Wuxi DoubleTree Resort

Refurbishment of 520-room Hilton resort on the banks of Lake Taihu, China.

Sector:                Hotels / Resorts
Country:             China
Client:                Yuanyi Group (Hong Kong)
Services:            Interior Design
Year:                   2009

The 520 room Wuxi DoubleTree Resort by Hilton is located in the Jiangsu Province of China, at Turtle Head on the west bank of Lake Taihu, one of the world’s largest freshwater lakes. People have been living here for thousands of years and there is a strong culture which MAP embraced in its design, amalgamating it with the developer’s love of Southeast Asian architecture.

The scope included redesign of existing plans and interior design of four restaurants, lounge, bar, and conference centre (which surround the main atrium), as well as designing the bedrooms and hallways.

A project highlight is the hotel’s café. MAP researched freshwater junk construction and recommended the mezzanine café incorporate a 20m traditional Lake Taihu junk into the space, complete with five masts and sails. Locating some local boat builders to execute the design, the impact is spectacular.

The hotel bar is fitted out with large day-bed style lounge chairs of Southeast Asian quality, while the timber clad columns and stone feature walls evoke a more Zen-like feel. MAP collaborated with a leading Hong Kong restaurateur to improve the four restaurant layouts. The restaurants are decorated in natural materials, employing a minimal palette of soft colours.

A carpet was specially woven for the hotel, designed to give the effect of sunlight dancing on the lake’s surface. It is used throughout in the main restaurant as well as rooms and hallways, and the freshwater tones perfectly complement the dark wood trim for the doors and surrounds. Traditional dark-wooden oars from the lake junk are used as decorative elements in the hallways.

For the bedrooms and villas, MAP opted for a simple and rustic aesthetic, almost tribal in feel, to reflect the lakeside location. Robust furniture was used with colour tones complimentary to the ‘sunlight-on-water’ carpet.

The same principles were applied to the conference and meeting areas with wood paneling imparting a luxurious corporate feel. The double height boardroom is impressive with its 18th Century map of Wuxi decorating the wall, giving a great sense of history and place.

“On behalf of my company, I sincerely express my appreciation for your company’s participating in the design and construction of Wuxi DoubleTree Resort. With passion for life at the professional and international level, and thoughtful service, by combining Lake Taihu’s traditional culture with the international trend, your company has successfully designed an international five-star hotel for Wuxi City, China.

…your participation, contribution, enthusiasm and professionalism greatly impressed us. Because of your participation Wuxi DoubleTree Resort is more wonderful; because of your efforts, Wuxi City is more beautiful.”

Chen Fang, General Manager, Wuxi Lingshan Yuan Yi Development Co. Ltd

Wuxi DoubleTree Website

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