Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing Architectural and Interior Design Story
Architecture Design by Shanghai Huadu Architect Design Co.
Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel, Beijing's most iconic building, is designed by Chief Designer Zhang Hai Ao and his team from Shanghai Huadu Architect Design Company. Zhang worked with his team of 60 designers from across the globe, including the UK, Italy, Spain, the US, Holland and the Philippines, who spent 60 days developing this amazing building design. "We had an international team because we needed a critical view from people outside of China to give their opinion on modern contemporary Chinese architectural design and to enable us to broaden our ideas on how we can use our design to showcase the Chinese culture to the world," said Zhang.
Design
The compound is set on 47,678-square-metre (513,202 square-feet) grounds and the building is 97 metres (318.2 feet) high with 21 floors. The top of the building reflects the colour of the sky, the middle of the building reflects the Yanshan Mountain, and the bottom of the building reflects the lake. The exterior glass surface, which is covered by over 10,000 pieces of glass panels, spans 18,075 square metres (194,558 square-feet).
The front view is that of the 'Rising Sun' (round shape), symbolic of the fast-developing economy of China. The entrance of the hotel is shaped like the mouth of a fish, symbolising prosperity. From a side-angle view, the hotel building is shaped like a scallop, which represents 'Fortune' in Chinese culture. Other Chinese cultural elements are also used in the design details; for example, the side of the building embraces the concept of traditional Chinese panes.
The roof of floor three (where the main round building starts) is a free-form shape, like a cloud. The whole picture embraces the theme of 'The Cloud lifting the Sun.'
In the past, Chinese people would stand in awe of the sun, which they believed to reflect the core values of Chinese philosophy - that mankind is an integral part of nature and in order to be harmonious, nature should be respected.
"We not only have to consider the 'connection' between the main building and the environment; it is a hotel complex that also involves a private island, so, a vivid image needs to be created for the guests - resulting in, when a guest looks at Yanqi Lake Kempinski from Yanqi Island, it will really give our guests the beautiful picture of the sunrise and sunset," said Zhang.
Construction
Construction of Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel Beijing took 24 months with help from over 9,300 construction workers.
The building was constructed with reinforced concrete and all-glass exterior in order to give the best blend between the building and the natural environment. A super stable structure, Zhang shared that the building can even withstand up to a level eight earthquake.
Zhang said, "People may ask, 'How about light pollution in this kind of all-glass construction?' Of course we should be very cautious with this issue, especially where it will influence the long-term development of Huairou district. Before the decision was made to go ahead with this building design, we had to run many tests and check to ensure that this building will not be a contributor to air pollution in this area."
Environmental
Environmental protection andsustainable development were main considerations, and all types of advanced environmental protection technology were used in the construction of this building. Compared to other shape types, the round shape of the building will not change the wind environment. On the contrary, the shape of the building will help to maintain the original wind environment and the wind plays a key role in the healthy growth of plants. Within the building, all glass panels are four-layered, a much better choice for energy protection compared to concrete walls - this is in consideration of reducing energy consumption and hotel operational costs in the future.
Yanqi Lake Kempinski is probably the first hotel in China that owns the CCHP Systems Applications, which uses natural gas as the main fuel to supply heating and cooling to the hotel. It is also the first hotel in China to use the Gas Power Generation System to reduce energy consumption. All hotel guestrooms have independent ventilation apart from the central air conditioning system to keep the air fresh within the building.
Air Quality
The building is equipped with an indoor air quality monitoring system to ensure a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. Air quality in the underground garage is monitored by a CO concentration monitoring system and is equipped with an automatic start-stop fan. The system also monitors the air quality and air ratio in the public areas with a goal to improve indoor air quality and reduce energy consumption.
Solar Photovoltaics - Sustainable Energy Source
Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into electricity through solar panels. PV is applied to the building's roof and exterior - and any part of the building that is exposed to sunlight. The hotel's solar power system uses Yanqi Lake's solar panels, which are composed of solar cells containing a photovoltaic material, and are located next to the hotel by the dam.
Interior Design by DiLeonardo
Design
As homage to the landscape and architecture, the interior is largely inspired by the idea of framing the view, whether it is capturing the view of the exterior landscape, or framing areas within by enclosing a space, or setting a vignette of the interior decor. The designer created elements of intrigue within the overall design of the hotel by experimenting with the juxtaposition of solids and voids, and infusing reoccurring geometric forms into unexpected spaces, design elements and features.
The Lobby
The centrepiece of the hotel lobby is a custom-designed art feature. Set around the stunning staircase, the feature is composed of thousands of round glass spectrums hanging from the ceiling to the ground on stainless steel cables. Its design abstractly reflects the exterior outline of the mountainous landscape beyond Yanqi Lake. Intentionally set apart, the panels are layered behind each other within the lobby space, each with a unique design intended to create depth as the viewer looks upon it from different angles. The lobby furniture is contemporary and provides a sense of order in the open space while splashes of jewel-toned violets can be found throughout the soft finishes of the decor, carpet design and stone flooring.
Presidential Suite
Refined yet subtle, muted and uncontrived - these are the words to describe the space within the Presidential Suite. The suite is understated with a contemporary flair and furniture. Jackson Pollock-style artworks adorn the walls of the suite, while the large-scale abstract floral-embossed carpet is inlaid with French walnut wood floors. Other detailing includes bevelled mirror-lined friezes around the recessed ceiling and air vents, metallic-backed, fabric wallpaper-lined panels with detailed grooves lining the walls, and silk-like material lining the back of the feature wall bookshelf in the study. The relaxed interior balances with the serene exterior view out to the lake and mountains.
Guestrooms and Suites
The guestroom design is minimal and contemporary yet relaxed. Hints of soft blues conjure a peaceful ambiance, with wallpapered panels softening the overall space while printed fabric selections for accent pillows suggest the hotel's resort location. Honey golden wood in the flooring brightens up the space while providing a sense of warmth for the guest.
Contemporary furniture pieces in dark and golden brown zebrano are accented with metal and mirrored details adding sleekness to the room's decor. The monolithic and large-scaled zebrano wood frame around the bed suggests the 'framing' concept being carried throughout the hotel's design and brings it into the guestroom interior architectural design.
A subtle hint to Chinese influence in the modern interpretation of an antique Chinese wood-carved chair repurposed as a desk chair accompany the work desk along the wall beside the inset television. Smoked glass encases the split bathroom facilities, with the bathtub looking out into the guestroom integrating the bathroom with the living space and allowing for natural light to subtly spill into the space.
Floor Two - Atrium
Floor two connects to the ballroom and meeting rooms. The atrium space, with the connecting staircase to floor two of the hotel, is accented by a large-scale three-dimensional geometric feature wall with integrated lighting. Set within a stone frame, the arrangement is an abstract set of smaller geometric three-dimensional frames of various sizes that run the height of the four-storey space. Suspended within the void of the atrium is a large-scale is a Ruth Asawa-inspired wire-sculpted lighting feature.
Ballroom and Meeting Rooms
The pre-function space features a two-storey-high feature wall with various linear sections composed of interchanging pieces of metal and wood, creating a continuous, bevelled rippling effect along the wall. A row of monolithic rectangular columns extends in front of the feature wall to 'frame' the space. The ceiling design has light alcoves that suspend an arrangement of large-scale lanterns encased within three-dimensional irregular geometric gold frames. The ballroom is envisioned to be a 'jewellery box,' inferring that the most valuable items are within. The wall panels are upholstered in velvet while the main design feature is the ceiling, organised by a grid of squares. Within each square is a chandelier of coloured crystal pieces arranged in various lengths, mimicking the outline of a mountain range with a purplish hue.
For further information, please visit:
www.kempinski.com/press | www.gha.com
Editor's Notes:
Located 60km north of Beijing's city centre, alongside the picturesque Yanqi Lake and boasting panoramic views of Yanshan Mountain and the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, Yanqi Lake Kempinski is Kempinski's largest property in China.
This development includes 595 guestrooms and suites housed across the Yanqi Lake Kempinski Hotel, the Yanqi Lake State Guest House and 12 boutique hotels, all managed by Kempinski. Leisure facilities include 14 restaurants and bars, two Kempinski The Spa, a private marina, the Yanqi Pagoda, recreational and fitness facilities and a Kids Club.
With 14,069 square metres of meeting space, including a 8,277-square-metre conference centre, four ballrooms and 23 meeting rooms, this new Yanqi Lake destination is designed to host high profile government conferences and is set to become the location of choice for large-scale local and international meetings in the region.
Be it dining with loved ones, entertaining business associates, hosting a meeting or staging a global summit, celebrating a large or intimate wedding, or a weekend city escape with the family, the facilities at Yanqi Lake Kempinski offer guests a surprising change from their traditional experience at a resort hotel.
About Kempinski:
Created in 1897, Kempinski Hotels is Europe's oldest luxury hotel group. Kempinski's rich heritage of impeccable personal service and superb hospitality is complemented by the exclusivity and individuality of its properties. Kempinski now manages a portfolio of 74 five-star hotels in 31 countries and continues to add new properties in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Each one reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand without losing sight of its heritage. The portfolio comprises historic landmark properties, award-winning urban lifestyle hotels, outstanding resorts, and prestigious residences. Each one is imbued with the quality guests have come to expect from Kempinski while embracing the cultural traditions of its location. Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world's largest alliance of independent hotel brands, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2014.
About Shanghai Huadu:
Shanghai Huadu Architecture and Planning Design Ltd. (HDD) was founded in 2004. It is a comprehensive design company with first-rate architecture and engineering qualification issued by the State Construction Ministry. It has established six sub-companies in Zhengzhou, Yangzhou, Xingjiang, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Singapore. HDD also has three affiliated institutions, including Shanghai Huadu Construction and Engineering Project Management Ltd., Shanghai Chengdao Real Estate Ltd. and Urban China Magazine. These institutions provide all-inclusive consulting services to our clients, including urban planning, architecture design, landscape design, construction and project management. Shanghai Huadu endeavours to explore and practise a long-term and sustainable development model that integrates all fields of construction and development.
The five major specialised departments comprising HDD are: planning, architecture, landscape, structure and equipment. Well-experienced architects and engineers from Tongji University, Tsinghua University and Southeast University make up these departments.
Currently, HDD has more than 300 full-time employees, comprising more than 50 PhD and master graduates, more than 40 senior architects, senior engineers, first-class registered architects, first-class registered structure engineers and registered equipment engineers. Young architects and engineers from all over China and abroad contribute to forming a colourful and rich enterprise culture. On the top of Huadu Design's priority list are originality, a free working atmosphere and an eclectic research style.
For more information, please email Zhang Hai Ao at [email protected] or call +86 21 6597 5399.
About DiLeonardo:
DiLeonardo International is a globally acclaimed, full-service interior architectural design firm specialising in hotels, resorts and hospitality design. Family-owned for more than 40 years, their personalised approach colours everything they do. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, DiLeonardo has office-studio locations in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Manila. In every space they design, they impact a distinct sense of place taking every opportunity to celebrate local materials, art forms, landscapes, and cultural history. If you would like more information about DiLeonardo, please visit www.dileonardo.com or email Nicole Chan at [email protected] or call +852 2534 3650.
