Silks Club, Kaohsiung

In between city and ocean

What kind of atmosphere can present local feeling?

What kind of spirit can express intention for going international?

What kind of posture is suitable for a hotel in between city and ocean?

To respond transformation of Kaohsiung from industrial to commercial and tourist city Today, client, Yui-Mom Group, is with an ambition to build a local but contemporary hotel which is expected to present image of Kaohsiung for next stage as well.

“Innovation, Technology, and Art” is answer we conclude for those questions given for design mentioned above, and also important spirit which needs to be presented in space, especially by technology we think. Simple to say “feeling is local but image is contemporary”.

Weather, humanities, and environment is common experience, and ocean is deep memory for local!

Same as other harbor cities in the world, ocean is a permanent exist and connection with the world to Kaohsiung. It can be seen, heard, touched, and also smelled, especially it never stop moving with kind of sense and status in unfixed form! So how to use contemporary way to express “nature status” of ocean which can create feeling of technology and avant-garde, but still with local sense is our basic design thinking and strategy. Put it simply,

“ local factor + contemporary express “!

GROUND FLOOR

Dancing Particles

The whole ground floor experience is created by 3 elements from entrance outside to lobby inside continuously.

Wave Screen - in water

Wave screen starts at entrance and is extended to lobby with purpose not just only to connect outside and inside but also create space sequence and intensify entrance axis!

Moreover, it’s also with intention to create kind of feeling “in water” by wave patter on screen when light going through holes and reflection from water pool outside on it as well.

Kinetic Sculpture - dancing particles

Kinetic sculpture inside lobby plays the most important role for creating space spirit. As in BMW Museum or Changi Airport, Singapore, ART+COM’s work always can express kind spirit of innovation and technology which is just as what we want in our lobby. Besides the digital technology they use is also very suitable for status and experience of ocean we intent to create. Imaginably, sometime it moves like wave movement or raining drops, and sometimes it looks elegant, or looks rapid. When it moves slowly, you just feel like time is slowing down or condensed!

Simple to say, what it expresses is not about form, but “status”, and what it presents is not just only an art, but more importantly it gives space spirit and creates imagination.

Ripple Wall - rhythmic brick

Ripple wall behind the counter is spread of “effect” from kinetic sculpture, “dancing particles”, and similarly, It’s status is also created by changing position and angle of single unit, brick to create whole kinetic effect.

Choosing brick, the traditional industrial material as basic unit is because we want to present kind of character with both traditional and contemporary feeling, especially spirit of craft in it by different way and technology to use it. Again, Simple to say

“Local Factor + Contemporary Express ”.

HIGH FLOOR

Up to high floor will feel ocean is just “near”

28th Floor

We create a “factor” in lobby, and it has been fermented, spread …… and affecting in restaurant!

In one hand, we insert an element “Wave Volume” to connect main space which also can weaken feeling of beam system but still keep ceiling in existing height. On other hand, we try to use only one material which is mosaic with gradient layer form blue at bottom to white at top to integrate “scattered walls” as background like a “Water Box”. Moreover, lighting is the main way used to adjust and provide suitable atmosphere for different usage like night bar or meeting.

16th Floor

Positing at 16th floor, outdoor swimming pool, gym, and sauna provide public function for guest to relax and space to survey harbor during their busy business trip.

Using infinity swimming pool to connect ocean and taking harbor and sunset as background, we intent to create a feeling like “water is melting into ocean and swimming on ocean”. Moreover, it also makes wave reflection on wall and ceiling around by water surface via wind and sunlight to create shimmering effect which is naturally extended to inside becoming scenery and special experience for gym as well.

Rooms

Position in between ocean and city is an important advantage for hotel which provides essential view for rooms as well, so to enlarge view of ocean, the layout of room basically is parallel with harbor. In addition to avoid view to be cut off in between, space is just simply defined to 2 areas for sleeping and bath without wall to partition it.

On the other hand, the basic purpose of room is for having a good rest, so quality is more important than style for guest. Therefore design points to us is more about space scale, material, detail, sense of touch, sound insulation, and so on including lighting and furniture. In the general, all considerations we have + beautiful view of ocean or city is just only for creating a simple, quiet, elegant, and comfortable living environment for guest!