Foster + Partners has completed The Murray Hotel in Hong Kong, which is inside the shell of a square tower from the 1960s, once used as government offices.
The Murray hotel is located at the southern end of the city's central business district. Originally built in 1969, the building was previously used as the seat of government but now houses 336 luxurious rooms, a rooftop bar, restaurants and event spaces.
For the redesign, the practice decided to maintain the distinctive square white facade, dotted with square recessed windows, which were initially included in the design as a way to deter the intense sunlight of Hong Kong's subtropical climate.
A series of four-story arches at the base of the hotel have also been preserved, intercepted by a vehicle ramp and an elevated road that gives access to the interiors. Both elements have been partially coated in gold platinum stainless steel.
"Our design for The Murray creates a dialogue between the old and the new, which gives the building a new life and a renewed purpose, with a unique sense of character that is embedded within the structure of the building," said Luke Fox of study at Foster + Partners, said in a statement.
The project also required the architects to get involved in the hotel with the services at the level of the surrounding streets that had previously been obstructed by a network of busy roads.
"The Murray building was originally designed at a time when the city was planned around the car and, therefore, is located on an island site, surrounded by roads and making it impermeable for pedestrians," the practice explained.
As a result, several glazed rooms have been created at ground level, offering exterior views, and landscaping has been extended to accommodate a public area of tai chi.
Foster + Partners, which ranks ninth in Dezeen's latest Hot List, is also building a new headquarters for the DJI robotics company in Shenzhen City, which will have an airlift that can display its latest drone models.
