Blending Suzhou’s traditional artistry and craftsmanship with contemporary luxury, The Ritz-Carlton opened its first location in the city in early 2025 at the heart of the Suzhou Huamao Gu Su Li Mixed-Use Development. At ground level, the landscape design strikes a balance between refinement and function. A multi-use drop-off plaza sets a serene tone, anchored by a centuries-old ginkgo tree carefully preserved during construction: a representation of endurance and grace. The tree is complemented by a rock garden-inspired reflection pool and sculpted landscape elements in the arrival court. Inside, the 4th-floor executive lounge opens into a tranquil courtyard that harmoniously integrates Suzhou’s traditional garden aesthetics with a contemporary design. The design pays homage to Suzhou’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, reinterpreting its legacy for a new generation of travelers.
The hotel, designed by KPF and interiors led by Peter Remedios, is a short walk from the historic old town. As a tribute to the city’s legacy as the “Venice of the East,” the architecture and landscape draw inspiration from Suzhou’s storied role in the silk trade and its iconic classical gardens.
Hotel Higashiyama
At the Northern end of Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital, a 100-year-old elementary school sat vacant for years at one of the city’s three Edo-era entrances—in feudal times, a rest stop for weary travelers. Vacant for years, the school was transformed into a dual-purpose property, its central building functioning as a boutique hotel with sweeping views of the Hi...
Sanya Edition
This Ian Schrager-helmed Haitang Bay resort off the coast of Southern China was conceived as a “dream of aqua,” where sky and water converge. SWA’s competition-winning landscape design emulates a river delta and its convergence with the sea. Gently curved forms define the boundaries for 40 private villas, and are echoed throughout the terraced resort in ...
Hyatt Gainey Ranch
The 28-acre site is part of an existing master planned resort community. The golf course and lake were existing. The owner wanted water gardens and had in mind tropical gardens with artificial rocks and rope bridges. The designers convinced the owner that a concept that recalled ancient South American themes was more appropriate for the desert. Lines of date p...
Grand Mansion Hotel
The Grand Mansion Hotel sits atop a historical museum on the site of a former palace, the ruins of which have been preserved and are now an extension of the main museum exhibit, with parts that can be seen across the street. The overall design concept was to reinterpret a traditional leisure garden featuring Japanese cherry, bamboo, and maple trees, and the gr...