A decade after they took over and revamped a property in Hong Kong’s bustling wan chai neighbourhood, owner John Hui and hospitality consultant Jason Cohen have once again given the Fleming a makeover, turning it into the preferred place to stay in town for the discerning and style-conscious. The duo extensively brooded on a concept for the property, and eventually grasped that all the great hotels that they had come across in Los Angeles and new York City, somehow flaunted the D.H.A. of their respective locations. The duo collaborated with creative multitasker Maxime Dautresme of agency A Work of Substance, and defined a design vocabulary that could be best described as a balanced mix of the neighbourhood’s industrial background and the city’s maritime legacy. So, following a year-long redevelopment, the Fleming re-emerged as an achingly stylish and yet affordable boutique hotel, featuring just 66 guestooms in four different categories.

The eye for detail is immediately evident upon entering the cozy lobby where the infusion of warm dark timber is vaguely reminiscent of a luxurious ship’s cabin from a bygone era, replete with lattice wooden panels, shiny brass accents, and sleek pendant light fixtures that make a distinct modern statement. Directly opposite the reception desk, comfy sofas are situated that add to the homey vibe. This aesthetic is extrapolated throughout the premises. The rooms come with wooden floors, similar warm lighting, and i a palette of bottle green and navy blue with a shimmer of brass. Art and photography from Hong Kong-based artists is featured in each room, giving each setting a personalized touch. The lighting and power points are stylishly accessible from a switch board panel, and in several of the rooms the desk flanks the headboard of the bed to create more space, while the open wardrobe, vanity and minibar are versatile and interconnected.

Obviously, hi-tech is omnipresent too the pads come with a complimentary integrated mobile device, wi-fi, flat screen tv’s with apple tv and multi-media panels. Oh, and the beds? No worries. Beds are fitted with quality mattresses and luxury bed linens, and bathrooms feature the hotel’s bespoke bathroom amenities with different selections for morning and evening. As a place where to celebrate the good life, the Fleming also pitches in a with a restaurant on the premises that has quickly become a destination in it’s own right. Called Osteria Marzia and situated on the ground floor, it’s a gourmet diner and bar serving palatable seafood dishes from Italy’s many coastal regions by chef Luca Marianelli, all amidst an equally style-infused setting of tiled flooring and walls, wooden ceilings and custom-made furnishings.

Design: A Work of Substance
Photography: Dennis Lo

https://superfuture.com/supernews/hong-kong-the-fleming-hotel-renewal