design et al are delighted to announce that LTW Designworks have been shortlisted for Hotel Over 200 Rooms – Asia Pacific Award in The International Hotel and Property Awards 2018.
The Grand Hyatt Changsha perfectly sets the scene for a leisure stay or unforgettable business trip with breathtaking views of the Xiang River and the city skyline. The luxurious guestrooms were outfitted with comfortable furnishing, modern decorations, and an abundance of local and multicultural culinary experiences to help make the stay of each guest grand and welcome. A famous poem penned by the late Chairman Mao, widely regarded as the “father of modern China”, served as an inspiration for two paintings by local artists Fu Baoshi and Li Keran. These depict the crimson hued mountains of Changsha and the grand riverbanks of the Xiang River. Thus, the interior design concept for Grand Hyatt Changsha is similarly inspired by these artworks and reflects a contemporary yet timeless Chinese aesthetic. Shades of the symbolic red colour are used to give deference to the artists’ work and a significant sense of place.
The double-height lobby is purposefully kept open like the wide Xiang River, allowing guests to circulate through the hotel’s various function spaces easily and efficiently. A central feature wall installation anchors the lobby space with vertically-oriented, offset wave patterns in shades of ivory and red and laser-cut flower motifs, symbolising the mountains and river of its location. The island reception and check-in area are tucked back from the double-volume lobby and defined by a bold back wall in embossed red leather and plush carpeting with abstract patterns of matching red and white, visually drawing the guests inwards upon entering the hotel. The adjacent lobby bar continues the design language with colourful patterned floral carpeting amidst grape velvet sofas and muted yellow leather armchairs, and central circular bar wrapped in top-lit variegated black and gold stained panels.
The hotel’s F&B outlets have unique design schemes yet are still within the overall design language of the hotel. The Grand Café is a cavernous triple-height dining room with leather banquettes and custom designed bent metal lighting fixtures. The open display kitchen showcases the wide variety of foods from East to West and is placed centrally to allow a smaller section of the restaurant to be used for private events. The Chinese restaurant features stacked grey roof tiles with lacquered red trims and a mix of timber parquet and herringbone marble borders to give textural feel. Yellow and red leather chairs and geometrically patterned glass screens give a touch of subtle glamour and elegance. The hotel’s BBQ restaurant mimics the stilt houses and fishing village concept along the banks of the Xiang River with oversized fish murals “swimming” through the dining room. Located on the podium roof is the multi-function Casa Grande which houses a casual Italian restaurant with al fresco seating, island bar and VIP area, and an entertainment lounge with dance floor and stage, offering an interconnected series of F&B experiences. Artist Wang Rulin’s spirit animals are displayed around the entire hotel, serving as a venerated symbol of wisdom and power.
The process of designing a luxury hospitality complex is the favourite aspect of the project. The end result of the design is satisfying but the actual thought-process of how the designers link the design, with the cultural and geographic setting together is more satisfying and goes a longer way. Every design requires a soul, a warmth in the lobby and public spaces to the guestrooms. For the Grand Hyatt Changsha, taking the inspiration of the two paintings and adapting it to the design of the hotel provides guests with an understanding of how each space is crafted, along the art pieces displayed around the hotel.
The whole design concept is derived from the late Mao Ze Dong’s poetry, describing the beauty of Xiang River and the Orange Isle in Changsha, the capital of Hunan. The hotel is situated exactly where it is described in the poetry and it is also the late Mao Ze Dong birthplace and for these 2 reasons, the concept is fitting with the environment. Lacquer is a traditional craft in Changsha, it is used in the lobby, on the ceiling panel, the corridor of the guestroom. The most prominent feature would be the red and white wave off-set in the lobby. Grand Hyatt Changsha is designed for tourists/foreigners or Chinese individuals who have not been to Changsha and LTW Designworks want them to have a taste and feel of Changsha by taking in and identifying the design with the local attributes by staying in the hotel. This has always been our philosophy and Grand Hyatt Changsha is no different.
