RhineScheme

Located in Beijing’s Tongzhou District, the 150-guest-rooms hotel with extensive conference and spa facilities is enriching the capital’s hospitality scene close to the tourist magnet ‘Universal Studios’.
The 5 star hotel is strategically well located, in the core area of “Taihu Performing Arts Town” as well as in the economic zone that radiates from ‘Universal Studios’. The area boasts beautiful green surroundings and rich cultural and artistic resources.

A design consortium formed by RhineScheme and ‘Shanghai Construction Decoration Engineering Group’ has been responsible for the interior design of the hotel. Furthermore, RhineScheme has been responsible for the renovation of the hotel's façade and for its landscape design.

Design Concept

The design employs theatrical elements to build emotional environments. Both physical and conceptual elements of theater are used: Stage and curtain, sound, shadow, movement, and light serve as spatial elements to create an artistic atmosphere.
In a holistic manner, architecture, landscape, and interior spaces are fully integrated. Refined spaces have been created that follow the motto of being "characteristic, exquisite, and flexible" at the same time.
Functional areas of the hotel have been rearranged so that the three main customer groups (hotel guests, conference participants, and users of fitness & recreation) do not intersect or interfere with each other.

Interior Design

The lobby is the starting point of a journey that leads into various artistic interpretations of the performing arts.
The Marble Marquetry in the entrance lobby takes people back to the origins of the theatre in Ancient Greece. Moving forward to the reception area, its chandelier is reminiscent of the spotlights on a stage, welcoming each guest as valued protagonist. The Lobby Lounge is dominated by a grand piano and a light installation hanging above like jumping piano notes in a balance of light and shadow.
These memorable entrance scenes shall prelude the artistic atmosphere of the hotel.

The Lobby Bar is marked by the sculptural nature of its bar counter which is at the visual centre of the space. On the sides, seating areas between transparent partitions allow the outdoor scenery to permeate into the interior.

The All-Day Dining Restaurant is inspired by the "Peking Opera" as traditional art of Beijing, which can be enjoyed on-site after tea or dinner. The seating area extends to the outdoors, allowing guests to enjoy the water courtyard with its seasonal beauty.

The spacious ballroom pre-function area is inspired by the Chinese imagery of "Pleasant Songs and Elegant Dancing" (“清歌雅舞”), comparing the harmonic coming and going of guests through the space with a graceful dance. Like a twirling dancer, the spiral staircase is the highlight of the room, separating the ballroom pre-function from the Lobby Bar.

The ballroom itself alludes to the Chinese imagery of "Water and Sky are One Colour" (“水天一色”), when water and sky reflect each other and seem to merge in a beautiful scenery.
The Conference Center can be sub-divided or combined to form meeting rooms of different sizes.

The theatre is inspired by Chinese water-sleeve dance. The swimming-pool is designed with waves as inspiration, using the spatial effect of arches over water. The design of the spa is inspired by “Qing Yi”, a stereotypical female role in Chinese operas: a lady of gentle disposition that moves gracefully, which translates into a tranquil environment allowing guests to calm down.

Last not least, the interior design of the hotel rooms is deeply connected with local aesthetics. The fusion of performing arts, regional culture and traditions inspired various thematic rooms. Room types such as ‘Shadow Puppet Theater’, ‘Chinese Drama’, ‘Chinese Base Drum’ and traditional music immerse the guests in a unique cultural experience within their chambers.

Courtyards landscape

The design of the courtyards seeks to integrate the hotel's indoor and outdoor spaces.
The central lawn is the main feature of the garden courtyard, a vibrant place where all kinds of ceremonies and celebrations can be held, with a surrounding plant selection that brings variety with its seasonal changing colours.

In the water courtyard, the seemingly borderless pool is like a mirror, with water rippling softly.
Abstract geometric forms, overlapping patterns, planting and rhythmic water movement contribute to a unique ephemeral scene. When night falls and a breeze blows the waves, the hustle and bustle of the city is brushed away.