The Xintiandi Hotels in central Shanghai raise the standards for modern, high-rise buildings in historic urban districts with their innovative design, diverse program mix, and connection to surrounding context. This innovative, luxury development responds sensitively to the district’s low-rise architectural fabric and provides visitors a variety of retail and entertainment options in addition to the full gamut of amenities expected by international travelers.The business-oriented Langham Xintiandi and the leisure-oriented Andaz Shanghai convey a fashionable sensibility that extends and further develops the character of the historic Xintiandi. Synthesizing old and new, the hotels respond to their context with a warm-gray stone cladding and low-rise podiums that engage the historic neighborhood at street level. At the same time, the project’s powerful architectural forms and high-end amenities embody the dynamism of modern-day cosmopolitan Shanghai: Each hotel houses a spa, restaurants, bars, and retail shops. The 362-room Langham Xintiandi caters to business travelers with meeting rooms, atrium lounge, and dining options from around the globe, while the 309-room Andaz Shanghai appeals to leisure travelers through its resort-style amenities, such as a rooftop wedding chapel and nightclub. Sited on adjacent parcels, the hotels’ curvilinear forms are oriented toward the pedestrian shopping district and each other. The massing of the two towers suggests a coupled relationship between individuals, inspired by the Shanghai Sisters—larger-than-life figures associated with the city’s lively nightlife in the 1920s. Comprising 665,000 square feet (62,000 square meters), the Xintiandi Hotels stand over 100 meters tall with 24-meter-high podiums that contain hotel function spaces such as lobby and conference areas. The curved walls of the towers and unconventional wall treatments create distinctive window configurations that produce a variety of city views for guests.Selected Awards:MIPIM Asia Awards, Hotels and Tourism Resorts - Silver (2011)