Hong Kong’s celebrated sense of style has arrived in Beijing with the launch of Swire Hotels’ flagship property, The Opposite House. A completely stunning design triumph in the chic Sanlitun district, The Opposite House unfolds as an archetypal dream destination. Located in the former diplomatic quarters and a half an hour drive from Beijing’s international airport, it’s the kind of residential hotel you can imagine staying for long enough to write a book—or at least a taut, tryst-filled novella.
The Opposite House is the first of a number of hotels being developed in China, Hong Kong and the UK by Swire Hotels, which will all be distinctive hotels, each uniquely designed by renowned architects and designers. From a historical, psychological and financial point of view, The Opposite House is an interesting approach to a hotel. The Opposite House and it’s sister property The Upper House are purpose-built to show off Swire’s financial prowess. That is to say, not a whole lot on this site is pre-fab. As anyone with a seasoned eye can tell you upon site inspection, much of the gorgeousness on display is custom and venue-specific. For a transnational corporation with seriously impressive holdings in aerospace, property, deep-sea shipping and agriculture, The Opposite House is a fitting “Jewel in the Crown.”
An Exercise in Haute Hospitality
The hotel opened during the 2008 Olympic Games and is one of the finest examples of the new Beijing, blending a historic sensibility with a refined contemporary creativity. Clean geometric lines and minimalist decor create a feeling of wide open space as you move around the hotel. Moreover the expansive lobby looks like the kind of place the editorial team from Wallpaper* magazine might choose to hold an off-site issue meeting. With a playful Alice in Wonderland sense of scale, the lobby is divided by a floor-to-ceiling gigantic modernist take on the traditional antique Chinese cabinet—one of my favorite design features by far.
As might be expected of such an original endeavor, The Opposite House is not a product of industry standard hotel culture. It’s the fresh air culmination of ideas from a team of young, like-minded creative types who envisioned a much more interesting guest experience than that on offer from the cookie-cutter hotels in this Asian metropolis. Perhaps it’s the professional way it’s run, or intoxicating mix of simultaneous solitude and buzz, or the manner in which the hip on-site bars and restaurants coexists seamlessly with the private accommodation.
