Niccolo Hotel Changsha, China

Located within Hunan’s premier Furong District tower, Changsha IFS Tower One, the Niccolo Changsha is the fourth luxury property of its kind from Hong Kong-based hospitality management company, Wharf Hotels. Designed by Wilson Associates, the new urban travel destination features 241 contemporary-chic guest rooms, including 19 spacious suites, three stylish yet distinct food and beverage venues, and a series of conference and meeting spaces.

“Crowning an iconic high-rise in a vibrant, energetic district of Hunan, the Niccolo Changsha presented a unique design opportunity for our team,” says James Carry, Principal and Managing Director at Wilson Associates’ Dallas office. “Drawing inspiration from its uncommon setting, we sought to create an upscale, yet worldly epicenter for luxury and relaxation, all the while staying true to the brand’s roots.”

Overlooking the picturesque Xiang river, the Niccolo welcomes discerning, global travellers and local Changsha residents in a polished, yet artful reception area. Taking cues from the sleek aesthetic found in retail fashion display casing, Carry’s design team embraced a ‘less is more’ approach, adopting a hyper-contemporary scheme to captivate visitors from their first encounter. A palette of creams and warm neutrals, balanced by contrasting high-gloss lacquered walls, creates an architectural canvas that allows richly hued accents, such as blown glass sculptures and sparkling pendants to shine. Tailored displays, alternating seasonally, invite guests inward to chic elevator cabs and up into the heart of the new hotel – a 93rd-floor sky lobby. Elevator doors open to dark textures, stunning artwork, and sweeping views of the city, encouraging visitors to discover the impeccable food, beverage and social destinations on the top floor of the tower. The glittering BAR 93 offers evening entertainment and craft cocktails in a trendy yet refined setting. Recalling the spirit of the hotel’s metropolitan locale, Niccolo Kitchen’s sleek, high-energy design invites family, friends and business associates to gather for a medley of signature Asian and Western dishes prepared in an open kitchen. Stylish wood slating denotes a back room of Niccolo Kitchen’s dining space, which serves as an exclusive Tea Lounge in the afternoon.

Downstairs, the guest rooms and suites occupy floors 86 to 92. The spacious and elegant design features an understated neutral palette, soft textiles, and floor-to-ceiling windows that capitalise on the Niccolo’s exquisite surroundings. Spa-like bathrooms, in Italian marble and polished fixtures, were designed to relax and revitalise with an abundant access to natural light. Further into the core of the tower, the hotel’s range of retail-inspired public spaces are split between five, six, eight and 92 floors, and designed to accommodate a host of social events and high-profile meetings. The crown jewel of the Niccolo, a sparkling 788-square-meter ballroom located on the 5th floor, features a clean, flexible design through articulately detailed and edited materiality. On the eighth floor, the all-glass conservatory presents an additional layer of exclusivity, designed for prestigious guests or intimate occasions. A range of additional event spaces, such as a lush outdoor garden and quaint piazza, as well as function venues of varying sizes are dotted throughout levels 5 and 92. Bathed in natural light, the sixth floor wellness centre reflects the finest attention to detail and wellbeing, including a designer swimming pool, jacuzzi and fitness center, as well as a stunning spa.