Blink Design Group designs Hyatt Andaz Xiamen

Blink Design Group has unveiled its design of the recently opened Andaz Xiamen.

Located in the heart of Xiamen, the property houses 304 rooms including 20 suites with separate living rooms with vibrant views of the city.

Inspired by the local tropical Nanyang style, the design studio envisioned the hotel as a modern mansion and the city’s sobriquet as a ‘Garden by the Sea’ to reflect the rich historical tapestry as told over generations of the coastal town.

As in typical local homes, Andaz Xiamen features high ceilings, repeated arched detailing and living spaces linked by walkways open to tropical breezes. Throughout the hotel, an abundance of speckled terrazzo, timber louvres, tactile wicker and rattan and graphic tiling and carpeting create continuity between spaces and reinforce the Nanyang feel.

The ceilings, inspired by pergolas and trellises, evoke an outdoor atmosphere alongside artwork featuring tropical flora and fauna. All artwork displayed at Andaz Xiamen is created by artists either from Xiamen or with a strong connection to the city; the hotel is actively working to nurture local talent, offering a platform for emerging young artists.

Arches at the concierge area lead to the east and west hallway beyond, whilst floor patterns and modern terrazzo provide a hint of the old Nanyang era. A central lighting sculpture in the arrival lift lobby acts as a focal point reflecting the sentiments of the destination, meanwhile a clever abstraction of bougainvillea plants over a water-feature replicate blooming flowers in the Spring along the Xiamen coast.

The light filled Artelier Lounge on the third floor is decorated with accent shades of green, drawing a close connection to Xiamen as a lush coastal city. A collection of stylish contemporary rattan furniture was commissioned to pay homage to the Nanyang shop house dwellings of the 1970s.

Tucked away in the corner of the lounge, is a private library providing a solitary space with all the comfort of a private home. The different Peranakan floor patterns in this lounge have been composed based on influences from the individual shophouses in Nanyang and deliver a fresh twist and interpretation of old memories.

Beyond the lounge lies the heated swimming pool surrounded by a series of large canopy trees providing shade and thick vegetation similar to the streetscape of Gulangyu. Through its positioning adjacent to the pool house, the area also acts as an event space with clean lines of molding and modern flooring pattern inspired by a European manor.

The Nanyang-inspired private spaces at Andaz Xiamen feature high ceilings typically found in tropical climates and natural textures and materials as evidenced with the application of woven bamboo wall paneling and timber louvres for a comfortable, relaxed feel.

“We are thrilled to showcase the design of Andaz Xiamen as we bring out the best of the vibrant local culture inspired by the city’s sobriquet as a ‘Garden by the Sea’ and the tropical Nanyang style,” says founder and Creative Partner Clint Nagata. “We reimagined a story of historical images that are translated into a modern manor full of adventures told via the permeating design narrative which weaves through different spaces and a collection of art accessories.”

Founded by Clint Nagata, Blink Design Group is a multi-disciplinary design studio with 15 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry and portfolio of projects spanning five continents.