Shangri-La Tokyo Wows Japan

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Hirsch Bedner Associates has collaborated with Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts to create Japan’s very first Shangri-La hotel. The Shangri-La Tokyo stands out from its traditionally minimalist hotel neighbors with a design that celebrates Shangri-La’s trademark Asian elegance and luxury.

Located right next to Tokyo Station, the 202-room Shangri-La Tokyo occupies the top 10 floors of the 36-storey Marunouchi Trust Tower main building. Within this bustling central Tokyo locale, the hotel offers guests an elegant urban oasis above the city, with stunning views over the Imperial Palace and Tokyo city.

“The HBA design has infused the hotel with the rich and luxurious DNA of the Shangri-La hotel brand,” says Tokyo-born, LA-based HBA designer Naoko Horii. “This is attractive to both international guests as well as local visitors who rarely see this style of opulence in Japan.”

In creating a warm and elegant ambience, HBA collaborated with an esteemed art consultant to make strong use of customised artworks, luxurious materials and a deep color palette. Starting from the moment guests pull up to the porte-cochère, a crystal-strung roof and water feature mark the dramatic entrance experience. Meanwhile, guests arriving via the pedestrian entry are greeted by a 10-metre-wide art piece hanging above the glass door façade.

The elevator ride from street level to the 28th floor lobby is designed to immediately welcome guests into the gracious world of Shangri-La and raise anticipation prior to check-in. Behind artist-designed metal doors, the 3.5-metre high elevator cabin is trimmed with rich Movingi wood panelling, a bronze mirror and a chandelier. A hand-tufted carpet and handrails filled with Swarovski crystals complete the luxurious ride.

The lift doors open to a dramatic lobby with a grand winding staircase connecting the three public levels. Cascading down the centre of the staircase is a custom designed hand-blown Czech crystal glass chandelier, one of the many examples of bespoke lighting effects used throughout the hotel to add glamour and sparkle.

Behind the Portoro stone front desk hangs a ‘Lost Horizon’ mural, recalling the exotic Himalayan legend that inspires the Shangri-La brand. A striking onyx bar and rich velveteen sofas invite lounging, while 180-degree views of the Tokyo skyline framed with dramatic drapery provides a stunning backdrop to the lobby.

The 202 guestrooms stretching from floors 31 to 36 are carefully detailed and richly adorned in Anigre wood panelling, lavish marble, luxurious fabrics in burgundy tones and silver leaf accents. The bath is unique in both size and style for Tokyo: the ultra spacious bathing area includes a Japanese style washing area with an oversized rain shower and bathtub situated by a picture window. The rooms also feature a custom sofa by the window, a large work desk and 42-inch diagonal wall mount TV with DVD and CD players with subwoofer.

Other highlights of the hotel include a CHI Spa, Shangri-La’s signature spa brand adorned with Himalayan accents. There is also a pool area overlooking the Imperial palace with a feature wave motif hand-painted in silver and gold leaf across the coffered roof and reflected in the tiled mosaic of the pool.

www.hbadesign.com [10]

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