Sunrise Kempinski, Beijing

Posted in Projects on 12 August, 2015

Sunrise Kempinski draws on the relationship between the built and natural landscape. The extraordinary site, with The Jiankou Great Wall appearing between the peaks and mountains and Yanqi Lake acting as a mirror reflecting, drives the overall design direction for the Interiors.

As homage to this landscape, the interior is largely inspired by the idea of framing views; whether it is capturing the view of the mountainous landscape or framing areas within by enclosing a space or setting a vignette within the interior architecture. The design team creates elements of intrigue within the overall design of the hotel by experimenting with the juxtaposition of solids and voids, light and darkness and natural versus manmade elements.

Maintaining a balance of geometries within the architectural shell proved to be a significant challenge in which the designers found an opportunity to infuse geometric forms into unexpected spaces, design elements or features. This was accomplished by establishing a harmony between orthogonal and organic spaces.

The centerpiece of the hotel lobby is the art feature set around the main staircase. The feature is composed of thousands of glass spectrums hanging from ceiling to floor on stainless steel cables. The design reflects the exterior outline of the mountainous landscape beyond Yanqi Lake. Intentionally set apart, the panels are layered behind each other within the lobby space, each with a unique design intended to create depth as the viewer looks from different angles.

The guestroom design is minimal, contemporary and relaxed. Hints of soft blues conjure a peaceful ambiance, with wallpapered panels softening the overall space while printed fabric selections for accent pillows suggest the hotel’s resort location. Honey golden wood in the flooring brightens the space while providing a sense of warmth for the guest.

From its early stages through final implementation, the design was a complete and thorough team effort. DiLeonardo’s studio created an innovative process to share research and creative process. Framing these ideas to form one vision that is seamlessly carried throughout the project.

The Sunrise Kempinski Hotel is Kempinski’s largest property in China. DiLeonardo designed the 306-key hotel as part of the overall development which includes a State Guest Hotel and luxury guest villas.