A new W Hotel designed by Cheng Chung Design (CCD) has opened in Changsha city, the capital of China’s Hunan province. Inspired by the city that is named after a star and has a history that dates back 3,000 years, the W Changsha is a reflection of the city’s progress as one of the most stylish in China. Hong Kong design firm CCD, founded by Joe Cheng was tasked with designing a futuristic property – an ode to the city’s astronomy-inspired history – but one that responds equally well to the local cultural context. The design attempts to prompt visitors to explore the unknown and be pleasantly surprised with unexpected elements.
The iconic “W” logo at the hotel entrance features rough textures and splendid lines, which respectively echo the uneven surface of the moon and the trajectory of aircraft orbiting around the moon in an outer space journey. The soft lighting and surreal expressions create an exciting visual experience.
“Star” is deconstructed into points, lines and planes in a three-dimensional manner, to shape the dramatic entrance gateway with sharp edges and angles. The metal textures of the gateway attract guests on an exploratory journey and bring about a feeling of awe.
The design concept of the foyer is to magnify the universe and to deconstruct it into planets, meteorites, dust, protons, neutrons and atoms. The industrial-style wall featuring cement textures and faults are combined with elaborately-designed lighting, together forming an eye-catching scene of floating stars.
Rhombic lines are vertically embedded into the stone flooring in a way like the movement of light beams, which brings the guests into the mysterious space where they can look up at the sparkling stars.
REALM OF STARS
Copper sections are folded at large angles and in different directions to extend the spatial structure, thereby enabling guests to perceive the power of numerous individual entities in the vast universe.
The space and artworks echo with each other as independent entities – the symbols are derived from the universe, like stars, meteorites, orbits of stars, and meteoroids, and represent the expansive sky, the present and the future.
Inspired by meteorites from Zeta planet, the round metal art installations scattered in the lobby exude mist randomly, which symbolises the enrichment of cosmic energy and welcomes all “adventurers”.
The Avenue of Stars is a union of technology and art, dream and fantasy. The design makes use of the space to embrace art and to stimulate infinite imagination about the universe. The structures are formed by geometric blocks, which look like fragments after the impact of planets, appearing pure, tough and passionate.
A runway stretches through the middle of the lobby bar, delivering a strong sense of ceremony. It’s like a fashion show where everyone can be a shining star.
The fusion of reality and fantasy evokes infinite imagination, and makes guests feel like they’re entering a black hole to travel through time. The sunken booths simulate the seats of fashion shows. Guests sitting here are part of the scene, making the space full of surprises. The dark tones extend the space’s calm and restraining character. Sharp lines portray a logical space, reveal mysterious power and aesthetics, and create stylish, brilliant elegance.
The “Pepper Man” sculptures, symbolising brave heroes who open a new chapter of history, are looking up and chasing the unreached places beyond the horizon.
The star-like ceiling lights and dazzling blue spotlights create intriguing visual effects. The suspended ceiling, formed by lines with a sense of modernity also creates a statement.
The starry lights converge under the ceiling, hence creating a fun starry sky also a “star club” that combines reality and the future. The No.7 Schrodinger’s Cat looking up the sky represents the pioneers of the age who explore the unknown.
Project details:
Client: YUNDA GROUP
Location: Yunda Central Plaza, No.567 Shawan Road, Yuhua District, Changsha
Area: 33,000m2
Interior design: CCD / Cheng Chung Design (HK) (HYPERLINK “http://www.ccd.com.hk”www.ccd.com.hk)
Art consultant: ATG BEYOND
Logo consultant: ATG BEYOND
Year of completion: 2021
Photography: Wang Ting
Photo copyright: CCD
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