Vibe: A former power plant, now turned industrial-chic luxury hotel.

Area: Shougang, a former industrial estate, site of the 2022 Winter Olympics, some 20 km from The Forbidden City.

The DNA: A refreshing take on Beijing architecture, Shangri-La Shougang Park is constructed within the remnants of an abandoned 20th-century industrial building, taking advantage of the reimagined urban landscapes and industrial ruins created by China’s economic reforms of the 1990s. The Main Building is enveloped in an elaborate glass façade that acts as a ‘transparent skin’. It wraps around the original industrial components, such as concrete walls and steel roof trusses, which are left exposed in all their utilitarian glory. This juxtaposition of old and new materials is highlighted by a significant green element, ‘almost as if nature is seeking to take possession of these once-abandoned buildings, bespoke furnishings and contemporary Chinese art.

Suite-Me-Up: Guestrooms are situated in a new-built annex. Here too, industrial elements, such as the large ventilation pipes, are exposed throughout as part of the architects’ conceptual referencing of the building’s history and context. Suites, which basically are double sized rooms, are situated on the higher floors and offer views of the Yongding River.

Seen: Wallpaper*

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 282 rooms & suites (42-84m2) (452-904 sq ft) • hotel opened: 2022 • architecture & interior design: Lissoni & Partners • on-site parking (charged) • no pets allowed • 24-hour front desk • wheelchair accessible