Hotel Design Raises Awareness of Issues Related to Ecological Sustainability

This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a hotel design by 2022 SBID Awards Finalist, YANG.

What was the client’s brief? 

The hotel is located in Nanjing Tangshan Garden Expo, covering an area of 13,745 sq.m. YANG took over the project in June 2020 and completed it within a year. The design team had two major tasks: to create a unique space experience, accurately interpreting Indigo’s neighborhood culture and making the hotel stand out from competitors in the area, and to deliver the spirit of the place through the design with local characteristics, thus drawing attention to the issues concerning the protection of the geological environment in Tangshan.

What inspired the design of the project?

Tangshan is rich in geological resources. In a one-kilometer radius, there are mine pits dating back over a millennium, abandoned quarries and national geological parks. Since the Indigo brand is always at the heart of closely related neighborhoods, the design team has conducted a thorough geological and cultural investigation of Tangshan and drawn on Tangshan’s original environmental features. Inspired by Tangshan’s mineral ore, the team decided to make it the theme of the space. The design team hoped to inject new vitality into the old mine pits and arouse people’s awareness of the issues related to natural recovery and ecological sustainability.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

It is the first time that the Indigo brand has entrusted a design team with telling Indigo’s neighborhood story. The team had only one year to work on the project, from the design concept to implementation. Within the limited time, the team managed to create a unique space experience, accurately interpret Indigo’s neighborhood culture, and enhance the competitiveness of the hotel. Since its opening, the hotel has stood out from its competitors in the area and earned a reputation for its distinctive theme, exciting experiences, and neighborhood story. Moreover, the hotel is widely loved by guests and highly praised by the hospitality industry, becoming a must-visit place in Nanjing.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The design is realized through the innovative concept, rich colors, and special materials. The adoption of colorful glass, metal mirror and acrylic create a forest-like mood in the lobby area. The design of the lobby bar and the ADD restaurant is inspired by bonfire, miner’s lamp, and the arc shape of the tent, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The lift lobby and the corridor are transformed into mini exhibition halls showcasing exploration tools. With the theme of “natural recovery,” the guest rooms bring forests, plants, and mosses inside. The minibars and nightstands in the guest rooms are in the form of mining toolboxes, blended into the surroundings.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

The SBID International Design Awards is one of the world-acclaimed awards for design excellence. This annual event offers a unique opportunity to meet creative professionals and provides a perfect platform for all entrants to learn from each other and, especially for entrants from China, to promote their works on the SBID Awards’ globally respected stage. We are honored that YANG has become a finalist with the project Hotel Indigo Nanjing Garden Expo and that this project entry has been selected to feature as one of the popular “Project of the Week” stories on the SBID blog. Thank you for the recognition. We will bring the industry more outstanding works. Let’s look forward to it!

Questions answered by Yang Bangsheng, Founder and President, YANG & Associates Group.