Project: The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
Award: Commercial, Silver, 2022
Location: Nanjing, China
Architect: BUZZ/Büro Ziyu Zhuang
Client: Hyatt Hotels
Two of the hotel buildings were already constructed according to a former design before the architect’s took on the renovation of this luxury hotel in Nanjing. The new design opens the building as a "C" shape to the west. By removing the ground floor envelopes of the original buildings and the new constructions, the urban space on the east and west sides are connected by the hotel site to create a natural transition from the forest park to the bustling city. Three blocks on the ground floor include the lobby and hall, the service centre for the hotel rooms and a meeting or wedding room for large-scale events. While the banquet hall and hotel rooms form a large, floating space on the first floor above.
Design highlights
The outside space at this luxury hotel in Nanjing is just as important as the inside, featuring a series of small sunken courtyards with carefully arranged trees, stones and water. The boundaries between landscape and architecture are intentionally blurred, creating a permeable and boundless courtyard landscape for the hotel. The front lobby is a semi-open space while the copper door at the entrance produces a strong sense of traditional ritual, paying tribute to the hotel’s historical setting next to the Tomb of the King of Boni, Tianlong Temple and Yuhuatai Park.
Photo credit: Shengliang Su
- LEAD ARCHITECTS: Ziyu Zhuang; Zhengdong Qi; Na Li