Above the clouds of the Henglong Plaza in Kunming, the Grand Hyatt Kunming takes "Three-dimensional Yunnan Scenery" as its design theme, transforming the natural and cultural images of Yunnan such as terraced fields, stone forests and copper mines into tangible spatial language through customized stainless steel decoration. The hotel uses 304 stainless steel as its base and combines techniques such as mirror polishing, etching, and vacuum titanium plating to create a travel and residence scene that is both functional and artistic, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the regional cultural warmth of the "Spring City" within the modern industrial aesthetics.
I. Design Concept: Deconstructing the symbols of Yunnan and Reconstructing the "Secret Realm of Cloud"
The designer takes "mountain, water, copper and forest" as the core concept, abstracts elements such as the three-dimensional landforms of Yunnan, the copper mining industry and the totems of ethnic minorities into geometric lines, and through the reflective, penetrating and three-dimensional shaping characteristics of stainless steel materials, constructs a visual narrative of "coexistence of nature and metal" in the space. For example:
The exterior of the building: The curtain wall is made of titanium gold stainless steel composite panels. Through a gradient titanium plating process, the gilded texture of the plateau sunlight is simulated. Combined with the three-dimensional curved panel technology, a smooth curved surface shape is created, making the building present a "flowing gold foil" effect under different lighting conditions.
The entrance to the lobby features a double-opening door made of stainless steel mortise and tenon, with the surface etched with Yi ethnic sun patterns. The door frame is embedded with LED light strips, which project a dynamic effect of "light and shadow through the forest" at night, in line with the ecological characteristics of Yunnan as a "kingdom of flora and fauna".
Ii. Eight Major Application Scenarios of Stainless Steel Decoration
1. Welcoming Ceremony: A Dialogue between Metal and Nature
The front desk background wall features a "terraced field installation" made of mirror-finished stainless steel honeycomb panels. Through laser cutting and seamless welding techniques, the layered form of the Yuanyang terraced fields is transformed into a three-dimensional relief. The bottom of the device is embedded with frosted glass, which, in combination with the lights at the bottom, creates an immersive scene of "clouds and mist enveloping the metal terraced fields".
Lobby sculpture: The "Stone Forest Image" installation forged from stainless steel, composed of dozens of irregular mirror-finish stainless steel plates stacked together, creates a visual effect of spiral ascent through Angle adjustment. When tourists view the sculpture from different angles, it reflects the dynamic images of the surrounding environment, as if the stone forest were "growing" in the play of light and shadow.
2. Spatial Reconstruction: A Balance between transparency and Privacy
Public corridor screen: Titanium gold stainless steel perforated partition, inspired by "tropical rainforest", laser-engraved elements such as banana leaves and palm trees, which not only divide the space but also maintain visual transparency. Hidden LED light strips are embedded at the bottom of the screen, projecting soft ground light strips at night to guide the movement of passengers.
The banquet hall partition: matte rose gold stainless steel grating, combined with wired glass, creates a banquet environment where the real and the illusory complement each other. The grille spacing has been precisely calculated, ensuring privacy while not affecting the penetration of natural light. It is suitable for small wedding banquets and business meetings.
3. Detail Aesthetics: The unity of function and Art
Ceiling curvature: The top of the banquet hall is made of 304 stainless steel arc-shaped plates. Through three-dimensional curved plate technology, a smooth dome shape is created. The surface is treated with nano-spraying to form a matte texture, simulating the hazy atmosphere of the plateau sky.
Skirting board: Stainless steel U-shaped groove design, with built-in hidden LED lights, creating a soft ground light band at night, which not only enhances the illuminance of the space but also avoids the dust accumulation problem of traditional skirting boards.
Service counter cabinet body: Stainless steel cabinet body + rock plate countertop. The cabinet door adopts an invisible handle design and is equipped with an embedded intelligent sensing system to achieve "contactless service".
4. Art Installation: The Cultural Translation of Metal
Elevator hall Art Wall: Stainless steel etched murals, inspired by the unique "Dongba script" of Yunnan, transform character symbols into abstract geometric shapes and are paired with a gradient titanium gold coating, presenting the cultural flow trajectory as the elevator opens and closes.
River view guest room wardrobe: The stainless steel door panels are etched with peacock feather patterns, paired with brushed rose gold frames. When the cabinet door is opened, the peacock feathers echo the ripples of Dianchi Lake outside the window, enhancing the immersive feeling of "living by the lake".
Iii. Material Language: The "Seventy-Two Transformations" of Stainless Steel
The hotel is highly ingenious in the selection and processing of stainless steel materials:
Surface treatment:
Mirror polishing: Used in public areas such as lobbies and elevators to enhance the sense of spatial transparency;
Brushed finish: Used for guest room doors, cabinets, etc., to enhance touch and durability;
Vacuum titanium plating: Achieves a variety of colors such as titanium gold, rose gold, and bronze, catering to the style requirements of different regions.
Structural innovation
Honeycomb panel composite structure: It reduces weight while ensuring strength and is suitable for large curtain walls and ceilings.
Laser welding + seamless grinding: Eliminates the splicing marks of traditional stainless steel products, presenting an ultimate aesthetic of craftsmanship.
Iv. Travel and Residence Experience: Metallic Warmth and Humanistic Care
Stainless steel decoration is not only a visual symbol, but also carries a profound consideration of the passenger experience:
Acoustic optimization: The composite wall with stainless steel perforated plates and sound-absorbing cotton effectively reduces noise in public areas such as lobbies and corridors.
Intelligent interaction: The stainless steel touch panels in the guest rooms integrate the control of lighting, air conditioning and curtains, and are seamlessly connected with the hotel's intelligent system.
Emotional resonance: The stainless steel tableware in the restaurant is engraved with Bai ethnic tie-dye patterns, allowing guests to experience the warmth of the regional culture up close while dining.
V. Conclusion: Metal Verses Above the Clouds
The Grand Hyatt Kunming, through customized stainless steel decoration, fuses the three-dimensional landforms, copper mining industry and ethnic minority cultures of Yunnan into a tangible spatial poem. Here, stainless steel is no longer a cold industrial material, but has become a medium connecting nature and the city, tradition and modernity. As tourists move through, they can not only catch a glimpse of the ripples of Dianchi Lake in the mirror-finished stainless steel ceiling, but also trace the history of Dongba culture in the etched patterns. Eventually, in the eternal texture of the metal, they can find a poetic abode belonging to the Spring City.
project Archive
project Name: Grand Hyatt Kunming
Design units: Shanghai MQ Studio, Tokyo Nao Architects
Main materials: 304 stainless steel, titanium gold coating, etching process, mirror polishing
Completion time: August 2024
Special techniques: honeycomb panel composite structure, laser cutting, seamless welding
