Linehouse Reimagines Industrial Aesthetics for Jen Hangzhou Hotel
The interior design blends local craftsmanship with the industrial heritage of Hangzhou's riverfront.
1Industrial Heritage Integration
The Jen Hangzhou hotel, owned by the Shangri-La Hotel Group, occupies an 18-floor building designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox. Located along the Dongxin River, the structure is flanked by former industrial factory compounds. Linehouse developed the interiors to reflect this history, utilizing steel, grey brick, and glass throughout the property.
2Lobby Design Philosophy
The ground-floor lobby establishes a warm atmosphere using earth-toned marble and oak paneling. Artist Elsa Jeandedieu created a textured artwork at the entrance depicting local bridges and canals. Patchwork patterns on the marble floors and bespoke rugs were directly inspired by the street layouts and tile designs of the surrounding neighborhood.
3Hospitality and Dining Spaces
Hospitality areas are concentrated on the sixth floor, featuring the long, linear OpenHouse restaurant. The ceiling incorporates sunmao, a traditional timber joinery technique, highlighted by black metal frames. A central coffee bar divides the space, while private dining rooms utilize angled timber canopies decorated with burnt red and yellow color hues.
4Architectural Staircase Feature
The adjacent Koan Bar serves as a triple-height venue defined by an undulating black metal staircase. This structure connects guests to an upper terrace and features integrated platforms for socializing. The staircase is carved between walls lined with concrete panels, reinforcing the site's industrial aesthetic while providing intimate walnut timber booths.
5Wellness and Tactile Design
The seventh floor is dedicated to wellness, housing a gym, yoga room, spa, and swimming pool. The gym features a lava stone wall with engravings illustrating movement, while the yoga room utilizes hand-chiseled timber panels. These spaces employ muted tones and tactile materials to foster a calm, retreat-like environment for hotel guests.
6Urban Retreat Guest Rooms
The 176 guest rooms are designed as urban retreats, utilizing a restrained palette of gun metal, oak, and tan leather. Curved ceilings provide indirect lighting to soften the industrial aesthetic. Bathrooms are illuminated by glass-block walls, balancing the raw materials with refined, modern finishes to ensure comfort for all hotel visitors.
7Design Studio Background
Founded in 2013 by Alex Mok and Briar Hickling, Linehouse operates studios in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Auckland. The firm is known for projects like the Ink Ink Market in Shanghai and the Central Park shopping centre in Bangkok. Their work consistently focuses on layering history, craft, and culture into architectural spaces.
8Project Scope and Execution
The project spans 12,850 square meters and involved extensive collaboration with consultants including Wong Ouyang and Zhejiang Province Institute of Architectural Design and Research. By blending traditional techniques like clay tiling with modern industrial forms, the design team successfully created a new perspective on Hangzhou’s evolving urban and industrial landscape.