities
Artists
- Ma Ning
- Fu Yajie
- Chen Mengting
- Luo Canhui
Institutions
- MARS Studio
- Intime Group
- Tongzhou High Line Park
Locations
- Beijing
- China
- Tongzhou