Unique Henan-Theater Hotel

Unique Henan-Theater Hotel is next to the “Unique Henan: Land of Dramas” Theater Complex in Zhengzhou, the capital of China’s Henan Province. Created in partnership with director Wang Chaoge and Central China Group, it is China’s first panoramic and immersive theater-themed park, and also currently the world’s largest theater complex.

The designer connects the layout with the spirit deeply rooted in Central Plain’s culture and interprets the traditional culture with modern design. By merging the space atmosphere and the local culture, the designer creates a poetic and modern living space for guests. The immersive experiences in the theater are extended to a time journey for the heart and a spiritual connection with the past and present of the Central Plain’s land.

Revive Local Humanity
The designer, boasting an in-depth understanding of the humanity, history and core spirit of Henan, drew from the region’s distinctive elements such as “silo-cave”, “wheat”, “rammed earth”, “the earth” and “the vaulted sky” as the foundational features and artistically applied them to the hotel’s design and décor, subtly incorporated into the details, reviving the local humanities.

Golden Ripe Wheats on Both Sides of the Yellow River
Wheat is the foundation of Henan and the rustic totem of the Central Plains people. Therefore, the lead designer, Eric W. Tsay, incorporated wheat elements into the space. The ethereal wheat art installation at the reception in the lobby, the vivid wall decoration of wheat ears in the lounge and the various detailed wheat ears in the restaurant all demonstrate the happiness of harvest when the golden and shiny waves of the ripe wheat sway in the wind.

The “wheat ear lights” adorning the rammed earth walls in the public areas were jointly designed by Studio STAY and French fine ironwork specialist AeF. These lights, together with rammed earth walls that carry a rich cultural weight, immerse guests in the imaginary of swaying in the wheat fields, evoking a theater-like time travel through time.

A New Realm on Ancient Land, without the bothering of Winds and Rains
Inspired by the distinctive architecture of the “silo cave” in the Yellow River region, the designer created a unique open courtyard and spatial design for the hotel. The courtyard is surrounded by neighboring spaces including public areas, guest rooms and public corridors. The center of the courtyard reflects different views of the four seasons, offering an immersive experience.

Rammed Earth Walls, A Fusion with Nature
In the hotel’s public areas, the walls of the reception desk and the lounge are mostly made of rammed earth, which comes from the Central Plains. The lead designer Eric W. Tsay, inspired by the traditional architecture of local residences, demonstrates the current interpretation of materials and spatial details with modern techniques.

In the Lobby Bar, “Modern Floral Metal and Ceramic Ceiling Décor” was inspired by natural elements from the Central Plains landscape. It contains 100 hand-made ceramic roses and ginger lilies, with each having a sense of extension.

The Vaulted Sky, A Vibrant Theater
The glass curtain walls strike a poetic balance between heritage and modernity. In the courtyard beneath the vaulted sky, greenery, water and light and shadow become the link between the interior and exterior. The interior space and furnishings, together with the visual extension brought by the atrium, continuously provide guests wandering in the Hotel Theater with the magic of spatial theater where local elements and modern design are merged ingeniously.

An Adventurous Integration of Inside and Outside
The seamless integration of the courtyard and the interior space is undoubtedly one of the novelist aspects of the hotel. As a theater hotel, it naturally maintains a close and harmonious connection with its overall environment.

The enclosed layout and the connected interior and exterior allow a more transparent boundary. Looking through the trees and the scroll-like floor-to-ceiling strip windows, the scenery appears like a poetic drama, with the greenery reflecting off the glass curtain walls, embodying the passage of time.

Echoes of the Homeland, Contemporary Central Plains
In the hotel’s interior, the designer created a fresh experience that resonates with the spirit of the times using local elements in both freehand and fine brushwork styles. The contemporary designing language bridges traditional Eastern culture with a global context, offering a captivating new perspective.

When walking through the hotel, guests can find out that the designer expertly employs rammed earth, rusted iron panels, cement bricks, ceramic tiles, wood and brass together, interweaving these materials while leaving ample blank spaces to highlight the modern decorative elements, supporting the space elegantly and powerfully.

Design: Studio STAY
Photography: Qiu Xin