Shanghai Donggang Chengfu Hotel
The Shanghai Donggang Chengfu Hotel by Shanghai Light and Shadow Design on Shanghai Changxing Island is designed with a focus on a natural, minimalist aesthetic, creating a tranquil and welcoming atmosphere for guests to relax and enjoy the scenery.
This hotel project on Shanghai Changxing Island lies far from the hustle and bustle of the city. The designer’s intent was to give visitors a first impression of poetic elegance born from an aesthetic of natural simplicity, recalling an atmosphere of the moon at night reflected in clear, calm waters.
Visitors to the area will encounter the charming, rustic atmosphere of intimate countryside lanes lined with an abundance of flowers and leafy trees, as well as alluring beaches offering soft sands and glittering vistas of the open sea beyond.
The Poetry of Time: Savoring Slowness
The entrance and main hallway of the hotel provide an immediate sense of comfort and tranquility, with a natural materials palette composed of subtle color and texture, creating a clean and simple aesthetic. Large arched French windows allow generous amounts of dappled sunlight to enter the space, giving the hall a warm atmosphere, which is simultaneously bright, peaceful, and welcoming.
Within the flow of light and shadow, the sitting room is composed of a minimal arrangement of furnishings and artworks derived from organic materials including rattan, white stone, and unadorned timber. Their inviting color and tactility give the space an appealing ambience in which visitors can enjoy quiet leisure time, whether that be sipping a cup of tea, reading a book, or simply contemplating the view out the window.
Subtle Movements: A Space for Relaxation
For the hotel’s bedrooms and their ancillary spaces, it was important to instill a deeply peaceful and comforting atmosphere, full of soft textures yet also appealing to the eye. Accordingly, the designers have simplified the spatial elements there, with off-white colors and natural timber providing a shared yet varied visual language. Carefully placed rounded furniture and artworks provide counterpoints to the rectilinear elements of the spaces, and attract the eye. Combined with the slow shift of natural light, they bring a modern sensibility and aesthetic sophistication.
Surrounded by soft, warm light and wall tones reminiscent of Mediterranean interiors, guests are ensconced in an atmosphere of stylish tranquility. Beds have been provided with the highest quality mattresses and sheets, allowing guests to enjoy the best possible nights’ sleep.
The designers’ approach to these bedroom spaces pays particular attention to accents and details, unified within the overall aesthetic. Visitors will find a delicate timber table in a corner equipped with a custom tea set and book, providing a quiet place to read under an exquisite Chinese ink painting while sipping tea.
The philosophy of Wabi-sabi style permeates the overall design of the bedrooms, through the application of a minimal aesthetic for furniture and decoration, natural materials, and plain earth-tone colors. Through the skillful combination of these simple elements, an atmosphere of coherent balance is achieved, allowing guests to find a sense of inner calm: a peaceful respite from their busy lives in the city.
A well-designed bedroom can be a comfortable place to relax, whether it be during the day or night. Hotel guests here can relax on the soft beds, enjoying the scenery outside the windows, or sip a cup of fragrant tea while sitting by the coffee table – every individual can find their own way to quietly enjoy the many opportunities offered by the space.
Design: Shanghai Light and Shadow Design
Photography: Wang Haihua
