Design In Focus W Shanghai’s Design is a World Unto Itself
Shanghai is one of the fastest moving metropolises in the world, where thousands of years of Chinese history are swept up into what is now one of today’s premiere cultural capitals. Hai Pai, which translates to Shanghai style, speaks to the way the city combines old with the new and east with west. This design concept is perfectly encapsulated at W Shanghai – The Bund which recently opened its doors to unveil an array of electrifying interior designs.
Combine inspiration from Shanghai’s historic local life while transporting guests to the future. The result? A perfectly postmodern dreamscape. Here are some of our favorite design elements seen throughout the hotel.
Metal Curtains at W Living Room Courtyard
WHO designed it:
Eli Sudbrack & Christophe Hamaide-Pierson.
WHAT it’s made out of:
Powder coated aluminum chain, aluminum supports, granite, fiber optic.
WHERE it’s from:
Hangzhou.
WHY it fits at W Shanghai:
For the centerpiece of the W Shanghai’s Living Room, colorful metal curtains are draped from the skylight above. For centuries, Shanghai-locals have honored the Lilong tradition, in which wet laundry is hung on lines to dry at varying heights down narrow laneways. This unique art installation offers texture and movement as it plays with light to bring never-ending contrast to the space.
Digital Fish Tanks
WHO designed it:
FOD.
WHAT it’s made out of:
Digital LED screen & custom graphic programming.
WHERE it’s from:
Shanghai.
WHY it fits at W Shanghai:
YEN, W Shanghai’s signature Chinese restaurant, offers a modern twist on the fish tanks you see at traditional Chinese restaurants. LED screens flash vibrant displays of color, including a mischievous shark who is a guest favorite.
SYNCHRONIZED GIRLS on the Wet Deck
WHO designed it:
FOD.
WHAT it’s made out of:
Graphics printed inside sun umbrellas.
WHERE it’s from:
Shanghai.
WHY it fits at W Shanghai:
Walking around Shanghai, you’ll often see groups of people exercising at the park in a harmonized dance. On W Shanghai’s Wet Deck, colorfully illustrated sun umbrellas reflect these and other collective motions of city life. With references to Shanghai glamor of the 1930’s, synchronized swimming girls in qipao dress are mixed with geometric patterns to create a timeless poolside ambiance.
Bamboo Lighting
WHO designed it:
FOD.
WHAT it’s made out of:
Electroplate brass.
WHERE it’s from:
Shanghai.
WHY it fits at W Shanghai:
The Hongkou District of Shanghai was known as ‘Bamboo Town’ in the 1930’s when homes were built on wooden stilts along riverbeds to protect from the marshland below. These days, bamboo is still often seen in the scaffolding of the ever-evolving Shanghai skyline. At The Kitchen Table, designers remember the city’s humble past while looking to its industrial future with electroplate brass lighting fixtures shaped as bamboo.
Hongkou Tales Mural
WHO designed it:
Coozie.
WHAT it’s made out of:
Illustration printed on black handmade tiles.
WHERE it’s from:
Shanghai.
WHY it fits at W Shanghai:
The Kitchen Table is a great place to grab a bite or even just hang out with a cup of coffee as you look out upon the Shanghai skyline. Here the walls are adorned with a vast mural called “Hongkou Tales.” The illustrations commemorate legends of the past 100 years of the Hongkou District.
Street Art Totems
WHO designed it:
FOD.
WHAT it’s made out of:
Concrete base plated with gold leaf.
WHERE it’s from:
Shanghai.
WHY it fits at W Shanghai:
The Kitchen Table is also adorned with gold totems that show off the most iconic elements from the streets of Shanghai, from bike handles to bird cages to traditional soup bowls. You’ll also see golden molds of local cuisines like roasted pig and fish. The totems are unique symbols of everyday life in Shanghai and leave guests totally immersed in the city’s culture.
