Project Description
FROM AIA CHICAGO:
The new 176-room Waldorf Astoria in Beijing, China is located in downtown Beijing, next to Wang Fu Jing, the famous high-end shopping district, two blocks west of Forbidden City. Stylistically the neighborhood’s influence can be seen in the hotel’s symmetry, prominent eaves, and the generous use of bronze. The vertical frame and roof eave frame were shaped, detailed, and strongly connected at the corners to echo the feeling of the profile of the traditional Chinese roof-soffit silhouette. While the bronze façade was designed as a thoughtful response to traditional Chinese architecture, it was also used to represent the Waldorf Astoria brand. Bronze was used in large areas of the walls, as well as on window mullions, small cladded sunshades, and perforated screens. Other high-end, traditional materials were used to the same effect, like the grey granite used on the walls that recalls the historic charcoal bricks of Beijing’s traditional residential streets. Luxury is also evident in the orientation of the façade. The bay windows are floor-to-ceiling, allowing guests to enjoy superior city views from each guestroom. The end result is a beautifully done new hotel that is contextual to the city, environmentally efficient, and true to the Waldorf Astoria brand.