Seafood Union Food Court
Hong Kong
Turning Raw Idea into a Fish Market-Style Food Court Vision
2014
Our Role
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Concept Strategy & Zoning
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Retail Space Planning
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Business Plan & Landlord Presentation
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Customer Journey & Experience Design
Project Story
Our client runs a seafood restaurant and has strong access to wholesale supply. He had a simple but bold idea: create a seafood-focused food court that uses his sourcing advantage. The site—an unusually large space of over 5,000 sqm in the middle of a busy housing estate—had potential, but the idea existed only in his head. It wasn’t something he could explain clearly to others yet.
What we did
We helped shape that raw idea into something others could see, feel, and understand. The vision was to create a seafood experience that looked and felt like a vibrant wet market—fresh, lively, full of movement—but worked with the hygiene, organisation, and comfort of a proper food court.
To do that, we started with the layout. The total area of the space was over 5,000 sqm, with an overall efficiency of 67%. We divided this space into clear zones:
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Five Restaurants: Approximately 1,000 sqm allocated to five restaurants, each with 100+ seats, designed to offer a variety of dining experiences.
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Seafood Market Food Stalls: Around 1,500 sqm dedicated to over 20 seafood market-style stalls, creating a dynamic and flexible dining environment.
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Leisure Facilities: About 900 sqm for additional amenities such as a café, museum, bar, and retail elements, adding depth to the guest experience.
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Circulation and Back-of-House: Approximately 1,660 sqm for guest circulation pathways and essential back-of-house operations, ensuring seamless flow and operational efficiency.
This zoning allowed the client to showcase his seafood sourcing strength up front, while keeping the customer flow clean and intuitive. The circulation plan was designed so people could browse like in a market, but transition smoothly into a seated dining experience.
Like a film set, it had to feel spontaneous and real on the surface—while staying tightly controlled behind the scenes. We used our commercial planning background to turn this mix of retail, market, and food court functions into a space that could be built, explained, and scaled.
The Result
Although the site didn’t go ahead in the end, our work turned an abstract thought into a clear, presentable concept. With visuals, layout plans, and a simple business summary, the client had something real to show and build on. This process made it possible for others—landlords, partners, or future investors—to see the potential of the idea and take it seriously.
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