The hotel is nestled in the Niushou Mountain Scenic Area, Jiangning District, Nanjing, where the Niutou School of Zen originated in China. The key and pain point of the design is how to borrow from the local Zen Buddhist culture to create an exclusive holiday experience for this Hilton.
The design team took the concepts of "Heart, Delight and Emptiness" from the Niutou Zen School and translated them into an Eastern aesthetic that is simple and ethereal, natural and pristine, serene and joyful, creating a holiday experience that heals the body and mind. In the lobby, for example, a “floating kasaya” (a patchwork robe worn by Buddhist monks) hangs from the ceiling. In the center, moss is implanted into the interior landscape, “water ripples” are crafted on the floor, and lush plants hang from the ceiling to convey the ethereal and serene spirit of the place. The hotel has a specially designed vegetarian restaurant and meditation rooms. Innovatively, the guest room can also be a place for meditation, reading and tea tasting, giving guests an unprecedented holiday experience.
