A former abandoned quarry within China’s Sheshan Mountain Range serves now as the home to the newest property from InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG): the InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland Hotel. Hong Kong-based design studio Cheng Chung Design (CCD) oversaw the project’s design, which is characterized by a connection between the architecture and surrounding natural environment.
CCD infuses its theme of “Adventure to the Center of the Earth” across the entire hotel, beginning in the lobby where natural bedrock is showcased at different heights and accented with horizontal and vertical textures formed by flooded magma. In addition to a 3D water curtain, a bronze wall is also featured in homage to the color of tools used by miners. A banquet hall sits adjacent to the lobby, complete with a veranda and front hall designed akin to a courtyard in a cave. The warm, cabin-like atmosphere of the She Shan executive lounge also immerses visitors in tranquility, conceived as a valley of green at the end of a long journey.
The bar is positioned between the basement of the property and the surface of the water it sits upon. Aquatic-themed artwork punctuates the walls as the rest of the space embarks on an exploration of light and shadow in contrast to the colors of the quarry. Located beneath the tides, Mr. Fisher restaurant is adorned with a ceiling of clandestine crystal details that allow the rock surfaces to shimmer. Two additional F&B options and a cavernous indoor pool are also featured onsite.
The topography of each accommodation varies on each floor, where a different geological theme is expressed. Guestroom designs are accentuated with a palette of red and blue tones influenced by the rock surfaces, while vintage lamps and leather products inject a dash of industrial luxury. Honeymoon suites are housed along the bottom floor, with balconies overlooking the onsite aquarium, while a duplex-style family suite is crafted with interiors reminiscent of a luxury yacht set upon the surface of the water. Designed with James Bond in mind, the presidential suite is also conceived as a clandestine retreat on the cliff’s edge accented with black and gold palette. A large glass curtain wall is featured in the luxe space, framing 270-degrees of natural views.
