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Global hospitality design leaders HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates adopted an innovative ‘Folding & Unfolding’ solution to styling Starwood’s 100th hotel in China at the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel.
Τhe new 441-room business hotel on the outskirts of Chao Yang Central Business District, close to Beijing Capital International Airport, was redesigned from an office building. Existing architecture of exposed columns in what has become the lobby ran counter to traditional ‘open-plan’ design for greeting guests. “This design composed of movement, as guests need to weave through the space to the reception and lift lobby,” explained HBA’s lead designer on the project, Fiona Bagaman, Associate of HBA Hong Kong.
But rather than concealing the columns behind walls, HBA purposely exposed them – adopting a ‘Folding & Unfolding’ theme, “like threads interlocking to weave a fabric, the concept was fine-tuned to the theme of a Chinese folded fan,” explained Ms Bagaman “The design detail for the columns was extremely difficult to achieve, interlocking different metal finishes with lighting. It had to be very precise and organised, creating strong alignments within the space, as circulation flow was quite messy to start with.”
Yet ultimately, the intricate design integrating columns in such a relatively small lobby space creates an interesting and long-lasting impression – and the theme worked so well that it was adopted for detail throughout the hotel, including the swimming pool walls and ceiling, wrapped in a similar screen effect.
With a long track record of styling Sheraton-branded hotels for Starwood, HBA was chosen to design the group’s landmark 100th China property, and was given a relatively free hand in designing the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel. With this in mind, HBA wanted to design an upgraded Sheraton property different from the rest. Scope of work extended through all public areas of the tower; from the challenging, columned lobby and lobby lounge to guestrooms, ballroom and pre-function spaces, spa & health club, and four restaurants – Italian, Japanese, Chinese and all-day dining. Spacious guestrooms averaging 45 sqm were opened further with the use of glass and polished chrome, in a calm, soothing palette of light blue.
Starwood’s signature ‘Shine Spa’ concept was “given a bit of a spin” with opalescent blue and green reflections against a pale, light backdrop. The 1,000 sqm Grand Ballroom and pre-function space “relates to Chinese sesame and chilies” with hints of red and orange contrasting against a contemporary carpet and Lasvit designed chandelier. The Lobby and Lounge are in warming autumn palettes of deep reds and golden brown, with nickel silver trimmings. Among F&B venues, the concept for all-day dining restaurant, Feast, is based on basket weave in a natural and refreshing palette. The Chinese restaurant was styled in goldfish relief and the Japanese restaurant is styled after a contemporary black and white zen garden, paired with high-gloss Macassar ebony wood panels. In keeping with its cuisine, the Italian restaurant is homely, accented in raw, rustic olive green.
Given that it is designed primarily for business travellers, in a business district surrounded by office buildings, the Sheraton Beijing Dongcheng Hotel does not rank among HBA’s higher profile projects. However, Ms Bagaman added: “It not only proves that no project is too small for HBA but also that no project is too complicated for us. Despite being an existing office building constrained by a lot of columns and its ceiling height, HBA still worked around it to produce an upscale and contemporary project.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
