Linehouse has completed the interiors of JEN Hangzhou by Shangri-La, an urban hotel set along the Dongxin River, flanked by two groups of industrial heritage factory buildings: the Hangyang Old Factory, a former oxygen plant and the Hangguo Old Factory, a former boiler works. The hotel interior of hospitality, social and wellness offerings and 176 guestrooms occupies an 18-floor building by Kohn Pedersen Fox that echoes the industrial heritage of the site in steel, grey brick and glass. Opened in July 2026, it is the debut JEN in Hangzhou and the tenth for the Shangri-La Group globally.
For the interior Linehouse sought to create a juxtaposition between localised craft and the industrial language of the former factories. The public areas explore traditional craft techniques such as sunmao (traditional Chinese mortise-and-tenon joinery), clay tiling and bricks, natural patterns, textures and renders, whilst the guestrooms explore a refined industrial aesthetic. Red brick, concrete, metal and bold forms reference the surrounding industrial environment whilst handcrafted tiles, vintage timber, colours and metals with different patinas introduce warmth, richness and texture. Throughout, custom carpets and rugs from The Happy Few bring the street into the interior, taking inspiration from the tiles, grates and patterns of the street and translating them into abstract form.
Guests arriving at the ground floor lobby enter a lounge setting enveloped by a patchwork marbled floor. Abstract textured art by Elsa Jeandedieu, depicting the bridges that line the adjacent canal, hangs facing the entrance. The earth-toned marbles, oak panelling, relaxed furniture, and bespoke rug inspired from the neighbourhood street patterns creates a warm backdrop and a hint of the layered materials and textures throughout the hotel.
From the lobby, guests transition to the social and wellness spaces on level six and level seven. The public area layouts and functions are curated and designed at a domestic scale to activate space from day to night. Social spaces will be activated through curated programming, art, music and creative mixology to open up the hotel to the city’s residents.
The sixth floor layout is the social heart of the hotel, designed with a domestic scale for seamless exploration. The colour and craftsmanship of The OpenHouse restaurant creates a lively, layered space that evolves throughout the day. The long linear space, wrapped by floor to ceiling glazing, is united by a central timber ceiling feature inspired by the craft of sunmao. Below, a thin metal frame suspends punctuations along the space; suspended customized lighting and central lighting installation. The central coffee bar divides the restaurant into two distinct sides; one embracing the energy of casual dining and the other a relaxed all-day lounge for work and conversation. At the end the sunmao canopy the timbers angle and gradients of burnt red and yellow tones create a lively atmosphere for the private dining room. At low level the restaurant is lined with a mix of teal tiles, handmade ceramic scones created in collaboration with Yi Design in Jingdezhen, and a second art piece by Elsa Jeandedieu depicting the ripples of the canal. The eclectic mix of designer and customised furniture and lighting in a domestic setting offers a sense of home and familiarity.
Architectural in space and materiality, the adjacent Koan Bar is a triple-height venue that embraces the raw finishes of the site's industrial context, combining modern craft with material innovation. An undulating black metal staircase, incorporating a series of habitable platforms, is nested between walls lined with concrete panels. Designed with moments of movement, pause and discovery, the sinuous stair takes guests up to a garden rooftop while spectating the bar scene below. The black Scurro stone bar is backed with antique mirror that wraps around the room. Curved booths in walnut timber and tan leather provide intimate seating nooks, and a custom suspended string chandelier hangs above the bar. This dramatic bar neighbours a more relaxed evening lounge, finished in red clay render with a suspended red mesh ceiling.
A trio of interconnected spaces caters for talks and events as well as intimate social gatherings. The design of these spaces are led by strong graphic customised carpets abstracted from the urban textures found around the neighbourhood. Undulating timber walls and black twinkle lights form a timeless yet versatile backdrop for all social occasions.
In contrast to the social spaces, the active and wellness areas express natural beauty in materiality and form. The patterns embossed into the gym lava stone wall illustrate simultaneously strength and a sense of agility and movement. The yoga room is a collage of hand-chiseled timber panels. A sloped skylit annex accommodates the swimming pool which combines utilitarian architectural materials with elements of nature; water, greenery and light creates a bright and serene space.
Corridors layer industrial materials with craft, with four different lift lobby designs for wayfinding and discovery. Graphic wall framing house a varied palette of textures and materials, while the custom carpet series brings the neighbourhood underfoot leading guests to their rooms and vistas of the city beyond.
Conceived as urban retreats and designed for long-term comfort and timelessness, the rooms incorporate lifestyle elements such as soaking tubs, generous daybeds, and in-built sofas for work and dining. Inspired by the rationality and materiality of the industrial aesthetic, the rooms focus on a restrained yet textured palette of gun metal, oak datum, textured render, tan leather, and Raf Simons x Kvadrat upholstery. Glass block walls enclose bathrooms, illuminating the room at dusk and into the evening. Ceppo Verde marble encases the spa like bathtubs, whilst a Bvlgari red-veined marble brings a painterly quality to the pantry backdrop in the larger suites. The generous ceiling height was sculpted to create indirect lighting and a spatial softness through a curved ceiling profile.
The suites are placed to exploit the unique stepped architecture to create expansive gardens and terraces set against the industrial heritage backdrop. Garden Suites on the lower floor extend out towards the hotel podium lawn, while the Terrace Suites open outward towards the city. The outdoor space is designed as an extension of the suite rather than simply a view beyond the room, with natural light and greenery becoming part of the interior composition. Private Zen gardens are the backdrop for large soaking tubs. The generous gardens and dining spaces encourage guests to host whilst staying in the suite; dinners can be held on the outdoor deck or in the living room. Colourful plaster reliefs and prints by Evelyn Chiu celebrate Gongshu District's canal and industrial heritage through bold, abstracted forms.
JEN Hangzhou is an urban hotel that celebrates its neighbourhood context - one that layers history, craft, culture and rich materiality into a new perspective on Hangzhou.
