Capturing Nanjing’s spirit through modern light, subtly reimagining memory and place, inspired by the city’s scholarly heritage.

Rising above the rhythmic pulse of Nanjing’s Hexi district, Andaz Nanjing Hexi is more than a hotel—it is a sensorial composition, layered with wit, warmth, and whispered homages to the city’s storied past. Conceived by Avalon Collective, the interiors speak a language of sophisticated restraint, where design becomes not just a backdrop, but a narrative—an unfolding journey from the urban to the intimate.

From the very first threshold—the compact entry foyer—guests are ushered into a world where nothing is accidental, and everything intentional. Vertical timber panels cleverly conceal doors and fire exits while rhythmically spelling out the Andaz name, a nod to typography as both art and architecture. A slim concierge desk anchors the space with quiet confidence, framed by tall bookcases that conceal a topographical artwork of Nanjing—subtle layers that reward the observant eye.

At the Level 6 lobby, the hotel’s social nucleus unfolds in a sweeping, double-height volume. Walls are eschewed in favour of suspended panels and sculptural screens, which delineate zones with the lightest of touches. The effect is one of openness and flow—a landscape of social possibility. At its heart, a glowing tangerine-hued artwork floats above the bar, a modern totem that binds the reception, lounge, and dining areas into one seamless gesture.

The bistro, set within an open kitchen, becomes a stage for appetite and activity. Avalon Collective transforms the practical into poetic—exhausts are masked by towering bookcases that stretch towards the eight-metre ceiling, their rhythm echoing the strokes of Chinese calligraphy. A secondary bookshelf subtly conceals the kitchen, reinforcing the layered and modular design language. Nearby, the Chinese restaurant reveals a quieter confidence: four discreet private dining rooms tucked behind mirrored ceiling artwork that visually echoes the drop panel above the bar.

Ascend to the bar and meeting, and the tone shifts, the scalloped ceiling lit by soft, indirect beams crowns a monochrome bar and restaurant, accented with brushed brass and geometric glass cabinets. Elevated seating platforms offer panoramic views of Nanjing’s skyline, while discreet meeting rooms mirror the bar’s aesthetic, where business and leisure blur with effortless ease.

And then, the guestrooms. Loft-like in form, they are composed with a minimalist hand and an expressive heart. Warm timber, sloped ceilings, and elegant Chinese motifs create a deeply personal interlude. Lantern-inspired sconces and brushstroke-like pendants pay homage to local craft, while a multi-use desk, modelled on antique Chinese tables, invites guests to work, write, or share tea. Each surface reveals surprises—from the vibrant interior of a wardrobe to a concealed mosaic in the shower—evoking the quiet delight of unwrapping a silk robe.

The House of Andaz is not a facsimile of Nanjing, but a contemporary re-reading—a place where memory is reframed through the lens of modern light. Its quiet mastery lies in its restraint, in design that listens as much as it speaks. Here, the past is not recreated—it is reimagined.

Project: Andaz Nanjing Hexi
Location: China
Design Studio: Avalon Collective
Photo Credits: Jonathan Leijonhufvud
Website: avaloncollective.com