Located on the ground floor of Shanghai's historic Contemporary Museum of Photography, Art and Culture, MONA is the latest work by architecture studio AIM. The restaurant extends Fotografiska's narrative into a dining experience inspired by Mediterranean cuisine with a bold Asian twist.

For this project, the architects designed an irreverent space both visually and taste-wise, embodying the essence of the museum - a fusion of heritage and contemporary vibrancy.

MONA embraces its industrial setting, emphasising the exposed bricks, concrete textures and subtle references to the building's past. Conceived as an immersive space, the restaurant offers a combination of light, shadow and materiality that perfectly reflects Fotografiska's atmosphere. MONA combines privacy and openness through careful interior design, allowing customers to feel part of the museum's dynamic flow.

Every detail manifests the sublime combination of old and new. Natural, raw materials combined with contemporary elements create a space that honours the building's historical significance while looking to the future. AIM Studio's choice of customised furniture and unique art pieces reflects Fotografiska's mission to tell beautiful visual stories, positioning MONA as a restaurant and an extension of the museum's cultural fabric.

Inspired by European bistros, this is where art, culture and gastronomic innovation converge. It serves as a meeting point, bringing locals and tourists together in a location that seems to have been part of the fabric of Shanghai forever but is still fresh and invigorating. MONA has energised the Suzhou Creek neighbourhood, adding a new rhythm and dynamic to the urban landscape.