After last month's 'china' feast, and food feast the month before, this blog features another kind of East-West fusion, that of architecture and the arts in a modern luxury boutique hotel. I don't have shares in this company but some of my clients go there, and I love going there just to look around!
It doesn't look promising from the rather grey-green box-like exterior, but it opens up into a box full of surprises........ starting from a smiling doorman in front of 2 traditional wooden doors, a beautiful fusion of young and old.
A fine pair of exhibits, 'coat of arms' in Ming style china, greets you, with male in front of the female in good traditional fashion.
And then a wall of boxes, which actually is a representation of a Chinese medicine chest. This serves as the 'reception desk' for check in.
In case you haven't guessed already, yes we're in one of the top hotels in Beijing, the Opposite House (boutique luxury) hotel, where some of my clients stay, eat, drink or just stroll around. It has a striking minimalist style, and the architect was Kengo Kuma. It's situated right in the middle of Sanlitun Village, the latest 'hip' place where the trendy go to be seen.
There are numerous art exhibits which change from time to time, some light as a feather.
...others more life-like...
.....fancy an empress's embroidered dress?
......another feature is a huge stainless steel swimming pool open for all to look down on.
And even a modern dinosaur to greet you at the coffee shop, rather reminiscent of some you can see at 798 Art Zone - now that's a blog for another time.
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