Asian Temple

Asian Temple is the flagship restaurant of the newly developed Riverside Wharf complex in Miami, a vibrant destination featuring a 192-key hotel, day club, nightclub, and an array of restaurants and shops. Designed to create a seamless blend of culture and modernity, Asian Temple spans two levels, offering an immersive dining and entertainment experience.

Initially conceived by a different design firm, the Riverside Wharf project faced significant challenges, including an $80 million budget overrun and uncoordinated construction documents. To resolve these issues, the client engaged Gensler to reimagine the space, optimize costs, and deliver a constructible design solution.

At the heart of Asian Temple’s design are custom canopies inspired by traditional Asian umbrellas. These metal and backlit printed resin structures were developed through a collaborative effort with Armstrong to ensure a seamless and efficient installation.

The restaurant’s aesthetic is intentionally moody and sophisticated, drawing subtle inspiration from Asian culture. The material palette includes black and cherry wood for warmth and contrast, Asian-inspired wallcoverings that add texture and authenticity,
black pebble flooring, and shou sugi ban wood accents, grounding the space in tradition.