The Gallery, Shenzhen

Project Details

This project involves the schematic design of primary public and back of house spaces in a 65-room boutique hotel, and complete design of the lobby, and guest suites for corporate hotel client, HGI (Hotels Group International, Inc), in the central financial district of Shenzhen, China. HGI's commission of this project was part of their new line of downtown boutique hotels meant to cater to business guests in these financial districts. The hotel was to follow a high-end, extended-stay model, and be constructed within an existing building. The client's key drivers for the project were as follows:

  • Create an elevated level of well-being in a home away from home.

  • Embed the history and culture of the city into the design.

  • Institute an art platform based on the locale.

  • Engage in sustainable design applications and business practices.

  • Ensure preeminent customer service.

As my final review assignment for my Masters degree in architectural and interior design, this project is the culmination and best example of my current skillset. This file is a final design development presentation for the lobby/entry/reception area, and guest suites, with the client as the intended audience. The presentation is prefaced by the project program and existing building analysis, and supplemented with construction plans to capture the full project scope. My complete 99-page process book, that includes the precedent studies, sketching, scheming and brainstorming that went behind the presented designs, and is supplemented with the schematic design of the remaining public areas of the hotel, is available for this project by request.

Area of site

89,400 ft2

Status of the project

Complete thru Contract Document Phase

Tools used

Revit, InDesign, Photoshop

Programming &
Adjacency Matrix

The program below was created in Microsoft Excel using the general program requirements provided by the client and applying appropriate square footages and respective occupancy loads to each functional space. Square footage estimates and respective occupancy types are delineated within the program. Occupant loads were then used to calculate total number of plumbing fixtures (toilets, sinks and fountains) needed on each floor.
The respective adjacency matrix is shown at right.

Building Analysis

With programming complete, analysis of the existing building structure could begin. This analysis, coupled with the program, will allow for the first pass at schematic design to take place. Each floor roughly nets 10,000ft².

end presentation preface

Project Intro & Concept

Consolidated, presentation-format project information. The 5 client-based goals for the hotel are established in bullet form.
The first step of this project was researching the history, culture and climate of the site's location: Shenzhen, China
The idea generator at top left illustrates how this concept was chosen using key characteristics of the site city, Shenzhen.
Above are sketches of two key areas the project program calls for: A grand stair near the lobby, and a PDR in the restaurant
The above guest suite sketch depicts 1 of 2 guest suite types that was designed.

Schematic Design

First floor schematic plan was one of the most challenging parts of this project. The plan above is the product of 40 schemes
Between the schematic plans for Floors 1 & 2, all programmable areas are accounted for, and minimum square footages are met.
Special adaptations and spatial clearances for guests with disabilities were addressed in Suite 306's schematic design.

Design Development

All furnishings and finishes were selected based on their alliance with the colorful Digital Dafen concept.
Per the client's wish for an art platform integrated into the hotel design, the art and display methods above were curated.
An abundant use of Sony LED Displays, specified above, allowed artwork and interior facades to align with digital concept.
A custom-built reception desk was needed for the lobby. Guests could check-in here, or opt for seated check-in in the lounge.
These 3D-model images of the lobby were created using Revit's Cloud Rendering, and conclude design development for the lobby.
"Smile Theory" design refers to whimsical details within an interior that make the occupant smile when they discover them.

Design Rationale: Meeting Client Drivers & Concept

This concluding page explains how the hotel design meets the client's 5 initial goals that were given in the project intro.

Construction Documents

The corresponding light fixture schedule for this plan is on the following page.
The corresponding light fixture schedule for this plan is on the following page.

Specifications

For this academic project's purposes, specification requirements were limited to an interior finish and material schedule for the ADA suite, (seen at right) and a minimum of 10 individual specifications for finish and furnishing selections within the guest suites.

Results

This project was a great success, and a huge progression in my design development practice. Upon completion, the coordinator for the Interior Architecture and Design Dept. for AAU requested I submit this project for candidacy at the 2025 Academy of Art University Spring Show.

Every plan, elevation and perspective shown in the final design presentation was the product of countless hours of reworking details to make the design functional, aesthetically connected to the concept, and aligned with the client's goals.
If desired, please reach out to request my full process book which includes all of the work that went behind the final design presentation, as well as more in-depth attention to areas outside of the lobby and guest suites of the hotel.

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