Beijing’s landmark Park Hyatt hotel marked its ten-year anniversary with a refreshing redesign courtesy of Singapore-based LTW Designworks. LTW took the siheyuan – a traditional courtyard-centred family home in Beijing – as the major inspiration for the redesign of the hotel’s 246 rooms and suites, the dining areas and function rooms.

Entrance and foyer

Natural tones and elements were the key inspiration, along with elements such as koi fish, tile roofs, birdcages, ink paintings and traditional screens. “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.

Foyer

The team chose a colour palette of five tones throughout the hotel drawn from the siheyuan. Tranquil greens evoke the lush courtyard gardens of the houses; yellows, oranges and reds in the ballroom represent the auspicious koi carp fish found in the lavish homes; while darker brown, grey and other wood and stone tones reflect the timber and hard stone structures of the traditional houses. “These colours must tell a story of a bygone era, whilst fitting the modern and contemporary space,” says Teo.

China Bar

According to Teo, 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.

Guest room

To emanate the peaceful nature of the siheyuan courtyard, Teo and her team introduced finishes in tones of olive, beige, teal, grey and wood to uplift the existing muted yellow tones.

Suite bedroom

An over-sized earth-toned carpet with a striped abstract illustration of Beijing’s flower, the plum blossom, contrasts against the dark wood flooring. Room decorations – including etches, ink paintings and small bronze statues – further reflect the sihuyuan.

Executive dining room

In the suites, LTW went for a slightly bolder palette with hues of coral, emerald, blue-grey and bronze-wood. The design team also readjusted the layout to resemble the classic siheyuan composition. What’s more, timber partitions and mahogany leather chairs reflect the traditional mahogany doors of the courtyard houses.

Dedroom

For the Park Hyatt Beijing’s pre-function area on the third floor, Teo and her team opted for a vibrant translation of the siheyuan’s trademark koi carp pools. The expansive carpet is illustrated with koi fish embellished with waves of orange, deep crimson and cedar.

Pre-function area to the ballroom

The illustration continues into the ballrooms, where LTW installed copper panels with tree motifs and bronze ceilings to give “an elevated splendour”.

Detail of the ballroom foyer

Photography (c) Park Hyatt Beijing