The Waterhouse at South Bund - Shanghai

Singaporean Loh Lik Peng is considered a boutique hotel pioneer in Asia. Bursting onto the scene with 1929, the first hip boutique hotel in the trendy Chinatown district of Singapore, the lawyer-turned-hotelier is now casting his vision further afield.

This year, three properties are slated to open in places are diverse as Singapore’s Little India, east end London, and an industrial area along Shanghai’s Huangpu riverfront. The latter, dubbed The Waterhouse at South Bund and featuring the talents of husband and wife team Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu of Shanghai-based Neri & Hu Design and Research Office, is quickly drawing buzz for Loh’s foresight and real estate savvy.

With most of the attention focused on restorations along Shanghai’s Bund and the lightning speed development in Pudong, a myriad of industrial warehouses further south along the Huangpu River was ripe for the picking. The 1930s weathered timber and metal truss structures collectively exude a New York City meatpacking ambience – a look and feel that Neri and Hu capitalised upon, as both had previously worked in the Big Apple. “Our main concept was to design a hotel not so much for the tourist, but more for the traveller,” reveals Neri. “We wanted to design a space that will attract the people who want to understand the essence of Shanghai, as opposed to the typical tourist crowd whose interest is only seeing the Shanghai landmarks. We were also trying to blur the outside and inside by bringing the landscape into the space and having some of the interior spaces occupy the exterior.”

Fans of Loh’s previous efforts can expect his love for modern classic furniture to grace a lobby with exposed concrete, worn bricks and ductwork crisscrossing the space. And they won’t be disappointed. Chairs and tables by the likes of Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, Hans Wegner, Antonio Citterio, and Kana Ishikawa will have guests playing friendly games of name that designer while checking in.

Neri & Hu planned spaces around the lobby with the traditional home in mind – a sanctuary that offers tantalising glimpses of what’s next. “We took the concept of the lane house that you find all over Shanghai, and turned it up vertically,” explains Neri. “The voyeuristic journey often experienced in lane houses can be found in this hotel.” Strategically, public spaces can be seen from the exterior, while private spaces such as guestrooms can be seen from key vantage points in common areas. Spatial boundaries are blurred with intriguing results, with unexpected light wells and unusually framed views that constantly delight.

Flowing from the lobby lounge with its metallic Konstantin Grcic bar stools and working fireplace is consultant chef Jason Atherton’s first foray into Asia after the astounding success of London’s Maze. Table No. 1 is all about informal communal dining set within a light filled space that opens into a courtyard. Four long tables in rustic wood sets off the grey brick and large panes of uninterrupted glass, while one of the two private dining rooms allows for the chef to interact with guests during dinner parties.

Wherever possible, Neri & Hu worked with great respect for the existing canvas. “We tried to keep the raw component of the original structure and added natural materials that complemented and augmented the concept,” Neri states.

The Events Warehouse occupies a separate building a short distance from the hotel, and has already become the hotspot in town for glamorous events. Its column-free 743m2 double-storey space with pitched roof and crisscrossed with trusses is the ideal blank slate for everything from concerts to gala dinners to fashion shows. One of the hall’s features is a chic communal lounge in between the men’s and ladies’, featuring elegant timber bench seating, grey brick, tinted glass and Tom Dixon pendant lamps. Not to be outdone, The Roof at Waterhouse bar offers panoramic views of Shanghai’s skyline. Plush loungers set amongst a landscaped garden and green roof bar make it a sophisticated retreat.

Each of the 19 rooms offers a unique experience, although all share a clever peek-a-boo gate that allows guests to see who is at their door. Materials reinforce the concept found throughout the rest of the hotel, with hardwood plank floors, grey brick and exposed concrete to continue the old-meets-new aesthetic. One room may have a concrete bathtub next to large windows, while another may have a mezzanine level lounge area. Some have light wells or windows situated at unexpected heights that look into public areas to keep things interesting.

Despite a restricted budget, Neri & Hu found the project immensely satisfying. “Budget is always a challenge,” says Neri. “But in our case, I think it worked to our advantage as we became more rigorous and disciplined. It was probably one of our most satisfying projects to date as we managed to do most of the things we wanted, from architecture to interiors to graphics, all the way to product design. It was truly a multi-disciplinary approach. Even more importantly, we had an amazing client.”

Rooms    19 guestrooms and suites
Dining    Table No. 1 by Jason Atherton
Drinking    The Roof at Waterhouse bar, The Lobby lounge & bar
Leisure    Gym
Facilities    Events Warehouse