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.
Desert Ridge
SWA provided site planning and full landscape architectural services for this 1,000-room desert resort hotel on a 54-acre site. The project also includes five restaurants, a day-spa facility and a conference center. The landscape design provides a desert theme contrasted with water in the form of lakes, pools and lush foliage, and the desert theme provides a d...
Beverly Hills Hotel
Serving as the symbolic heart of the City of Beverly Hills, the Beverly Hills Hotel is synonymous with its gardens. After 80 years of high use, the hotel needed complete rebuilding and modernization. The goal of the reconstruction was to preserve and restore the historic gardens while adding new public and private outdoor spaces around the southern and western...
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Triple Bay
The guest and resident experience at the Four Seasons Resort Triple Bay is rooted in the user’s renewal, achieved through restorative moments and total immersion in the local environment. The elegant architecture is nestled within lush landscapes, which serve as the luxurious, connective fabric of the overall destination, uniting land and sea along the H...
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 ...