aki hotel

 

accor hotel’s m gallery is a storied collection, boasting over 100 boutique hotels, each with a unique tale to tell. among these exceptional properties is aki hong kong, a giant prism nestled between the low-rise historical buildings and towering skyscrapers of wan chai. it’s a place to pause amid the hustle and bustle of the vibrant neighborhood, offering a quintessential modern hospitality experience with a zen hideaway, a stark contrast to the never-sleeping environment of the bustling commercial area.

despite the district’s intensity, aki hotel’s identity design language responds with a need for calmness, reflecting a guest’s experience once they connect with the building and its interiors. the graphic language draws inspiration from the japanese boro, a textile art form that grew out of medieval necessity (ぼろ), where history is woven into a cultural statement. reinterpreted as a contemporary narrative, the identity system is a tactile vocabulary that unites an atmosphere, a metropolis, and the people. it’s an expression of human resilience, a tool that engages the audience with its cultural and geographical context. the pattern suggests a map, highlighting its location, the hotel’s building attributes, geometry, and materiality, as well as a collection of touchpoints that stimulate thought and dialogue, provoke response, and enhance understanding of its context.

 

 

 

 

 

 

the fleming

we were tasked to redesign and rebrand the fleming hotel, originally opened in 2006. a new take on the architecture, interior, products, and identity transformed the fleming into a 66-room boutique hotel that is a true reflection of hong kong. occupying a building from the 70s’, the hotel stands in wan chai close to victoria harbour front. the multilayered design concept draws inspiration from the location and history, leveraging Hong Kong’s maritime heritage and 70s’ industrial era to create a cultural, social and efficient character. one landmark that embodies these three elements is the star ferry — having connected people across the harbour for over a century, it is a piece of hong kong’s collective memory and identity. the star ferry, a unique and elegant icon of Hong Kong’s past and present, became the foundation for every design detail, including the custom designed furniture and lighting. nostalgia is further evoked by colours and scents: Carmine reds and bottle greens — hues seen on the hull of Hong Kong’s ferries, fishing boats, delivery trucks, and temples —and apothecary-inspired toiletries and custom aroma of sandalwood and amber notes, to deliver an authentic sense of place.

photographs by: dennis lo & judy chen

 

 

osteria marzia

a place where the sun meets the sea, osteria marzia brings the cuisine and romance of the southern italian coast to the heart of wan chai. through expansive windows, the glorious glow of sunlight breathes life to the luminous aqua blues, yellows and golds inspired by the mediterranean sea and shoreline. boat building techniques guide the interior architecture, and a contemporary maritime spirit find its expression in warm teak wood, white bamboo panels, navy blue banquettes and coral-blue tiles. here, the sea reveals itself in tables with shimmering surfaces and lamps that look like fishing lanterns. herbs from the aeolian islands perfume the air, as friends old and new gather to enjoy la dolce vita over wine and sumptuous italian seafood. a homage to life in cities by the sea, osteria marzia is an encounter with the flavours and sensuality of the mediterranean, in a dazzling oasis near the hong kong harbour.

Identity

the mills

 

find your thread in hong kong’s techstyle story.

when nan fung textile company first started weaving in the 1950s, cloth was the most important raw material. in today’s globalised fashion industry, the finished garment is one element in the complex, high-tech pursuit of making fashion. talent and creativity are the commodities in demand: talent for ideas, design and reaching consumers through brand and story. drawing on over half a century in the industry, the mills, a groundbreaking project from the nan fung group, recognises that today talent is the raw material that matters. it must be nurtured and developed in the same way that cotton must be woven into fine cloth. to that end, the mills, in the same building it has worked in for the past 50 years, provides aspiring designers, entrepreneurs, and fashion technologists with the tools, the know-how and the space to make a truly modern, global fashion business, through collaborations with other institutions, exhibitions, mentorship programs with skilled artisans and a cutting-edge fabrication lab. 

these are the mills of the 21st century.

Identity

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