AB Concept unveils landmark Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong refurbishment The international design studio heralds the return of the lobby, a new café lounge and a new destination cocktail bar at Four Seasons flagship hotelHong Kong, September 2021 – 16 years since it first opened its doors, the Four Seasons Hong Kong now welcomes visitors and guests with a brand new welcome experience designed by AB Concept. As part of an extensive refurbishment to this iconic property over the last year, AB Concept’s design spans the hotel’s arrival porte cochere and driveway, the lobby, a new café Gallery, and a new destination cocktail bar ARGO.
A classic-meets-contemporary aesthetic in the iconic hotel aims to capture the vibrancy of Hong Kong’s energy whilst maintaining Four Seasons’ signature serenity. AB Concept has created an elegant arrival experience - from the moment guests step from their car - to match the sophistication of the hotel and its harbour-front location.
The curved glass-fronted exterior is layered to draw guests from the driveway through the entrance with warm pendant lights to illuminate the frontage. Moving into the hotel’s expansive lobby, AB Concept has created a space that is set to be the new heartbeat of the hotel, putting the guest experience firmly at its centre.
As the lobby naturally receives a high level of traffic, AB Concept wanted to enhance its warmth and introduce even more liveliness to the space, fostering interaction and connection between both people and the lobby areas. With curved mixed-media feature screens that add warmth, shape and fluidity, guests are guided to the reworked concierge and reception, breaking the tradition of a long reception counter and disbanding this barrier between staff and guests.
A raised area – separated from the main reception by a set of elevated steps – encompasses guest seating and new café, Gallery - a cosy nook centred around a large spiral staircase. A new chic casual dining venue by day and easy drinks destination by evening, Gallery intends to provide a welcoming living experience. It serves comforting western dishes with local flair, simple yet flavourful light snacks, afternoon treats and Four Seasons signature pastries and cakes alongside artisan coffees and teas, moving to creative alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails inspired by the world of tea and coffee as the day draws to a close. Adding a sense of privacy whilst providing a focal point to the space without obstructing the view to the rest of the lobby, AB Concept worked with Czech glassmakers Lasvit to create a bespoke floating crystal divider that surrounds the café. Lit from within, it is inspired by the sunlight and city lights sparkling on the water of Victoria Harbour.
Continuing the fluidity of the space, Gallery flows on towards the new bar, ARGO: Previously the location of the renowned Blue Bar, Argo is set to be a destination for guests, visitors and locals in-the-know. This modern bar will showcase innovative and explorative cocktails, featuring a collection of the world’s innovative spirits in a stylish setting that embodies the hotel’s location and prestige.
“We have a long-standing relationship with Four Seasons which spans a decade of work and being Hong Kong-based, we drew an emotional connection to this project in particular. This project has been a real honour for us, being able to add our design stamp to such a remarkable property in our home city,” - Ed Ng, Co-Founder, AB Concept
“We are delighted to work with Ed and his talented team at AB Concept as we transform the arrival experience and introduce exciting new restaurant and bar concepts to Hong Kong. AB Concept and Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong have a shared passion in bringing this transformation to life,” – Bill Taylor, regional vice president and general manager, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong
With the revitalisation of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, AB Concept truly demonstrates its collaborative spirit, creativity and people-centric approach, designing spaces that will serve to create memorable moments for today’s guest and those for years to come.
Four Seasons Hotel Hong KongAs the world’s leading operator of luxury hotels, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts currently manages 118 properties in 48 countries. Open since 2005, Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong provides a preferred address for both business and leisure travelers, and the highly personalized, anticipatory service that Four Seasons guests expect and value around the world. Recent awards and honors include quadruple stars from Forbes Travel Guide and eight Michelin stars under one roof. For more information on Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, visit press.fourseasons.com/hongkong or check us out on:
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