Experience the Houses With Kengo Kuma & Andre Fu
Swire Hotels’ “Experience the Houses” follows two travelers and their memorable stays at their flagship hotels in Asia and at the same time, demonstrates the group’s initiative in pioneering new approaches to the luxury hotel experience.
Both The Opposite House and The Upper House are portrayed in the “day-in-the-life” of a hotel guest, as they experience all the tranquility and luxury amenities that are provided with a stay at any of the two hotels. See the video below.
No longer does it suffice for travelers to visit a beautifully designed hotel that certainly pleases the eye, but fails to fully address everything a guest could need when they check in. Aesthetically stunning design withstanding, Swire Hotels sought to reach new heights in the hotel industry by treating the experience as a craft, working closely with Kengo Kuma of Tokyo on the architectural and interior design of The Opposite House in Beijing, and local Hong Kong architect André Fu on their flagship there, The Upper House. From conception to construction, the design direction was organic and sensitive to the relationship between the spaces themselves and the surrounding area and culture, allowing the final design decisions to derive from a collage of memories and emotions. As to how their design ethic translated into the finished hotels, both locations share the travelers’ desire to simply get away, enveloping guests with a sense of calm, simplicity and hospitality. It’s no surprise that Kengo’s design for The Opposite House opted to distance itself from the overt modernity of the city. From its grass-toned glass exterior to the simple pairings of white cloth and wood grain against stone walls and angular minimalist furniture in the suites, the focus is decidedly less on the features and more on the relaxing ambiance offered by traditional Asian interior design. The hotel’s spacious atrium and art house also help to inspire wonder with its extensive collection of modern art by 10 prominent Chinese artists from Beijing, Hong Kong, Australia and London. Similarly, the small 117-room Upper House seeks to whisk guests away from the bustling surroundings of Hong Kong Island where the hotel is located to a warm but informal place of escape. Its darker and more neutral palette paired with warm lighting serve to heighten the intimacy of its generously-spaced interiors while treating guests to contemporary East-West blend of design styles Hong Kong is known for.
