Press Release
Whytime Shantou Hotel by Hubei China Han Decoration Design Co.Ltd Receives the Bronze A' Design Award in Interior Space and Exhibition Design
The international grand jury of the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Hubei China Han Decoration Design Co.Ltd for interior space and exhibition design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 26, 2026 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Bronze A' Design Award in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design category for Whytime Shantou Hotel by Hubei China Han Decoration Design Co.Ltd, designed for Hubei China Han Decoration Design Co., Ltd.. The result belongs to the 2025 - 2026 A' Design Award & Competition and was determined through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
About the Bronze A' Design Award
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
About Whytime Shantou Hotel
Whytime Shantou is a hotel interior located in Shantou, China. The design preserves the historic Qilou facade and adapts the building for hotel use across 2225 square meters. A full height light atrium improves daylight and ventilation and guides movement through the interior. Traditional elements such as Qilou arches and red-tipped junks are abstracted in a modern and minimalist manner. Materials include local red brick, terrazzo, travertine and mother of pearl. The Tea Route Trail changes from breakfast venue to cafe and bar during the day.
About Hubei China Han Decoration Design Co.Ltd
Hubei China Han Decoration Design Co., Ltd. is a design firm specializing in hotel and commercial space design, boasting a strong reputation in the industry rooted in professional expertise. The firm advocates a design philosophy centered on "emotional spatial storytelling," emphasizing the integration of regional culture with an international design language. By deeply exploring the cultural context of each project, it creates immersive spatial experiences that connect consumers with brands, products, and environments.
Award Record
This recognition makes Hubei China Han Decoration Design Co.Ltd a winner of 1 A' Design Award.
About the A' Interior Space, Retail and Exhibition Design Award
The A' Interior Design Award is an international interior design competition recognizing good interior designs by interior designers and architects worldwide. It is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to interior designers, interior architects, architects and decorators from all countries. Typical entries include residential interiors, restaurants, hotels, offices, galleries and retail stores. The awarded interior designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/interior
About A' Design Award & Competition
Organized annually since 2008, A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The philanthropic mission of the A' Design Award is to advance society through good design, by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Nominations are peer reviewed and evaluated anonymously by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. Eligible laureates receive the A' Design Prize, which includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, uploading a work and receiving a preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. More information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/178622
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/178622
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!178622
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/376465
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Whytime Shantou Hotel
- Function
- Hotel
- Category
- Interior Space and Exhibition Design
- Discipline
- Spatial Design
- Industry
- Architecture and Packaging & Retail
- Colors
- Light Gray, Rosy Brown, Tan, Silver and Saddle Brown
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Hubei China Han Decoration Design Co., Ltd.
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Hubei China Han Decoration Design Co.Ltd
- Country
- China
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2025 - 2026
- Design ID
- #178622
Credits
- Team
- Yu Xiaohui and Fang Liang
- Image Credits
- Photographer Shanghai Xinji Cultural Communication Co., Ltd., Whytime Shantou, 2025.
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- This project seamlessly integrates cultural preservation with modern design to create a dynamic "Cultural Museum of the Overseas Chinese Legacy." Unlike conventional hotels, it offers an immersive, multi-dimensional experience, blending historical elements like the Qilou arches and Red-Tipped Junks with modern aesthetics. The design fosters a dialogue between history and contemporary space, providing guests with an engaging cultural journey while enhancing local community interaction.
- Inspiration
- Inspired by the rich heritage of Shantou's Xiaogongyuan historic district and the memories of Overseas Chinese culture, the project reflects the essence of traditional elements like Qilou arcades and Red-Tipped Junks. The design avoids retro stylization, instead focusing on abstracting these symbols through a modern, minimalist approach to evoke a fresh narrative dialogue between past and present, offering an innovative interpretation of local cultural identity.
- Research
- Research focused on integrating Shantou's cultural history with modern hotel needs. Methods included studying local architecture, interviewing residents, and observing guest behavior. The design combines cultural heritage with contemporary functionality, creating a space that connects guests with the local community while respecting the original architecture.
- Challenge
- The main challenge was balancing the preservation of the historic Qilou facade with modern hotel amenities. The design also avoided cliched representations of Overseas Chinese culture by abstracting traditional elements, ensuring a fresh and unique experience. This was achieved through innovative spatial solutions that also foster community engagement, creating dynamic, adaptable spaces.
- Realization and Technology
- The design integrates modern and sustainable construction techniques, including a "Light Atrium" to improve ventilation and lighting in the preserved Qilou structure. Key materials such as local red brick, terrazzo, and imported mother of pearl are used to blend aesthetics with environmental responsibility. The deconstruction of traditional elements like Qilou arches is achieved through sculptural precision, combining modern functionality with cultural significance.
- Operation and Interaction
- The design fosters fluid movement through spaces, with areas like the "Tea Route Trail" changing throughout the day to cater to different functions. The guest experience unfolds from the "Returning Sails" to the "Red Junk Harbor" and "Tea Route Trail," creating an immersive cultural journey. The "Light Atrium" acts as a central hub, guiding visitors and enhancing the spatial experience.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in January 2024 and finished in July 2025 in China.
- Specifications
- The project covers an area of 2225 square meters, with a combination of materials such as Nacre Art Paint, Beige Travertine, Marble Mosaic, Limestone Tile, and Foamed Ceramic Tile. The design preserves the historic Qilou facade while introducing modern elements like a full height "Light Atrium" to enhance lighting and ventilation. The layout includes dynamic spaces, such as the "Tea Route Trail," which transitions from breakfast venue to cafe and bar, promoting flexibility and functional efficiency.
- Keywords
- Cultural Hotel, Overseas Chinese Legacy, Qilou Architecture, Shantou Heritage, Immersive Experience, Modern Minimalist Design, Sustainable Architecture, Historical Preservation, Dynamic Spaces, Community Engagement
