HBA has completed work on the Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, located just steps away from the Forbidden City in Beijing. Conceived as a modern courtyard mansion, the luxury new hotel reinterprets the rich history of Wang Fu, the aristocratic residences crafted during the Qing Dynasty, through a distinctively contemporary lens.
A skylight court welcomes visitors as they walk through the transit lobby. Dark stone surfaces that surround a central water feature are illuminated by softly lit fixtures, while a fireplace infuses warmth in tandem with autumnal-toned area rugs. Embroidered cobalt and gold panels are installed alongside timber walls trimmed with dark lacquer shelving. The key focal point of the space, however, is the frenetic and richly hued art feature crafted exclusively for the hotel by iconic designer, sculptor and architect, Frank Gehry.
All 73 spacious guestrooms and suites are crafted with a sophisticated residential style. Woven with traditional Chinese elements, and references to the Imperial Era of the country, each accommodation is anchored by a four-poster bed equipped with headboard panels, while the bathrooms feature marble reliefs engraved with clouds.
The Library- a two-story drawing room on the fifth floor- features an understated, and zen design. Also housed across the fifth floor are Café Zi and MO Bar, both opening to the rooftop garden terrace overlooking the imperial palace. Café Zi serves as the all-day dining concept of the hotel, channeling a Chinese garden with laser-cut floral panels suspended from its ceiling. Ceramic partitions framed in dark timber are featured to create semi-private dining rooms.
Beyond a sliding door is MO Bar, acting as the midnight counterpoint to Café Zi, complete with dark lacquered cabinets, and leather-paneled pullout drawers reminiscent of the historic Chinese apothecaries. A warm linear glow illuminates the staircase to the sixth floor, where the spa and wellness center are located.
