Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is set to open a hotel in Lhasa, Tibet. Opening on April 17th, the hotel will house 289 rooms on a Himalayan plateau 11,975 feet above sea level.
Beyond the grand entrance gate, the plaza will take inspiration from traditional Tibetan architecture. The property’s contemporary interiors, including Lodgers Lounge, reference the local culture. The focal point of the lounge is a 21-foot bell-like chandelier draped in red fabric similar to a prayer wheel. Drawn from Tibetan paintings, the earthy toned, high ceilings surround the lounge. Behind the front desk, the ancient Tibetan cloud symbol is referenced in a contemporary piece made of hammered oxidized bronze.
To help acclimate guests to the altitude, the property includes the first hotel oxygen lounge in Lhasa, which looks out on a garden with two pavilions covered with of bronze, lacquer, murals, and carvings.
Ten extended-stay apartments are among the hotel’s contemporary guestrooms. The rooms’ modern décor is grounded in neutral colors and the earthy red, blue, and green seen in traditional Tibetan dress. Traditional Himalayan accents such as turquoise stone, decorative metals, floral patterns, and auspicious symbols complement the contemporary design.
Shambala, a tapas bar and lounge, will pay homage to the region with an interior lit by lamps reminiscent of oil lanterns and walls draped in Tibetan handcrafted carpets; other Tibetan influences throughout include decorative metal fixtures across low ceiling beams and the repetitive use of the endless knot. In addition, other F&B outlets include all-day dining restaurant, Altitude, which serves international fare in an open kitchen layout, and Shang Palace, a Shangri-La signature restaurant, which will serve authentic Cantonese and Sichuan specialties in a contemporary setting and in the restaurant’s 10 private dining rooms. For events, the 13,078-square-foot grand ballroom boasts eves inspired by Jokhang Temple and a ceiling covered in wallpaper using a gold brush technique.
