Hotel The Place, Taipei Nangang
Tea Heritage Reimagined Through Contemporary Design
Where Culture and Craft Intertwine
Netherlands-based architecture studio Mecanoo has brilliantly crafted The Place brand’s newest 179-room hotel in Taipei’s Nangang district, drawing rich inspiration from the area’s tea-making heritage. Architect Yuli Huang explains, “Our approach of people, place, and purpose informed everything—from the overarching design down to each piece of furniture and graphic detail.”
This philosophy is evident from the first encounter. The arrival begins on the 10th floor, where the lobby doubles as a traditional Taiwanese teahouse. Soft curtains reconfigure the space as needed—opening wide during peak hours, or folding into layers to create more intimate, tea-room-like enclosures. It’s a dynamic architectural gesture that reflects both utility and ritual.
Guest Rooms Steeped in Local Essence
Each of the 179 rooms carries forward the tea-inspired narrative. Carpets in the corridors mimic the geometry of terraced tea plantations, while the interiors adopt a warm palette of earth tones and vibrant yellows drawn from Pouchong tea. Natural textures and clean-lined furniture keep the mood grounded in contemporary calm, while subtle graphic motifs nod to tea leaves and traditional patterns.
Large windows pull in daylight and frame views of the fast-developing Nangang district, offering a visual reminder of Taipei’s balance between heritage and progress. The result is a guestroom that feels both minimal and meaningful, shaped by place yet international in its refinement.
Public Spaces Rooted in Ritual
Beyond the guestrooms, Mecanoo’s design creates public areas that double as cultural experiences. The lobby’s tea-house inspiration extends into co-working lounges and communal zones, where modular furniture and delicate partitioning encourage both gathering and solitude. Textiles, lighting, and surface treatments reference the tactile rituals of tea—woven mats, ceramic finishes, and soft diffused light. Every corner reinforces the narrative: thoughtful, immersive, and rooted in local identity while speaking fluently in the language of modern hospitality design.
DNA Hotels Verdict
Hotel The Place Taipei Nangang is a striking example of architecture translating culture into space. Mecanoo’s design weaves tea heritage into every material, color, and gesture, creating a hotel that feels both contemporary and deeply Taiwanese. For travelers seeking immersion in design that tells a story of people and place, this hotel is a serene, richly textured stay.
