Unveiling the Zhangjiagang Marriott Hotel: A Blend of Tradition and Modernity

Paul Liu and Hank Xia's Award-Winning Design Infuses Chinese Aesthetics into Contemporary Hospitality

Located in a port city along the Yangtze River, the Zhangjiagang Marriott Hotel draws its design inspiration from its unique geographical location. Central to the design is the element of water, a nod to the city's maritime history. The designers used Oriental Aesthetic Chinese Shanshui Painting as a source of inspiration, incorporating the colors and shapes from the Mountains and Water into the hotel's design. The result is a pleasurable experience for guests that is deeply rooted in Chinese culture.

The Zhangjiagang Marriott Hotel sets itself apart through its strategic location in the city's economic and cultural center. It boasts 323 spacious guestrooms and suites with skyline views and open-plan bathrooms. The hotel's dining options offer a delightful discovery of outstanding cuisines, including Chinese, Japanese, and seafood buffets. With over 4000 sqm of meeting and banquet areas, it has the largest event and banquet spaces among high-end competitors in the area.

The design realization technology employed by the designers prioritized the longevity of design. They considered the lifespan of the materials used and focused more on quality over quantity. The designers were committed to finding ways to balance aesthetics and functionality with choices that reduce environmental impact, including choosing eco-friendly, non-toxic, and chemical-free materials and products.

The hotel covers a landscape area of 55000sqm, including guestrooms, food and beverage outlets, ballrooms, meeting facilities, and recreational amenities. The design process was sophisticated and functional, involving planning, schematic design, developed design, and construction documentation stages. Despite the challenges, the designers were able to meet the requirements of Marriott's international brand strategy while considering the owner's operational, budget, time schedule requirements, and aesthetic issues.

The Zhangjiagang Marriott Hotel is a testament to the designers' ability to blend traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern hospitality design. The hotel's design details, inspired by its unique geographical location and Chinese Shanshui Painting, offer guests a pleasurable experience deeply rooted in Chinese culture. This design was recognized with a Golden A' Interior Space, Retail, and Exhibition Design Award in 2020, a testament to its outstanding and trendsetting design.