The northern Zhejiang providence located two hours from Shanghai is known for its local treasures such as “handcrafted calligraphy brushes, premium tea, and silk;” however, in late 2012, this area gained a new treasure, the Sheraton Huzhou Hot Springs Resort. This hotel sits against the southern shores of Taihu, China’s third largest freshwater lake, and it is a great deal more modern than the “well-preserved Tang Dynasty-era dwellings” that have previously lured tourists to this area. Chinese architect Ma Yangsong of the Beijing Studio MAD, has designed and built a 27-level structure composed of two curved towers spanning 300 feet over the lake and coming together to form an arch. It is an understatement to say that this building was complex to construct. Ma decided to start with a “skin composed of three-dimensional hyperbolic glass panes,” resulting in a structure that shimmers with “reflections of the lake in the day and enlivened by coordinating LED lights at night.” Although the construction of Ma’s structure is very modern, the idea behind the project came from ancient Chinese tradition. This structure is an allusion to the arch bridge, a very important architectural feature built to accommodate the silk-laden transport boats passing through local canals.” Ma also wanted the design of the building to contribute to the already beautiful landscape. He explains, “Taihu offers a fabulous blend of water and light, which greatly influenced my design.”
Because of the structure’s unusual composition, each of 282 rooms was uniquely designed, and had to have its’ own rendering. Jade and precious stones fill the hotel’s public areas and guestrooms, which can be attributed to interior’s firm Hirsch Bedner Associates. Simply entering the hotel is an awe-inspiring experience, as one is greeted by a 29-ton jade sculpture imported from Iran. Above hangs light work completed with more than 20,000 Swarovski crystals. Through the use of jade—“a natural material that the Chinese traditionally associate with wellbeing,” the flaxen color scheme, and Ma’s admiration of light, architects have subbed this resort as “an ‘artwork of light,’ inside and out.”
Ma admits that “In the beginning, [my clients] were a little doubtful about whether it would even be possible to realize the building. Now they are very proud of the resort and are showcasing it to the whole world.” A wedding island and massive spa complex centered on the hot springs have recently been added as amenities to the already impressive resort.
Article: http://www.interiordesign.net/projects/detail/2388-ahead-of-the-curve-sheraton-huzhou-hot-spring-resort/?utm_source=hero_slide_other
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