Wynn Magazine - Las Vegas
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/314388
photography by barbara kraft F rom the ceiling of the newly revamped Wing Lei restaurant at Wynn, a series of crescent-shaped beams hangs overhead in rows, their knotted swirls emphasized by a bright white lac- quered finish. Oversize emerald-green silk tassels hang from the corners of each one, as do large gold-leafed Chinese lan- terns suspended in a stately line. These beams are significant for their visual power—a panoramic canopy effect that draws the eye and makes guests take notice: no easy feat in a 4,600-square-foot Michelin-starred space with inspiring design, rich texture, and minute details at every turn. But beyond the beams' visual impact, there's a cultural connection: They are designed to replicate "frog beams," a key element in classical Chinese architecture (their name comes from the fact that their curves resemble the hind legs of a frog). They were even big in Ming Dynasty fashion: Imperial jackets had frog- style bar closures on their fronts. "All of my work is based on historical inspiration," says Roger Thomas, executive vice president of design for Wynn Design and Development and the aesthetic mastermind behind this project. "If I'm doing a Chinese res- taurant, I'm going to look at the greatest era of Chinese architecture, and that's the Ming Dynasty." That historical inspiration is evident throughout Wynn 69 Hand-painted gold-leaf screens set off Wing Lei's group dining area. 068-072_Wynn_FEAT_Design_Spring14.indd 69 5/14/14 2:19 PM