Linehouse reimagines industrial aesthetics for Jen Hangzhou hotel

International studio Linehouse has completed the interiors of the Jen hotel in Hangzhou, China, which features details that nod to local craft and the area’s industrial heritage. 

The hotel, which is owned by the Shangri-La Hotel Group, is located along Hangzhou’s Dongxin River in an urban setting and flanked by two former industrial factory compounds. 

The 18-floor hotel building was designed by US architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, using steel, grey brick and glass to reference the site’s industrial past. 

The same design approach was extended into the interior by Linehouse, which focuses on showcasing local craft and nods to the industrial elements of the former factories. 

“Jen Hangzhou is an urban hotel that celebrates its neighbourhood context – one that layers history, craft, culture and rich materiality into a new perspective on Hangzhou,” Linehouse said.

The studio used earth-toned marble, oak panelling and relaxed furniture in the ground-floor lobby to create a calm and warm atmosphere.

At the entrance, guests are greeted by a textured artwork by artist Elsa Jeandedieu that depicts an abstract version of the bridges and canal close to the hotel.

Patchwork patterns on the marble floor and on a bespoke rug in the lobby were informed by the street layout and tile patterns of the surrounding neighbourhood. 

All the hospitality spaces, including a restaurant, a bar and function rooms are located on the sixth floor.

The long, linear OpenHouse restaurant is wrapped by full-height glazing that invites natural light inside.

A timber design feature spans the ceiling and was informed by the craft of sunmao, a traditional timber joinery technique. It is highlighted by a thin black metal frame that supports suspended lighting. 

At the centre of the restaurant, a coffee bar splits the space into a dining area on one side and an all-day lounge on the other.  

In the private dining room, the timber canopy has an angled design and is decorated with burnt red and yellow hues. In the rest of the OpenHouse restaurant, rooms feature teal tiles and handmade ceramic wall lighting.

The adjacent Koan Bar is a triple-height venue characterised by an undulating black metal staircase that takes guests to a terrace on the upper floor, with incorporated platforms where guests can socialise.

The sinuous staircase is carved between walls lined with concrete panels, another nod to the site’s industrial heritage. 

Beneath it, curved booths in walnut timber and tan leather provide intimate seating spaces. 

Three interconnected spaces on the sixth floor, enveloped by undulating timber walls, will be used for events and intimate social gatherings. Like in the lobby, bespoke carpets feature patterns abstracted from urban details in the neighbourhood.

The seventh floor is dedicated to wellness and comprises a gym, a yoga room, a spa, a pool and changing rooms, made from tactile materials with muted tones to create a calm environment.

At the gym, a lava stone wall has engravings that illustrate movement, while the yoga room features hand-chiseled timber panels. 

A sloped skylit annex accommodates the swimming pool.

The 176 guest rooms were conceived as “urban retreats”. Here, Linehouse used a restrained palette of gun metal, oak datum, textured render and tan leather to underline the industrial aesthetic. 

“The public areas explore traditional craft techniques such as sunmao timber joinery, clay tiling and bricks, natural patterns, textures and renders, whilst the guestrooms explore a refined industrial aesthetic,” Linehouse said.

“Red brick, concrete, metal and bold forms reference the surrounding industrial environment whilst handcrafted tiles, vintage timber, colours and metals with different patinas introduce warmth, richness and texture.”

The guest rooms have curved ceilings that create indirect lighting and add softness to the space, while the bathrooms are illuminated by glass-block walls.

Founded by Alex Mok and Briar Hickling in 2013, Linehouse is an architecture and interior practice with studios in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Auckland. 

It has recently designed Ink Ink Market in Shanghai with a translucent sloping facade, as well as the interiors for Bangkok’s Central Park shopping centre with three dramatic atriums, which was shortlisted of Retail Interior (large) by this year’s Dezeen Awards.

Photography by Jonathan Leijonhufvud and Wen Studio