JW Marriott Hotel Nara
- advertising & marketing
- architecture
- brand identity
- brand strategy
- graphics and signage
- interior design
- masterplanning
- product design
- residential interior design
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Blending the spirit of old Shanghai with the energy and vibrancy of the modern Metropolis
The vision for Shangri-La was to create an imaginary & vibrant Shanghai Neighbourhood made up of bustling markets and courts, connected through laneways that flow majestically into one another.
Upon arrival a large-volume lobby provides a tranquil and welcoming escape from the city, where light and space reign and guests catch glimpses of the courtyard beyond.
The presence of a kinetic sculptural "tree" adds a touch of enchantment, creating a dynamic and engaging focal point within the lobby.
A kinetic sculptural “tree” greets arriving guests, animated as if by a hidden breeze, glassware birds gently take flight. An homage to the pastoral past of Qiantan, the kinetic “tree” was crafted by Preciosa, an elite European glassware manufacturer, using traditional glass-blowing techniques.
Lively Tea House
As the guest moves through the entry court, they are immediately greeted by a lively “tea house” that signals the beginning of their journey. A large glass display case presents all the tea offerings while seats at the counter allow the guest to communicate with the tea sommeliers, tasting and discussing all the variety’s and mixes available.
Stir & Sip
To the left is a vibrant market place, selling everything from coffees to breads and pastries.
A deliberate design choice to make the offerings in the hotel open and attractive to all the local residents and workers as well as guests.
Truly expanding the Hotel into the surrounding precinct , becoming very much a part of the overall neighbourhood.
QT Lounge & Botanical Bar
In the “QT Lounge” guests can transition from the market, through to an elegant, premium tea-house where they can relax and enjoy the teas at a specialist tasting table. The QT Lounge is at the heart of the Hotel and shares a 360-degree stage with the Botanical bar beyond.
A wonderful surprise that allows performances to all the public areas during the day. At night a series of clever fold away walls separate the bar from the QT Lounge, allowing music performances in the bar without disturbing the tranquil nature of the Lounge.
The bar is a dazzling and energising bar inspired by nature, with a selection of botanical cocktails. It is flooded with light during the day, serving coffees and light food while at night the performance stage transforms the space into a night-time destination.
The herbs that constitute the ingredients for the cocktails, become the backdrop to the bar, gathered on shelves and hanging from the ceiling to create a canopy of greenery that transforms at night to softly lit “green Chandelier”.
The energy levels, materiality & finishes flow as the guest journey transitions, with ever-changing digital artworks adorning corridor walls.
QT Kitchen
A series of connecting gateways links to the “QT Kitchen”, the hotel’s all-day dining offer.
The QT Kitchen offers relaxed dining options as well as a private dining room which pulls through the vibrancy and colour palette from the botanical bar.
Large volumes abound and generous ceiling heights continue; different cuisines are housed in a framework of glazed ‘hawker-style’ stands, whilst bold tiling to the columns and delicate pendants strung from the coffers present a contemporary take on a Shanghainese market at night.
Clever use of traditional rippled glass infuses the spaces with a connection to the streets of Shanghai, while large doors lead you through to a hot pot restaurant that is both separate and connected to the "main market”.
All-Day Dining
Hot Pot Asian Counter
Hot Pot Asian Counter
The journey continues to the guest lift lobby, a celebration of the streets of Shanghai, with the Art Deco feature glass screen as a focal point.
Ballroom & Wellness Club
The ballroom lobby beyond conveys a more dramatic interpretation of the street scene, with the window details of the row houses magnified to grand scale, creating a fully immersive glass lobby. The journey through to the ballroom alternates from stone to glass, an interpretation of the brick elevations to the glazed windows tells a story of sun and shade, culminating in the grand ballroom - a glorious conclusion to the journey.
