Hyatt Centric Shanghai Zhongshan Park

In the Hyatt Centric Shanghai, Red Design has pioneered Asia’s premier lifestyle-focused hotel. Situated beside the iconic Zhongshan Park, which in the 1920s served as an East-meets-West playground for the rich and famous, this project pays homage to its historic location down to the finest detail, exemplifying our firm’s expertise in immersive, story-led design.

Our challenge was transforming an outdated hotel into a vanguard of modern hospitality, a place that nods to its international roots, while inviting both locals and guests to mingle and absorb the ambiance.

Drawing inspiration from the park during its fashionable heyday, we reimagined the hotel into the kind of vibrant and luxurious hideaway where a Golden Age socialite might have sought respite (and fun!).

The original structure, characterized by low ceilings and cramped spaces, became our canvas. Leaning into its quirks, we crafted the hotel as a speakeasy-style clubhouse hidden behind a high-end tailor shop, evoking the clandestine glamour of 1920s Shanghai.

Marrying Eastern and Western aesthetics, the design is influenced by Haipai or Shanghai style. Our interpretation captures the boldness and allure of the era, infusing traditional elements, like Chinoiserie wallcoverings and lacquered furnishings, with a modern twist.

Every detail in the hotel—from the strategic use of space to the decorative choices—serves to enhance the thematic storytelling, immersing guests in a modern reimagining of old Shanghai. This project not only elevates a once generic property to a lifestyle brand but also incorporates the park’s British colonial heritage, making it a true cultural melting pot.

Design: Red Design
Architect: SHERMAN KUNG & ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS
Façade Design: RICARDO BOFILL TALLER DE ARQUITECTURA
Photography: Seth Powers, Jonathan Leijonhufvud