Designers have taken style to new heights in many ways, and for the new Skypool in the Gðng bar at Shangri-La Hotel At the Shard, London, those new heights are not just aesthetic. Located on the building’s 52nd floor, the pool and bar are the highest in the city.
Yet designer Andre Fu of AFSO wanted the space’s impact to come as much from the design as from the site. For the bar, he was inspired by the concept of dou-gong, a Chinese system of interlocking architectural elements and by the mineral cinnabar, often used in ancient Chinese palaces. Arranging the spaces like a Western boudoir gave the bar an East-meets-West vibe. He wanted to keep that vibe for the pool, which is separated from the bar by movable dividers during the day and becomes part of it at night. An oversized faux scroll adorns the ceiling while creamy seating brings in a more European feel.
This project also highlights a key trend for hotels right now — marrying the heritage of the brand and that of the location. In this case, it’s also about paying tribute to the iconic building in which the hotel is located. Melding all that together meant creating a space with a cosmopolitan vibe.