Riding on the success of their first location on the busy Mariahilfer Strasse in Vienna’s 7th district, the Laolao group decided to get a foothold in the city center. Laolao Central occupies a small storefront in the Hochhaus Herrengasse, Vienna’s first tall building from the 1930’s. In keeping with the culinary concept of high quality homemade Chinese noodles and gyoza, we wanted to bring the street into the building, but not just any street: we wanted to tap into the energy and atmosphere of the Asian night market. The narrow space is organized around three furniture volumes, two of which directly reference night market stands. The third volume houses the cashier and a drink vitrine and is clad in the same cementitious spackle covering the floor and walls. The uniformity of the surrounding surfaces creates an opportunity for the market stands to sand out. They are free-standing, stainless steel constructions, partially covered in steel mesh and colorful neon graphics. They act as small stages, visible from the street, where the gyoza and noddle chefs can show off their craft. An understated seating area with bolted steel tables and lean-to stools accommodates a handful of guests on the go.