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Project name: Hotel Kapok Shenzhen

Location: Shenzhen, China

Date completed: February 2019

Interior Designer: 2pi r design

Hotel Group: Kapok Hotel Group

Developer: China Resources Group

Construction Company: TBD

Twenty years after their doors first opened to guests, 2pi r Design were tasked with the first full renovation of the Hotel Kapok Shenzhen. Recognised as the landmark location that launched the prestigious Hotel Kapok brand, the demand in their growing portfolio signalled the design of a new concept: to meet the needs of a booming Chinese tourism market and target a changing demographic of travellers. The challenge for 2pi r Design was to create public spaces within the hotel tailored to the modern business traveller.

2pi r Design’s new design for the space breaks traditional hotel conventions to promote social interactions, developing on the Hotel Group’s key belief that a hotel should be more than a place to sleep. The lobby has been equipped with a self check-in service, meaning that the check-in counter was replaced with a multi-function event space. This includes coffee bar, lounge, and co-working areas to encourage communication within a lively lobby atmosphere. The furniture that 2pi r Design have chosen for this centre area is adaptable to a wide variety of social functions, and each communal area has been equipped with technology to become an impromptu work space should inspiration strike.

A key aspect of the hotel and it’s design is to encourage balance, energy and community in the public spaces. The informality of the service that the hotel provides is echoed in the design of the public areas, and a neutral colour tone creates a calm atmosphere to contrast the busy lifestyle of a business traveller. To allow for a restful and recharging stay, 2pi r Design chose a simpler design philosophy – to focus on the architectural details and natural materials used to create the space instead of employing ‘unnecessary décor’. The designers have ensured that though the main focus of Hotel Kapok’s renovation was of functionality for the modern traveller, they have also provided an informal elegance in the contemporary design of the public areas.