The hotel is nestled in the Niushou Mountain Scenic Area, Jiangning District, Nanjing, where the Niutou Zen School originated in China. With its innovative X-shaped architectural structure, the hotel allows for a 3,220-square-meter lobby. The key and pain point of the design is therefore how to borrow from Zen Buddhist culture to create an exclusive holiday experience for this Hilton.
The overall design took the concepts of "Heart, Delight and Emptiness" from the Niutou Zen School and translated them into an Eastern aesthetic that is simple and ethereal, natural and pristine, serene and joyful to create a Zen-themed retreat that emphasizes on the experience of "living in peace".
Given the oversized lobby, the team aims to maintain the lofty airiness of the space by introducing plants to create a sensory journey with one-step-one-view details. For example, the lobby featuring a “floating kasaya” (a patchwork robe worn by Buddhist monks) on the ceiling, flowing water covering the four giant columns, moss planted along the interior hills, a stone feature with hand-crafted ripples installed on the floor and lush plants hanging from the ceiling... Together they create a wooded courtyard under the roof.
The ADD Restaurant presents an open and airy atmosphere with minimal elements, hanging rattan artwork, light grey faux raw stone, and all things simple and natural. The hotel has a specially designed vegetarian restaurant and meditation rooms that use rustic materials and elegant tones. The guest room can also be a place for meditation, reading and tea tasting, giving guests an unprecedented holiday experience.
In terms of sustainability, the wood and stone used are locally sourced to avoid carbon emissions during transportation. The walls of the speciality restaurant are finished with MCM (modified clay materials). The artwork is made of acrylic with recycled Bodhi leaves sealed inside.