Taiwan’s hotels have added another design and architecture award to their list of accolades. The Shangri-La’s Far Eastern International Hotel Tainan has won the prestigious 29th Gold Key Award in the U.S. for “Best Lobby Design.” The circular, towering Shangri-La’s Far Eastern International Hotel Tainan, which stands 38 stories high, features interior design by Hong Kong-based AB Concept and architectural design by Taiwan’s Metro Space Design. It brings a modern and elegant new trend into the nostalgic ancient capital, making it the leading hotel design award winner among Asian countries.
The lobby of Shangri-La’s Far Eastern International Hotel Tainan boasts a grand scale and layout. The design team employed various techniques to make the interior space more human-friendly while retaining the brand’s charm. Local wood was used to exude warmth, softening the hotel’s vast and airy feel. The simple yet intriguing texture of the wood adds a comfortable atmosphere. The hotel also features Asian-style seating and lamps, deliberately designed with a homely touch to invite guests to linger and enjoy.
The overall design centers around Tainan’s geography and culture, adopting “nature” as its theme. Applying principles of Chinese feng shui, it creates a vibrant ambiance everywhere. The cylindrical building features motifs or spatial designs centered on the “circle” — such as the banquet hall designed to resemble the radiance of the sun, and the Drunken Moon Tower that evokes the halo of a jade ring. The main axis of the lobby space is themed “Golden Harvest,” symbolizing Tainan’s fertile land and rich cultural heritage, all naturally integrated into the clever design. In the ten-meter-high lobby, a majestic water curtain specially crafted from imported Turkish stone cascades down with a gentle sound, conveying auspicious symbolism of good fortune and prosperity.
The Gold Key Award is one of the top design awards. AB Concept stood out among numerous internationally renowned design firms and is recognized as a leader in Asian design. When visiting Tainan, why not experience this new landmark and appreciate its elegant and fashionable new architecture? For hotel information and booking details, visit www.shangri-la.com.tw.