Joyce Wang draws on "colonial country manors" for Hong Kong hotel interior

Mandarin Oriental The Landmark Hong Kong by Joyce Wang Studio

Designer Joyce Wang has completed an interior renovation at the Mandarin Oriental The Landmark hotel in Hong Kong, designed to evoke the feel of living in a colonial mansion.

Located on Queen's Road in Hong Kong's Central district, the hotel was first established a decade ago. It recently reopened after the completion of interior renovation by Joyce Wang Studio and a new facade design by Neri&Hu.

Joyce Wang Studio referenced Hong Kong’s historic architecture and skyline when designing the hotel, whose interior was informed by the city's colonial country manors.

"We took inspiration from the colonial country manors frequented by the Tai Kwuns of a bygone era to celebrate the beauty of these historic homes that still fascinate today," Wang, principal of her eponymous studio, told Dezeen. "Our vision this time has a greater focus on local relevance and the heritage of the building."

The studio also aimed to fuse art into the hotel.

"We also used art as an integral part of our philosophy for the space, with a commitment to adding local flavour. The artwork program is rigorous in that there is a story behind each piece," Wang added.

The hotel lobby features a mix of materials including stone, timber and textured wallcoverings. Custom eglomisé glass was added as detailing to create a contemporary atmosphere.

Terracotta tones within the space nod to Hong Kong's colonial architecture and were combined with a touch of green and orange in response to the city's lush green parks.

Throughout the hotel, a collection of artworks was carefully curated to create an authentic lived-in residence.

Artwork, objects and accessories scattered around an undulating staircase, artwork bays and sculptural plinths invite guests to pause and interact with them while venturing into the space.

Custom artworks capturing Hong Kong's signature skyline were created by the studio and integrated into carpet designs, tapestries and the églomise glass located at the lobby, as well as lifts and guestroom corridors.

According to the Hong Kong-based studio, the artistic intervention aims to celebrate the hotel's prominent location in the city, while presenting a series of treasured objects as if collected over time for one's own home.

Joyce Wang Studio aimed to create an intimate and residential feel in Mandarin Oriental The Landmark's 109 rooms and suites.

Details include bespoke wallcoverings by wallpaper brand Fromental, featuring hand-painted and silk elements, and cracked gesso wall finishes. Custom rugs on top of timber floors reference Hong Kong's historic brickwork.

A new communal bar was reimagined as a contemporary family gathering space. Here, the design is defined by a backdrop featuring patinated brass, verdigris, and bronze panels, allowing the space to adapt seamlessly between day and night service.

Ceiling lamps in matching patinated finishes pay homage to the domestic lighting found in the historic mansions of Yuen Long, a town in the western north of Hong Kong's New Territories, where several notable historic mansions and grand residences are located.

Fluted jade-toned tiles wrap the bar front, recreating the roofline silhouettes of traditional housing.

Tangerine and cherry-toned bar chairs contrast with the bar table. Their backs are adorned with a crest-like motif that symbolises a contemporary family emblem inherited through generations.

"For this latest renovation, we were inspired by the identity of our hotel as a pied-à-terre for our guests to feel the pulse of Hong Kong, intimately. The curation of pieces are windows into expressions of our city through lenses of both local and international, emerging and established artists," said Wang.

"As you journey through the hotel, we hope these storied perspectives fill you with curiosity and contemplation, at the ready to strike up conversations," she continued.

For the hotel spa, Joyce Wang Studio added design details informed by breathwork and calligraphy to create a sense of calm.

Custom flooring patterns were designed to mimic the natural rhythm of inhalation and exhalation, allowing guests to connect with the space as if it is breathing with them.

Two distinct wood veneers were paired together within the gym, yoga, and pilates studios, creating a balanced, organic environment that encourages a sense of focused calm.

The sinuous and fluid lines on the ceiling and decorative screens aim to recreate the brush strokes of Chinese calligraphy.