A pristine but tired hotel site adjacent to an ancient garden on Taihu lake awaits an exciting resort addition. Hetzel was appointed to come up with a solution. Several design directions were explored before we focused on the Oyster Scheme- two clam shaped hotel towers, protecting a pearl- a glazed sphere. A high-end champagne and oyster bar seemed like a fitting program for the pearl.

The adjacent RDE is a wood laced toroid built at the end of a meandering waterway.  Sunken gardens, with strategic view sheds towards the waterway invigorate otherwise inert basement level and allow for additional guest amenities, making the most of the very tight construction site.