LTW refreshes Park Hyatt Beijing with contemporary design while paying homage to traditional Chinese courtyards and Beijing’s imperial past.
Marking the 10th anniversary of Beijing’s landmark Park Hyatt hotel, LTW was tasked to redesign and refresh the hotel’s 246 rooms and suites, the dining area and function rooms.
Sitting atop Beijing Yintai Centre in the bustling business district of Chaoyang, Park Hyatt Beijing is located along Jianguomenwai Main Street, a major road that historically straddled the outermost Imperial City wall. Inspired by the concept of siheyuan, a traditional Chinese courtyard and a symbolic icon of Beijing architecture, LTW’s design pays homage to the courtyard’s symmetrical composition, architecture and interiors, bringing Beijing’s nostalgic past into the modern, bustling cityscape of China’s capital. “We wanted to translate elements of Beijing’s nostalgic past into a more uplifted, modern and sophisticated design,” explains Su Seam Teo, Partner at LTW Designworks.
Preserving majority of the hotel/s original layout, LTW injects a refined, contemporary functionality with soft, neutral tones to complement Park Hyatt’s signature aesthetics of warm timber furnishings, all-white linens and elements of bold, dynamic lines. Five defining colour swatches were inspired by the siheyuan: green, evoking the tranquil garden and the lush courtyard; yellow, orange and reds, representing auspicious koi fishes and Beijing’s golden past; and brown and grey, depicting wood and tree branches, timber and hard stone furniture found in traditional Chinese residences. “These colours must tell a story of a bygone era, whilst fitting the modern and contemporary space,” says Teo.
Beginning with the redesigns for Park Hyatt Beijing’s Guestrooms, Pre-function Area and Ballrooms, LTW brings a quiet balance of history and modernity into muted residential-style interiors. Influenced by the peaceful nature of the courtyard, a neutral palette of beige, green and grey was chosen to uplift the overall tones of the Guestrooms. According to Su, the greatest challenge of the project was the client’s insistence on keeping the existing elements within the rooms. But, LTW relished the opportunity to boost the functionality of the existing structures with elegant residential-style designs. Complementing existing warm timber furnishings, dark wood grains and flooring, each guestroom is designed with muted wall panels and an oversized earthy-toned carpet with a striped abstract illustration of plum blossom, depicted in stripes of varying green hues. Etches and ink paintings of traditional courtyards decorate the walls, appointed with small bronze statues of amahs to pay tribute to the female workers of the Imperial times.
Contrasting the muted colour palette of the guestrooms, the 850-square metre Pre-Function Area on the third level is a vibrant illustration of the siheyuan’s outdoor common space. The area and three adjacent Ballrooms are adjoined by expansive, wall-to-wall carpeting embellished with waves of orange, deep crimson and cedar, creating a vivid imagery of rippling fish pond. Featuring floor-to-ceiling copper panels with abstract illustrations of the pond-side trees, the Ballroom’s existing structure and finishing are enhanced with the repainting bronze-coloured ceilings for an elevated splendour.
LTW was also tasked to revamp the 25 suites of the hotel, remodelled into multi-functional spaces to accommodate both social gatherings and business meetings, while emanating a sense of luxurious refuge. Following the design language of the guestrooms, the Executive Suite is exquisitely furnished with meticulous designs, dressed in a woven accent carpet in light brown and grey. Appropriately outfitted for business travellers, the Executive Suite encompasses a separate living room, a master bedroom and a spacious work area in the layout that resembles the siheyuan composition. Comfortably seating up to eight guests, the dining area is complete with a glass-topped wooden table and comfortable leather chairs in mahogany – an ode to the traditional wooden door of the courtyard houses.
On Level 49 sits the Chairman Suite, the largest suite in the hotel which overlooks an expansive majestic view of Chang’an Street and the Forbidden City. The 240-square-metre suite offers a lavish, artistic space that can accommodate multi-functional purposes, replete with spacious living room, dining area and fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, and an expansive bedroom to suit the needs of every discerning guest.
The designers at LTW focused on creating a timeless design experience that outlasts a century for the renovation of Park Hyatt Beijing through a thoughtful sense of place, fine detailing and pops of accent colours that lend a peaceful yet innovative feel to the setting.
Photo Credits: Edmon Leong
Project: Park Hyatt
Location: Beijing, China
Design Studio: LTW Designworks
Website: ltwdesignworks.com
