Flowers In The Mansion

Suzhou’s traditional Chinese Manor house and its well-known gardens guided the interior concept of the New Park Hyatt Suzhou.

- Michele Koh Morollo

The traditional mansion homes of Suzhou and clove and crab apple flowers often found in the city’s gardens inspired the newly opened Park Hyatt Suzhou.

Designed by leading hospitality design firm Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), it sought to combine Chinese heritage with contemporary design in the public areas and guestrooms that it was responsible for.

The hotel is located along the city’s famous Jinji Lake, and its building was designed by global architecture practice KPF.

Taking its cue from its streamlined, modern silhouette, the HBA team used materials such as vertical slats to complement the architecture.

According to Connie Puar and Andy Long, HBA’s lead designers for the project, the layout of the hotel and its interior design are based on the traditional Suzhou manor house and elements of the classical Suzhou garden.

“Our design of each space within the hotel reflects the programme of the traditional manor house,” says Puar.

“The pattern of the clove flower, which is commonly seen in the gardens of Suzhou, is expressed in different ways in this project – in the details along the walls and columns and in unique clove-flower handles attached to the deep green doors.

“A large flower pattern installation was used in the lounge, and a flower crystal installation was used in the ballroom.”

GRAND CHINESE MANSION