2013 BOY Winner: Foreign Hotel (Tony Chi and Associates)

Firm: Tony Chi and Associates
Project: Mandarin Oriental
Location: Guangzhou, China
Photography: Michael Moran/Otto

Before you arrive at the grand ballroom at this hotel, you must walk through a pre-function space. Its floor is pure black and white marble in curved strips laid in a pattern that recalls the flowing water of the mighty Pearl River as it passes this port city en route to the South China Sea. And that’s just one of the many local echoes delivered by Interior Design Hall of Fame member Tony Chi. Think international luxury with a blended East-West vibe. Dark wood used architecturally, along with vintage furniture, harks back to the European colonial presence in the 19th and 20th centuries, while floor plans update the courtyard houses of Chinese tradition. As travelers enter the hotel courtyard, urban bustle falls away. The calm continues in the guest tower, with its 233 rooms and 30 suites. Not even bellboys disturb the peace when dropping off luggage: Chi provided foyers that close off with a door.

Project Team:
Johnny Marsh; David Singer; Ricardo Fernandez.