Hua Ting Hotel Shanghai Ukuvuselelwa Kwangaphakathi by Nan Zheng

Hua Ting Hotel Shanghai Ukuvuselelwa Kwangaphakathi by Nan Zheng is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award in Ukudizayina Ingaphakathi Competition Category.

IbhulonziIngaphakathi· 2026

Hua Ting Hotel Shanghai Ukuvuselelwa Kwangaphakathi

by Nan Zheng

Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award Winner in Ingaphakathi Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Hua Ting Hotel Shanghai Ukuvuselelwa Kwangaphakathi

IHua Ting Hotel Shanghai iwukuvuselelwa kwangaphakathi kwehhotela elavulwa okokuqala ngo-1983. Izinto ezihlobene nobunjalo besakhiwo ziyagcinwa, okuhlanganisa udonga lwedeski lokwamukela izivakashi, indawo eshonile kanye nohlelo lokusebenza olujwayelekile. Ifoyi liqukethe isitebhisi esigobile esizungezayo esinezibambo zezingalo zengilazi ezikhanya kancane ebusuku. Ichibi lezwe elishonile laguqulwa laba indawo ethule yemihlangano enezihlukanisi ezinikeza ubumfihlo. Umbala obomvu owuphawu lwendawo uyagcinwa futhi uhlanganiswa nemibala efudumele ye-caramel. Itshe elasuswa ngo-1983 liqoshwe unyaka futhi liboniswa njengomsebenzi wobuciko.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award

Hua Ting Hotel Shanghai Ukuvuselelwa Kwangaphakathi iwinile uMklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile kakhulu okunikezwa imiklamo ephawulekayo eyehlukaniswa ukudala, ubuhlakani nobukhali bengqondo. Abawinile beBhulonzi yimisebenzi enobuchule obukhulu nedala ngokumangalisayo eqinisekisa isipiliyoni esibanzi, umcabango nobuhlakani babaklami babo. Hua Ting Hotel Shanghai Ukuvuselelwa Kwangaphakathi ilindeleke ukuba ibe yinto exatshwa kakhulu, edunyiswayo nethandwayo, enobungcweti obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Webhulonzi we-A' Design Award uhlanganisa izindlela ezinhle kakhulu ebuciko, esayensi, ekuklameni nasebuchwepheshe futhi uhamba phambili ngenxa yokunaka kwawo imininingwane. Hua Ting Hotel Shanghai Ukuvuselelwa Kwangaphakathi iyanelisa izidingo ngokumangalisayo, ithinta izifiso, iheha imizwa futhi ikhanga ukufuna ukwazi.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The project is an interior renovation of the Hua Ting Hotel Towers Shanghai, which has been destined for distinction since its founding in 1983. As China’s first five-star hotel established through a Sino-foreign joint venture, it served as Shanghai’s inaugural gateway to the world during the early days of reform and opening-up.
Dimensions & Packaging: Every corner of the building, from the lobby to the executive lounge, narrates "the new story of old Hua Ting", honoring tradition while embracing the future. The lobby features Shanghai's grandeur and elegance. The original spiral staircase and escalators were replaced with a "dragon coiling" curved spiral staircase featuring glass handrails that glow softly at night. The sunken structure of the landscape pool was retained and repurposed into a tranquil negotiation area, with screen partitions offering both privacy and transparency. A high skylight allows sunlight and greenery to interplay beautifully.
Tags: Adaptive Preservation, Shanghai-Style Modernism, Hotel Renovation, Heritage Reimagined, Hua Ting
Production Technology: Key elements like the reception desk wall, the iconic staircase, the sunken space, and the functional layout—all integral to Hua Ting's identity—were meticulously preserved, bridging the past with the present.
Design Challenge: The 800 cramped guest rooms were redesigned into diverse options, catering to modern business and leisure needs with layouts optimized for contemporary hotel operations. Outdated facilities were replaced with human-centered details, such as minibars inspired by afternoon tea trays and curved shower enclosures. The decor combines Maillard caramel tones with Ancora Red, preserving Hua Ting's warmth while adding a modern touch.
Research: Honoring the Classic, Reimagining the Eaves" served as the design's foundation. Hua Ting's legacy lies in its Shanghai-style DNA—blending tradition with modernity, inclusivity with innovation. The team embraced "Inheriting the Classic, Continuing the Modern Canvas" as their guiding principle, striking a balance between preservation and innovation to merge the old Hua Ting's refined elegance with the grace of a new era.
Inspiration: In the renovation project, the design team embraced the guiding principle of honoring a classic era while continuing the modern narrative.Striking a thoughtful balance between preservation and innovation, the project reimagines gentlemanly charm through the lens of contemporary elegance.
Project Duration: The project started in May 2024 and finalized in October, 2025 in Shanghai, China.
Operation Flow: The signature red of Hua Ting, a color ingrained in collective memory, was retained. The building's original S-shaped structure, symbolizing "Spring" and the era of reform, was reinterpreted into the space's arc design, blending interior and exterior seamlessly. A stone removed in 1983 was preserved and engraved with "1983," transforming it into an artwork that marks the passage of time.