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The double height elevators are decked out in a futuristic combination of tinted mirrors, LED strip lighting and acrylic cubes
The Chain, sculpted from mirror-finished stainless steel, is emblematic of the hotel’s links to its host city. Ingeniously, it also doubles up as a rainwater drainpipe
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WHIMS OF CHANGE
In true W fashion, the hotel chain’s latest outpost in Taipei is set to give the city’s design, art, and fashion – inspired by its environment and scene – a shot in the arm. By Aaron de Silva
city can chronicle its ascension onto the world stage in any number of ways: by claiming superb infrastructure, vibrant cultural attractions or financial authority. Or – at least in the eyes of global nomads and fashion hounds – by the quality of design hotels on offer. In this respect, Taipei can now stand shoulder to shoulder with other world cities, having welcomed its first W Hotel in February. At its grand opening in March, search lights beamed from the roof of the 31-storey building, a call to arms for tastemakers and the glitterati, and a beacon announcing the hotel’s – and by extension, Taipei’s – arrival. The 405-key hotel is located in the posh Xinyi district, adjacent to the übercool Eslite Bookstore and a fiveminute stroll from the sprawling Shin Kong Mitsukoshi department store. While not as architecturally iconic as the nearby 101 Tower – in fact, few buildings in the capital are – the hotel boasts a profusion of innovative designs and art installations, in keeping with the W philosophy of being on the creative cutting-edge. Conceptualised and brought to life by London-based architects G.A. Design International, in collaboration with local design group Mandartech, the hotel took a little over four years to flesh out. The theme centres on the idea of ‘Nature Electrified’, a concept derived from observations of the city and its essence. Terry McGinnity, Executive Director of the firm, who has clocked more than two decades in hospitality design, explains, “Before coming to Taiwan, I had the notion that it was an exporter of high-tech electronics. But when I arrived, I found that it was very different. The people have a strong relationship to their culture, heritage, craft and nature. At the same time, they are also very forward-thinking and technologically advanced. “And that really started the narrative for us. Taipei is such a vibrant city, surrounded by lush green hills that are so easily accessible. ‘Nature Electrified’ is a combination of ancient and new, craft and high-tech. It all came together and felt so perfect, and it informed everything that we did in the hotel.”
The ‘water droplets’ are carried through to the 10th floor reception level. Intersecting lines created by the juxtaposition of the sculpture against the stairwell
In the ground floor lobby, nature is expressed through the use of raw timber-clad walls and natural stone floors. A suspended sculpture symbolises a raincloud, while uplights represent water droplets
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Sensation mix
The Bar: The glamour of the 1970s is alive at Yen. A 5m-high sculpture, consisting of multi-faceted mirrored eyes, winks at the double height booths that surround the central lounge, while a flotilla of flying saucer lamps hover overhead
With high-gloss Macassar ebony-andmirrored walls, the private dining room in Yen is the last word in glamour, with killer views to boot. The installation features Chinese ceramic spoons arranged in an intricate design
The Woobar and double-volume Living Room are set to be the nuclei of Taipei’s social scene. The far end of the room is anchored by an 11m-tall timber ‘W’ screen, which conceals a private lounge behind.
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Rooms feature warm-coloured stone floors, burnished wood and lush carpeting with subtle lighting inspired by Chinese lanterns. Vermillion accents add zing. The artwork on the wall is a map of an ‘electrified’ Taipei
NATURAL PROGRESSION Organic transitions to glamour, the higher the floor. The entrance and lobby start off with cues from nature: planter walls, raw timber cladding and natural stone floors, and a delicate sculpture composed of mirrored plastic suspended overhead, symbolic of a raincloud. The feeling is one of being in a forest. After checking in at the reception on the 10th floor, the adjoining, appropriately named Woobar tantalises with its intoxicating offerings. Admire sinuous metallic sculptures while eyeballing the chic crowd, or venture out onto the ‘wet’ deck with its inviting heated pool and expansive views of the Xinyi skyline. Inside the second set of elevators, the vestibules resemble futuristic shuttles, all LED strips and glowing perspex. The segue to glamour is subtle. But when the doors part at the 31st floor, the glamour is full-blown. This is Yen, the hotel’s signature Cantonese/Taiwanese restaurant and the first W Chinese restaurant in the world. It’s best appreciated at night, when the deep purple lacquer and high-gloss Macassar ebony walls virtually melt away, allowing the glittering cityscape to take over. From up here, the world’s your oyster.
PICTURES COURTESY OF W TAIPEI
The Wet skydeck and pool features clean lines surrounded by a boardwalk. A striking metal bubble sculpture levitates like suspended droplets of water providing focus
Bathrooms: Wooden partitions offer a stylised take on Taiwanese domestic architecture
BEDROOM SECRETS When you finally decide to retire for the night, there’s a choice of four room types and four suite types, in different configurations and sizes. I’m offered a Wonderful Room, which, true to its name, is spacious and well-equipped with all the mod cons that make for a happy traveller: 350-thread count linens, wi-fi access, 42-inch LCD TV, Bose sound system, an iPod dock and Bliss toiletries. What’s notable is the way the doors dividing the bedroom and bathroom slide open, allowing a smooth spatial flow and ease of movement. “The flow of the spaces is a reflection of some of the planning we looked at in Taiwanese domestic architecture,” explains McGinnity. “It’s our interpretation of how Taiwanese houses work, in terms of the sliding panels, the doors and the use of space. It creates a little bit more grounding and makes it more relevant for us in that we’re doing something specific for this place.” In the unlikely event that you tire of the hotel’s offerings, take advantage of the W Insider service, for top tips on where to go and what to do in the vibrant metropolis. Then head out to the adjacent City Hall MRT station, or hop into a cab and cruise the city’s main thoroughfare, Zhongxiao East Road, for night markets, 24-hour bookstores and clubbing till the wee hours. W Taipei 10 Zhongxiao East Road Sec. 5 Xinyi District, Taipei City 110 Taiwan Tel: +886 (2) 7703 8888 www.wtaipei.com
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