Enter the dragon: striking 'cymbalic' sculpture welcomes guests to Shenzhen's Hard Rock Hotel
by Kim Megson | 25 Jan 2018
The Chinese mainland has its first Hard Rock Hotel, complete with a huge vinyl mosaic, hundreds of red guitars hanging from the walls and a golden dragon made from drumsticks and 1,680 cymbals.
Hong Kong practice CL3 Architects, led by William Lim, were commissioned by developer Mission Hill Properties to design the Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, combining the brand’s trademark references to rock and roll with local design flourishes.
Vibrant and dramatically-lit interiors feature throughout. To introduce a ‘wow factor’, the meandering drumstick dragon installation dominates the 10m high entrance lobby and protrudes from the façade to greet guests.
The 26,690sq m (290,000sq ft) hotel features 258 guest rooms, designed with rotational beds, round psychedelic carpets and custom-designed mid-century vintage furnishings.
Public spaces in the hotel include three restaurants, a musical jamming lounge, a Body Rock Fitness health club, a kids club, two bars, a rooftop swimming pool and exhibition areas displaying rock memorabilia, including clothes from Rihanna’s concert wardrobe.
Hard Rock is continuing its global expansion and has several new hotels in the pipeline. Most eye-catchingly, it is expanding its flagship property in Fort Lauderdale at a cost of US$1.5bn (€1.3bn, £1.1bn), which will include the addition of a 450ft (137m) high tower shaped like back-to-back guitars.
Lim’s previous hotel designs include the Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel in Tokyo and the Park Lane Hong Kong, and he is currently working on a 24-storey tower in Hong Kong designed specifically to house art galleries. An exhibition celebrating his architectural work and art collections is currently being held at the Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning.
Hard Rock CL3 Architects William Lim Mission Hill Properties Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen China
A wall of vinyls features in the main restaurant, Sessions Credit: Nirut Benjabanpot
CL3 Architects, led by William Lim, were commissioned by developer Mission Hill Properties to design the Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen Credit: Nirut Benjabanpot
A wall of 160 red guitars stands behind the reception desk Credit: Nirut Benjabanpot
Guest rooms are designed with rotational beds, round psychedelic carpets and custom designed mid-century vintage furnishings Credit: Nirut Benjabanpot
The dragon made from drumsticks and 1,680 cymbals
Credit: Nirut Benjabanpot
Vibrant and dramatically-lit interiors feature throughout Credit: Nirut Benjabanpot
Lim’s previous hotel designs include the Millennium Mitsui Garden Hotel in Tokyo and the Park Lane Hong Kong
30 Oct 2017
Enormous Hard Rock resort expansion to feature 450ft tall 'Guitar Tower'
21 Jun 2016
Hard Rock returns to its roots with plans for London hotel
24 Dec 2015
Hard Rock unveils vision for hotel at Berlin's Checkpoint Charlie
The Chinese mainland has its first Hard Rock Hotel, complete with a huge vinyl mosaic, hundreds of red guitars hanging from the walls and a golden dragon made from drumsticks and 1,680 cymbals. Hong Kong practice CL3 Architects, led by William Lim, were commissioned by developer Mission Hill Properties to design the Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen, combining the brand’s trademark references to rock and roll with local design flourishes. Vibrant
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"Culture is the beating heart of this project"
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
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