[all photos via Marcel Wanders]
Beloved Dutch designer Marcel Wanders (he of Moooi and the Knotted Chair) has taken his quirky brand of theatricality to Hong Kong with Mira Moon, a brand new 91-room hotel in the bustling Wan Chai neighborhood. Working in collaboration with property design firm yoo, Wanders borrowed from the Moon Festival of Chinese folklore for poetic inspiration.
Many moons ago, a beautiful goddess sipped on the forbidden elixir of life, banishing her from earth to the moon. Trapped for eternity among the stars, she would forever await the man she loved, in the company of a lone Jade Rabbit...
With this story as a starting point, Wanders chose a color palette of lacquered whites and rich China reds to create a study in modern opulence. Throughout Mira Moon, the designers' own playful furnishings seamlessly intertwine with Chinese artifacts and traditionally crafted ceramics, carved timber and cut crystal, while the symbol of the peony is ever-present in carvings, mosaics and prints.
Mira Moon is accepting bookings now through Design Hotels, one of my favorite sites for bucket-list fodder. Looks like I have another travel experience to add to the category.