As morning light drapes over ancient stone bridges, and gentle waves wash over wooden paddles of fishing boats, this is Huai’an’s soft greeting to its visitors. Walking through Huai’an, every step resonates with history, and every glance encounters the poetry of dreams. Historically a crucial junction in the canal transport system and a key town in the southeast, Huai’an has been known as the “crossroads of nine provinces.” The local chronicles praise it as “the foremost magnificent state in the southeast, frequented by guests wearing the styles of Wu and Chu.”

Infusing warm emotions into its historical tapestry and constructing modern living atop its rich heritage soil, the Wyndham Garden Hotel pays homage to the profound local culture and the contemporary residential lifestyle. It responds to travelers’ pursuit of spiritual essence and living quality. With the blessing of local culture, the hotel creates a naturally healing space for travelers, reinterpreting Huai’an’s old dreams with modern techniques.

Blending modern textures with ancient charm, the design of this project embodies the concept of “hidden in plain sight, revealed in depth.” Stepping through the star-studded gateway with its overhanging eaves, one is transported through time, tracing back to the ancient Huai’an, where the climate is mild and the scenery is picturesque with bright mountains and beautiful waters.

Huai’an is located at the geographical dividing line between northern and southern China, serving as a junction for the transition between land and water transport. This gives rise to the unique mode of transportation known as “southern boats, northern horses.” Designers have integrated this regional characteristic into the spatial design, with woven bamboo curtains matching the curved domes, creating a visual hierarchy that enhances the poetic scene of “boats floating by the shore under the sky, with a boatload of clear dreams pressing against the Milky Way.” The golden light, filtered through the boat canopy, sprinkles on the mottled gunwale, reminiscent of the interlacing of the sunset’s afterglow and the reflections on the water, transporting one back to the memories of ancient Jiangnan.

Moor the boat and water the horses, delight in Huai’an. Leaning against Qingjiangpu Tower, riding the auspicious clouds and auspicious cranes, watering horses by the lush forest... A dream about ancient Huai’an is vividly materialized. Huai’an was an essential stop for Emperor Qianlong during his southern tours. The designers have incorporated elements such as suburban chairs, pavilions, and cranes into a corner, ensuring that the ancient charm of Huai’an not only flows through the river of history but is also intricately woven into the design details.

Venturing further into the lobby, a digital painting titled “Huai’an on the River” gradually unfolds. Hundreds of characters, each with distinct appearances and meticulous details, vividly recreate the bustling scene of ancient Huai’an with its thronging carts and horses, highlighting Huai’an’s longstanding significance. Here, modern aesthetics and the ancient elegance of Chinese motifs blend together, forming a reception area that encapsulates a fusion of scenarios, grand and exquisitely antique.

The poem says, “Snail green dots the evening mountains, stone green dyes the spring river tides.” The dripping greenery, brimming with vitality springing from the soil, has long symbolized vigor and vivacity in traditional culture. In the choice of hues, per the brand’s specifications, the interior space is extensively suffused with Wyndham green—a lush, deep green that is both the sediment of jade and the essence of verdant grass and trees, wrapping the natural fragrance into the indoor atmosphere.

How can the essence of traditional culture be infused into the structure of modern design, balancing functionality and aesthetics? In this context, designers comb through and reconstruct the spatial language, transforming the Chinese architectural spirit into a form of spatial expression with expansive layouts and broad frames. In the communal dining area, the arrangement of utensils and objects is orderly and rhythmic, simple yet splendid. The Eastern aesthetic philosophy of “great skill appears clumsy” is vividly evident in the space’s forms, materials, and the meticulous selection and finishing of objects.

Passing through the corridor and anteroom, the private dining areas open up to travelers amidst the dimly lit, partially secluded lights. Semi-enclosed carved screens blend the indoor scenes with the art exhibits in the anteroom, integrating the private dining spaces with the cultural landscape. In each private room, there is a scroll depicting a large ship in motion, as if carrying the wear and saturation of the ages, transcending the boundaries of time and space. This continuation of Huai’an’s prosperity and grandeur forms a platform for dialogue with time, facilitating an interaction and resonance between the ancient and the modern.

The corridor’s carpet, with delicate brushstrokes, sketches the grand vista of the Grand Canal, making each step feel like a journey down the historical river. The room numbers, corresponding to boat numbers at the door, reveal an interior design that embodies the Eastern aesthetic of “balanced harmony.” The designer continues the rhythm of the public areas, re-integrating the practical functions and aesthetic values of the space, creating an orderly and layered visual effect.

The cognition of space and the perception of emotions all stem from what travelers see, touch, and hear. Thus, the primary purpose of design is to express and distill beauty in the minutiae. In this project, the designer focuses on the multidimensional variations of materials, textures, light, and emotions. By intertwining creation and perception, and balancing the whole with the parts, the original concepts and attitudes of the project are conveyed. Every stroke of the design serves as a footnote to a poetic, travel-inspired life, interpreting the endless possibilities where Huai’an’s culture and modern living converge.

Project Name: WYNDHAM GARDEN
Location: Jiangsu, China
Design Company: JDKJ Design
Chief Designer: Felix Lin
Assistant Designer: Yiqing Lin, Zijie Deng, Ziting Chen, Jinju Lai, Jie Li, Keren Zhong, Jianyu Huang
Lighting designer: Tianhao Zhang
Model designer: Wenyu Liang, Zhi Li, Zhifeng Chen
Area: 13800 square meters
Cost: 65 million
Completion time: April 20, 2024
Client Name: Jiangsu New Future Hotel Management Co., Ltd
Photographer: Shangzhi Lili Photography Studio