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Project Name: The J Hotel, Shanghai Tower, China  

Location: Shanghai 

Date Completed: December 2020 

Interior Designer: R & O Design Limited / Bilkey Llinas Design 

Architect: Gensler/Marshall Strabala & Jun Xia 

Hotel Group/Developer: Jin Jiang International Hotels 

Construction Company: Yeti Construction and Development 

Photographer: Mr. Sui Si Cong – Shanghai Mingshi Photography Studio 

The 178 room J Hotel sits atop the world’s second tallest high-rise occupying levels 84 through 120 of the mix use luxury landmark Shanghai Tower. The client requested a hotel design unlike any other in the world that would complement the iconic structure of the Shanghai Tower. However, traditional Chinese elements had to be implemented in the overall design. The brief requested a total of 28 suites and 2 different design concepts for the 150 standard guestrooms. The F&B criteria called for 6 food and beverage outlets: an entry level deli/patisserie, a 44-seat tea lounge and 128-seat fine dining restaurant on reception level 101, a 121-seat traditional Chinese restaurant that included a-la-carte and private dining rooms on level 103, a 130- seat traditional Japanese restaurant on level 104, and a 252-seat specialty restaurant on level 120. A ballroom and meeting rooms complete the public areas on level 105. 

The most challenging and fulfilling part of the project was the conceptualisation of the 2 different guestroom designs. One concept was to develop a fully transparent glass room where bedroom, bathroom and closet were viewed as a single open space. In contrast, the second concept incorporated a traditional Chinese guestroom layout with leather wall detailing and custom built-in cabinetry. The design works well because the team were able to integrate glass, metal, marble and other non-flammable materials with the architectural structure of the existing tower. The Shanghai Tower was designed to complement the other 2 iconic buildings located on the site as the future vision of the new Shanghai Pudong.  

A Thailand based artist/engineer was commissioned to produce the glass entrance columns, the Shanghai Gate and the 3 crystal reception desks. A renowned French sculptress created the metal mesh ballerina sculptures in the reception area. At level 101 an Italian artist was commissioned to produce the classical metal mesh pavilion structures. Local artisans manufactured the suspended crystal dragon at level 103, the Japanese glass fan sculptures at level 104, and the chandelier at the level 120 specialty restaurant.