Welcome Home – The Upper House Hong Kong by Andre Fu
When one first enters the doors of Andre Fu’s The Upper House hotel in Hong Kong’s exclusive Admiralty district one cannot help but feel a certain sense of nostalgic bliss. Once inside this aesthetically stunning building something becomes immediately clear – you are now home.
Designed by world-renowned Hong Kong native architect Andre Fu of AFSO, The Upper House has quickly established itself as one of Asia’s most desirable accommodation experiences. Join us on a journey from the vibrant streets of Hong Kong to the upper echelons of the skyline as we explore the luxurious interiors of what the staff refer to as ‘Our House’.
The Upper House has quickly established itself as one of Asia’s most desirable accommodation experiences.
“Our goal is to create a highly individualised small hotel with a dynamic and busy restaurant, and to help in showcasing the revitalised Pacific Place,” explains Brian Williams, Managing Director of Swire Hotels, the company responsible for the creation of The Upper House. Swire engaged Andre Fu to bring their vision of contemporary luxury to life. His design combines natural materials with distinctive sculptures and original artwork that give occupants a true sense of modern sophistication. The contemporary Oriental design and subtle Japanese undertones create an understated feeling of genuine residential calmness.
Andre Fu’s design combines natural materials with distinctive sculptures and original artwork that give occupants a true sense of modern sophistication.
“With an intention to create a small luxury hotel reminiscent of a private residence, I have purposely conjured a sense of tranquillity throughout the design and ambience of the hotel,” says Andre. From the entrance way to the penthouse, these bespoke residential tendencies are a consistent element of the intricate interior design.
“I have purposely conjured a sense of tranquillity throughout the design and ambience of the hotel.”
Inside the entrance of The Upper House, a circular bamboo enclosure, ‘the lantern’, signals the beginning of the upward journey away from the vibrancy of Hong Kong’s street scape and into the calming environment created above. The scarcely illuminated ‘time tunnel’ escalator transports occupants upwards into a space abundant in natural light, signifying one’s true arrival in The Upper House.
From the entrance way to the penthouse, these bespoke residential tendencies are a consistent element of the intricate interior design.
Ascending into the hotel’s 117 spacious guest rooms, each is designed to provide a sense of understated luxury. Fu’s contemporary monochromatic design features natural timber, shoji glass, limestone and lacquered paper panels. All rooms are presented in two colour schemes: ‘Bamboo’ with solid ash flooring, bamboo timber and lilac upholstery, and ‘Celadon’ featuring green tea upholstery, limed oak flooring and creme oak timber.
“My intention was to create a small luxury hotel reminiscent of a private residence.”
The room layouts offer abundant space including luxurious bathrooms with walk-in rain showers, dressing areas and free-standing bathtubs with breathtaking panoramic harbour or island views. Lined with Italian ‘Perlato Svevo’ natural limestone floors and Beige Turkish ‘Terre d’Oriente’ limestone walls, the bathrooms exude the minimalist grandeur of the contemporary design.
The hotel’s spacious guest rooms are designed to provide a sense of understated luxury.
The highlight of the architectural journey from ground to sky is Level 49, which showcases the aesthetically intriguing Sky Bridge. Infused with a skylight above a 40-metre-high atrium, the Sky Bridge leads to the Sky Lounge and signature restaurant and bar, Café Gray Deluxe. The lounge and restaurant areas were both designed to highlight the stunning views of Hong Kong.
Ultimately, the design of The Upper House represents the best of modern-day Hong Kong, a society in which design and revitalisation is being afforded greater importance than in previous times. The Upper House stands as a beacon to understated contemporary design with aesthetically pleasing elements present on every floor. Andre Fu’s The Upper House is not simply a hotel – it’s an experience in understated residential calmness.
