Singapore-based design firm LTW Designworks has unveiled its concept for the 396-room Grand Hyatt Xi’an. The new hotel draws inspiration from the region’s historical ties to the Silk Road trading route, as well as from the Chinese idiom “a great hawk spreads its wings.”
A dramatic double-height reception lobby is surrounded by a sculptural, feather-like white feature wall clad with curved vertical lines that rise more than 30 feet. Patterned timber walls also perpetuate the wing motif. A façade of faceted glass engages the angular lines of the architecture inside the structure, which is equipped with two bubble lifts wrapped with curved, laser-cut metal screens depicting imagery like ancient Chinese palaces. The deserts along the Silk Road are channeled via a grand, curved staircase in the hotel’s prefunction area. An ovular ballroom also boasts a suspended chandelier hanging beneath the domed ceiling, comprising hundreds of handblown glass petals.
Housed within the hotel sky bridge, F&B venues including Western concepts and Chinese restaurants line the interior. The all-day Grande Café mirrors a bustling marketplace with open marble counters installed alongside wooden tables and chairs, leather banquettes, and custom artwork. The signature Chinese concept Chang’an Bridge serves as a modern interpretation of Shaanxi culture captured in geometric metal screens as well as ruby hues and grid-patterned carpeting in gray, white, and muted orange tones. Circular ceiling details resemble traditional Chinese roof construction as well. The hotel spa is akin to an oasis amid drylands. Timber is paired with a palette of soothing green tones to promote relaxation, while orange and yellow accents in the furniture symbolizes rejuvenation.
The modern guestrooms and suites feature varying shades of ochre, off-white, and tan to convey openness through upholstered furniture, walls, and millwork. Headboards are adorned with panels that capture abstracted, mirage-like depictions of traditional Chinese pavilions. Twin configurations in particular are outfitted with separate spaces for two individuals, complete with beds fixed against upholstered walls and separate, designated areas for washing and dressing.
