In the city of Nanjing-the second largest commercial center in eastern China after Shanghai-the Han Yue Lou Hotel offers a haven to both business travelers and locals. “For this reason, the hotel was designed to serve as a business and social center,” says Pamela Babey, founding principal of San Francisco-based BAMO, who in collaboration with Japanese firm SPIN, recently completed the design of the Capella Hotel Group-managed property.

BAMO’s goal was to recognize the surrounding city while offering the luxuries of an international 5-Star hotel. “Chinese references were woven discretely into the fabric of the hotel,” says Babey. “The result is a modern hotel with a classical feel.” Connected by bronze screens, marble columns add grandeur to the lobby and help transition the space to the lower, more intimate reception areas. Above, the lobby chandelier is a contemporary swag of glass beads that reflects in the black-and-cream stone floor. “We wanted to make guests feel like a million bucks when they arrive,” Babey explains.

Designed to flow easily, the public spaces are connected by large passageways to accommodate groups of people. Wood paneling, upholstered walls, mirrors, and glass chandeliers furnish these larger spaces, along with consoles, seating areas, and lamps; while guestroom corridors have wood floors with individual carpets and runners, “which is unexpected for a hotel,” Babey says. “The design leaves the guest with the impression of exclusivity evocative of a grand residence.” Custom door hardware, as well as sconces and decorative shades, give the doorways a high-class, residential feel.

Entrances into the guestrooms mimic the grandeur of the lobby with black lacquer panels and antique mirrors framed by small red ribbons. Along with the silk-lined, walk-in closet, a Ming Green marble and nickel bathroom adds a touch of luxury. The room itself has rich, lacquered woods and tobacco-colored silk walls. “With such a beautiful backdrop, the furniture fabrics and finishes are meant to layer on top with unexpected splashes of color,” Babey describes. Furnished in yellow silk, the sofa contrasts against other neutral pieces and the slate blue headboard.

While the sleeping area takes on a residential feel, the room still caters to the business traveler with a study area. This portion of the room is centered around a contemporary, white lacquer desk with cabinets and shelves on three sides. “The effect is a quiet, tailored room with everything expertly fitted out for functionality-similar to a yacht,” says Babey.

To appeal to locals, SPIN created two restaurants-Jiu Jiu Yuan Chinese Restaurant and the Grill and Rye Bar. Inspired by the estate homes of ancient China, the former showcases local cuisine in a warm aesthetic. The interiors of the Grill and Rye Bar reinterpret Eastern architectural styles with intermingling Western influences. “The restaurant and bar will not just provide fantastic food and stunning interior design, but it will also disseminate a new lifestyle to the people,” says Keiichi Sato, SPIN’s managing director. “It’s a resolution of the coexistence and contrast of East and West.”