The story of light and shadow!

By FinchD

Photography: Zhi Xia; courtesy GD Lighting Design

Read Time: 2 mins

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The Beijing Tongying Centre InterContinental Hotel reflects a medley of extravagant explorations of light, resulting in remarkable chiaroscuros...

Lying in the city centre of Sanlitun, Beijing, the hotel grows out of the concept of a honey bee, evident from the form of its façade. Standing tall at a height of 150 metres, the façade, designed primarily out of diamond shaped glass panels, appears like the cross section of a honeycomb. The canopy at the entrance, fabricated out of a double layer of hexagonal glass panels, is also in keeping with the concept of the façade.

 

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The dynamic spirit and culture of the city centre, echoed by the colourful store frontages and humdrum of people, is the driving factor behind the design concept of the hotel by designer, Yenchin Wang. In contrast to this intriguing quality, the hotel is designed in hues of cool blue, primarily using the “Tiffany Blue” colour.

 

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With an aim to emphasize the use of technology, fashion and an opulent lifestyle, lighting consultants, GD-Lighting Design have used ultra white glass to create different effects of lighting on the façade, including bloom and wall washing.  Similarly, the interior spaces, characterised by their dramatic elements and enchanting ceilings form a magical narrative. With an aim to appear supernatural, the screens, furniture, art work, coupled with the overall layout, are all caricaturised with the effect of lighting.

 

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Accommodating seven restaurants and 300 rooms, the hotel further experiments with technology with each restaurant having its own cultural and intrinsic approach towards its desired ambience. The rooms, by virtue of their circular shape seem expansive and luxurious. Keeping in mind the private setting, the lighting in this case is more subdued and makes use of concealments. Conversely, the lounge area is identified by bright colours and layered lighting.

 

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The hotel emerges as an exercise to probe into the prospects afforded by the integration of technology, design sensibility and innovation. 

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Fact File:

Project Name: Beijing Tongying Center InterContinental Hotel

Investor: Beijing Topwin Real Estate Co., Ltd

Hotel Management: IHG

Lighting Design: GD-Lighting Design

Chief Designer:  Yenchin Wang  IALD Professional Member

Design Team: Tim Cheng, Hui Ren, Xin Qi

Location: Sanlitun, Beijing, China