InterContinental Hotels Group and HBA set a new standard by rebooting the traditional business hotel in China.
January 7th, 2016
Mainland tourists are emerging as a whole new demographic for the hospitality industry – and InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is among the first to really tap into that with a new brand of hotels. Hualuxe Hotels & Resorts is aimed at this new Mainland market, and, as the first hotel in the chain, Hualuxe Nanchang in Jiangxi province targets the Mainland business traveller through its offering and its design.
All-day dining venue Xian Yan was inspired by Suzhou’s canal markets and features a series of open kitchens
Hualuxe Nanchang is located in a new, mixed-use architectural hub by SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill), and interiors for the 281-room hotel were conceived and created by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA). The hospitality design firm – which was responsible for the interiors of the Four Seasons Hotel Beijing and NUO Hotel Beijing, along with Park Hyatt Hyderabad and The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, at Galaxy Macau, among others – was commissioned to define Hualuxe’s design language with this debut hotel. HBA therefore took a contemporary approach to the interiors, while always keeping Chinese lifestyle and traditions in mind.
Hualuxe Nanchang offers guests plenty of intimate spaces for business and relaxation
With Hualuxe Nanchang, IHG and HBA rethought the traditional hotel concept, presenting a refreshing take that considers the relaxation and business needs of the Mainland market. There are dedicated spaces for private dining, karaoke, mahjong and cards, and there is even a tearoom – a peaceful space that replaces your typical hotel bar.
Hualuxe Nanchang is all set for karaoke sessions
The Summer Palace was a starting point for the design, with secluded zones and open areas inspired by the lakes, gardens and use of space at the royal park in Beijing. The hotel even features an indoor garden on the 36th floor: guests can enjoy water features and a living wall of bamboo. The guestrooms also reference the Summer Palace, with design that evokes the tranquility and greenery of traditional Chinese gardens.
Water features, living bamboo walls and bird-like ceiling installations set the tone in the lobby at Hualuxe Nanchang
“Fundamental to this project was localisation, and creating a space that resonates with Chinese perceptions of luxury, privacy and nature,” says Federico Masin, Partner, HBA Hong Kong. “By revisiting familiar design concepts in a way that is contemporary and fresh, Hualuxe fuses tradition and opulence with comfort and functionality.”
HBA
hba.com
Hualuxe
ihg.com
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Suitable for applications ranging from schools and retail outlets to computer rooms and X-ray suites, Palettone comes in two varieties and a choice of more than fifty colours.
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
Savage Design’s approach to understanding the relationship between design concepts and user experience, particularly with metalwork, transcends traditional boundaries, blending timeless craftsmanship with digital innovation to create enduring elegance in objects, furnishings, and door furniture.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Eccentricity and refinement blend at Giant Steps Wines’ new Tasting Room – a picture-perfect place for guests to wine down.