GEN

Unique / Unconventional Aspects of GEN, Kaohsiung (Michelin Star Restaurant):

1. Architectural Facade as Culinary Homage
   The restaurant's building features a striking facade composed of 1,080 perforated metal panels designed to ripple like flames. This design is a deliberate homage to the kitchen’s craft, symbolizing the culinary artistry within. The panels vary in perforation size, transparency, length, and tilt angle, creating dynamic light and shadow effects that animate the surface. This architectural choice also reflects Kaohsiung’s industrial heritage, linking the restaurant’s identity to local craftsmanship and culture.

2. Fusion of Tradition and Innovation in Design
   After typhoon damage, the restaurant rejected preserving a faux-historic wooden screen and instead embraced a bold, modern identity with a deep red outer layer. This color is drawn from the restaurant’s brand and serves to redefine its street presence, casting Taiwanese culinary heritage in a new, innovative light. The design balances respect for tradition with a contemporary architectural language, making the building itself a dialogue between old and new.

3. Material and Structural Innovation for Resilience
   The facade’s metal panels are custom-engineered as part of a prefabricated clip-on system that allows for efficient installation and provides resilience against typhoons and earthquakes. This practical innovation ensures the restaurant’s physical presence is durable in Kaohsiung’s challenging climate, blending advanced engineering with aesthetic and cultural symbolism.

• Abalone: Featured in the signature dish "Braised Abalone with Aged Reddish, Chinese Mushroom in Supreme Abalone Sauce," where it is braised in a rich broth and retains its whole shape, absorbing the sauce beautifully.
• Aged Reddish (Radish): Used in the same dish, this radish is aged for 30 years and contributes to the rich, layered flavor of the broth.
• Chinese Mushrooms: These mushrooms are also part of the braised abalone dish, maintaining their full shape and offering a hot, moist texture with a delicious taste.
• Scallops: Highlighted in the "chargrilled scallop with kombu, peas and parsley sauce," which provides a delightful mix of textures.