Hirsch Bedner Associates unveils an unabashedly glamorous design for Shangri-La’s first hotel in Japan
Hirsch Bedner Associates – the world’s leading hospitality design consultancy – has collaborated with Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to create Japan’s very first Shangri-La hotel. Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo stands out from its traditionally minimalist hotel neighbors with a design that celebrates Shangri-La’s trademark Asian elegance and luxury. The result: the most glamorous hotel destination that Japan has ever seen.
Located right next to Tokyo Station, the 202-room Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo occupies the top 11 floors of the 37-storey Marunouchi Trust Tower main building. Within this bustling central Tokyo locale, the hotel offers guests an elegant urban oasis above the city, with stunning views over the Imperial Palace and Tokyo city.
“The HBA design has infused the hotel with the rich and luxurious DNA of the Shangri-La hotel brand,” says Tokyo-born, LA-based HBA designer Naoko Horii. “This is attractive to both international guests as well as local visitors who rarely see this style of opulence in Japan.”
In creating a warm and elegant ambience, HBA collaborated with an esteemed art consultant to make strong use of customized artworks, luxurious materials and a deep color palette. Starting from the moment guests pull up to the porte cochere, a crystal-strung roof and water feature mark the dramatic entrance experience. Meanwhile, guests arriving via the pedestrian entry are greeted by an art piece that is over 10 metres wide hanging above the glass door façade.
The elevator ride from street level to the 28th floor lobby is designed to immediately welcome guests into the gracious world of Shangri-La and raise anticipation prior to check-in. Behind artist-designed metal doors, the 3.5-metre high elevator cabin is trimmed with rich Movingi wood paneling, a bronze mirror and a chandelier. A hand-tufted carpet and handrails filled with Swarovski crystals complete the luxurious ride.
The lift doors open to a dramatic lobby with a grand winding staircase connecting the three public levels. Cascading down the centre of the staircase is a custom designed Czech crystal hand-blown glass chandelier, one of the many examples of bespoke lighting effects used throughout the hotel to add glamour and sparkle.
Behind the Portoro stone front desk hangs a gold-plated lacquered relief by contemporary artist Shen Jin Li fashioned after the 12th-century scroll masterpiece, Along the River During the Qingming Festival. A striking onyx bar and rich velveteen sofas invite lounging, while 180-degree views of the Tokyo skyline framed with dramatic drapery provides a stunning backdrop to the lobby.
As well as the public areas, HBA designed the 202 guestrooms, with the exception of the Presidential Suite and Shangri-La Suite. Stretching from the 31st-37th floors, they are carefully detailed and richly adorned in Anigre wood paneling, lavish marble, luxurious fabrics in burgundy tones and silver leaf accents.
The bathroom is unique in both size and style for Tokyo: the ultra spacious bathing area includes a Japanese style washing area with an oversized rain shower and bathtub situated by a picture window. The rooms also feature a custom sofa by window, a large work desk and 42-inch diagonal wall mount TV with DVD and CD players with subwoofer.
Other highlights of the hotel include a CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La, Shangri-La’s signature spa brand adorned with Himalayan accents. There is also a magnificent pool area overlooking the Imperial Palace with a feature wave motif hand-painted in silver and gold leaf across the coffered roof and reflected in the tiled mosaic of the pool.
