Cheng Chung Design finishes St Regis on the Bund Shanghai suite refurbishment
St Regis on the Bund, Shanghai, has completed the refurbishment of its luxury suites, with Cheng Chung Design leading the interior architecture. The project reinterprets Shanghai's Art Deco heritage through a modern design lens, emphasizing materiality, proportion, and precision craftsmanship over historical ornamentation.
Project Overview and Design Approach
St Regis on the Bund, Shanghai, has completed the renovation of its luxury suites. Cheng Chung Design developed the interiors, which reinterpret Shanghai's distinctive Art Deco heritage. The design moves away from overt historical ornamentation, focusing instead on how the city's blend of Eastern and Western influences can manifest through contemporary design.
The aim was to create an atmosphere of refined elegance, making the suites feel like a contemporary residence that has evolved over time, rather than a traditional hotel room. This approach prioritizes proportion, material selection, and the precise execution of artisanal details.
Material Specifications and Craftsmanship
The suite interiors feature custom-designed cabinetry throughout, intended to integrate into the architecture. Decorative shelving displays selected objects, and a discreet cloak cabinet provides a residential feel upon arrival. Generous dressing rooms are included. A central element is the Cabinet of Curiosity Maxi Bar, which showcases traditional Chinese lacquer artistry.
It incorporates handcrafted eggshell inlay, reflecting centuries-old techniques combined with modern precision. Hand-painted Yulan magnolia blossoms on the cabinet connect the design to Shanghai's official flower. Liquid metal finishes replace conventional bronze detailing, providing a softer, tactile luminosity. Finely crafted timber adds warmth and intimacy to the spaces.
Bathroom Design and Materiality
Bathing areas are designed to feel like private rituals. These spaces include freestanding baths, along with custom amenity cabinets and towel shelving designed as architectural extensions. Expansive marble walls define the bathrooms.
Advanced carving techniques and precision stone fabrication create subtle reliefs in the marble surfaces, demonstrating craftsmanship without overwhelming the overall design. The stone appears tailored.
Natural daylight is integrated through carefully aligned openings, extending light from the bedroom into the bathing space and softening the appearance of marble, timber, and handcrafted details throughout the day.
Implications for Asian Specifiers
This project demonstrates how hospitality developments in Asia can integrate local heritage with contemporary design and manufacturing. For procurement directors and specifiers, it highlights the application of custom joinery and specialized finishes such as liquid metal and traditional lacquer with eggshell inlay.
The use of advanced stone fabrication for marble surfaces also offers a reference for high-precision material application in bathrooms. This approach provides sourcing insights for materials and FF&E that blend cultural specificity with modern production capabilities for upcoming hotel and residential developments across the region.
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