Unveiling the Elegant Legend: A Blend of History and Modernity

Honglei Liu's Award-Winning Hotel Design Infuses French Elegance with Historic Culture

The design approach of the Elegant Legend is deeply rooted in the concept of Destination Unlocked, a brand idea of Le Meridien. Drawing inspiration from the city's past when it was known as Xiangshan, Liu has infused the hotel with a sense of adventure and curiosity. The design captures the cultural glamour of this historic town, presenting it in a new light and offering guests a journey back in time.

One of the unique features of the Elegant Legend is its full-height lobby, adorned in a dark timber tone and solemn arrays of screens. This design choice adds a steady style to the hotel, while acrylic mountains at the entrance and the end offer a mystic and blurry hill view, reminiscent of a beautiful scene after a rain shower. The water flows on the floor stone reach the walls seaward, transforming the lobby into a veritable microcosm of Zhongshan's landform of plains, hills, and rich water system.

Another distinctive element of the hotel's design is the spiral shapes of pearly nautilus, made up of glass steel chrysanthemum petals. These hanging petal accessories are arranged in a random yet orderly way, adding a touch of whimsy to the hotel's sophisticated aesthetic. The hotel, spanning an area of 35,327 sqm, houses a lobby, lounge, cafe, all-day dining, Chinese food restaurant, executive bar, swimming pool, gym, and guest rooms.

The Elegant Legend is more than just a hotel; it's a testament to the city's evolution. The designers have subtly introduced Middle Ages aesthetics into this time-honored city, creating a unique encounter between old Xiangshan and new Zhongshan. This design approach is an earnest answer to hope for the future, driving the eternal exploration of urban mysteries by humankind.

The project, which started in April 2016 and finished in September 2018, faced the challenge of infusing historic culture into the hotel while maintaining the French elegance of Le Meridien. However, the result is a design that unveils the cultural glamour of this historic town with new visions. The Elegant Legend was awarded Silver in A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award in 2019, a testament to its remarkable design and innovation.