Photography by Geng Tao
The small-scale Suzhou Creek Boutique Hotel is situated within Shanghai’s M50 Art District, next to Suzhou Creek and overlooking the railway station. Originally built in 1938 as the wool factory dormitories, the building is divided into three levels. The aim of the renovation is to build a tiny boutique hotel with contemporary art characteristics.
Our design concept is within the crowded high-density city centre area, making the best possible use of the precious resource of the waterfront view and creating a wide open view of the recreation area. In order to focus on this central concept, we have taken down the original three storey brick wall and timber roof and after reinforcing the foundations with a concrete framework structure, built a new steel structure for the three stories. The three newly-built storie have an asymmetric sloping roof and are separated into three units comprising a bedroom and lounge
complex, with a shared kitchen and canteen feature for self-catering. These relatively
independent hotel units will include interior designs by different contemporary artists, and the continuity of the waterfront platform will link them together from the outside.