Based in Hong Kong, Alexander Wong, Founder and Director of Alexander Wong Architects, creates spectacular design and provides unique spatial experiences through his creativity. Wong’s eponymous practice was established in 2001 and over the past 24 years he has received so many awards that it’s difficult to keep count. However, this year the studio made history with a win in the World’s Best Interior category, for the fourth time, where three were won in consecutive years, at the International Property Awards in London, United Kingdom. The winning project is Spiral Sky & Ocean Aria of Regala Skycity Hotel at the Hong Kong International Airport and it is certainly memorable.

The design of the Spiral Sky Grand Banquet Hall at Regala Skycity Hotel is inspired by the theme of international travel, which is entirely appropriate as it is situated next to the International Airport at Chek Lap Kok.

As the internal area of the banquet hall is orthogonal, the idea was to transform a traditional space into a dynamic series of interplay through geometry, introducing a set of moving diagonals set against the rectilinear perimeter of the existing structure.

Myriad rectangular white frames ‘spin’ over and above a six-metre height and, with special LED lighting effects, the Spiral Sky ceiling creates an original experience through the lighting program.

Other details include crystal chandeliers and giant golden columns that also function as LED displays with digital LED panels. There is also a luxurious bridal room with make-up and changing facilities for special guests and the cloakroom and guest restrooms are sophisticated and comfortable.

The Ocean Aria Banquet Rooms comprise three salon-like banquet rooms that can be reconfigured into one large space. The intention on the interior design is to reinterpret natural elements such as oceans and sky. The ceiling design is inspired by Bridget Riley’s Op Art and creates a sense of ocean waves and flying clouds. A series of special star-like chandeliers hang from the ceiling and create a starry sky or Interstellar effect.

During the day sunlight can penetrate the rooms and is reflected through a full height tinted glazed curtain of panels. The six-metre-high panels are adorned with organic crystals creating half-moon crescents and are mesmerising set against an array of Op Art 3D sculptures. Walls with textured and ribbed golden glass are installed within areas that are upholstered with fabric and the whole is reminiscent of the style of fashion icon Issey Miyake.

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Wong comments: “I remember quite vividly our entire design process from start to finish. We had many design options and Spiral Sky stood out to be the strongest one and our client also agreed. The main challenge to design any Hotel Banquet Hall is the intrinsic requirement to provide sliding panels in sub-dividing this big space into smaller ones, thus allowing several different occasions to occur simultaneously as well as adjacently to one another.

“This invariably ends up carving the big space in an orthogonal manner resulting with a less than dynamic outcome. The Spiral Sky approach totally breaks this tradition with an amazingly original design for the ceiling which is anti-orthogonal and completely dynamic – almost like Argentinian Tango. And the end results very much reflect the original design intent to a tee.”

The project also won Best Hotel Conference Facilities Interior Asia Pacific and Best International Hotel Conference Facilities Interior along with the World’s Best Interior Design. These awards are the icing on the design cake for Wong and add to his already 88 major international awards.

This is design that makes a statement, as does all of Wong’s work. He is renowned for his cinema projects where he creates extraordinary design with themed interiors.

As Wong reflects, “design means so many things to me and if I have to name just one, then the most important of all is this unique journey to explore new ways of creating meanings through spatial design based on culture, history, technology and art.”

Be ready for colour and movement, materiality that shines and lights that flicker if there is an opportunity to visit Spiral Sky & Ocean Aria of Regala Skycity Hotel at Hong Kong airport. It will certainly be a wondrous experience.

Alexander Wong Architects
alexanderwong.com.hk

Photography
Courtesy Alexander Wong

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