Hirsch Bedner Associates Los Angeles (HBA) has unveiled the public area design of The Springwoods Club Palm Tree Hotel in Heyuan, Guangdong, China, bringing welcoming luxury, tranquility and the brilliance of nature together in perfect harmony.
Sophisticated simplicity, synchronicity of the five elements, the alluring destination and the natural landscape establish the foundation of the design concept. The award-winning hospitality design firm drew inspiration from the scenic mountains of Heyuan and the property’s lakefront locale to achieve balanced interiors and a bespoke sanctuary of calm.
“There’s an Eastern principle of ‘effortless grace,’ which sees all things as part of nature,” said HBA Los Angeles Senior Project Designer Robert MacDonald. “The Springwoods Club Palm Tree Hotel is in an incredible setting on a tranquil lake surrounded by green hills. The location was a major inspiration for the calm emotion we wanted to embody, a reminder that we are in harmony with nature and not separate from it. Each area of the hotel is a procession of beautiful moments with thoughtfully placed furniture to provide a restorative experience.”
Guided by Eastern philosophies and a transitional mindset, HBA Los Angeles designers composed the public spaces with layered symmetry in a natural palette of wood and stone. Wood-beamed ceilings and sculpted archways in the voluminous lobby and lounge gracefully bring in elements of Mediterranean style, while floor-to-ceiling windows fill the space with natural light and usher in an airy ambiance. Vignettes and congenial seating groups create moments of intimacy without sacrificing social opportunities.
“The spaces are an expression of earth and sky, balancing grounding elements with openness and the radiance of light,” MacDonald said. “This is seen in all the public areas, which showcase a palette of wood and stone, contrasting rough with smooth, solidity with airiness. Architectural materials harmonize with the surrounding scenery referencing earth, fire, wood, water and metal. We also used fresh floral motifs for some of the decorative accents and carpets.”
The themes of natural materiality and the balance of luxury and comfort are carried through the corridors, instituting an intuitive flow, as well as into the meeting spaces, VIP room, sauna room and patio dining area. In the ballroom, backlit glass screens line the perimeter of the ceiling and illuminate the space, while structural columns and wood paneling to wainscoting height cultivate a comfortable sense of enclosure. Cedar surfaces the sauna room with a Himalayan salt installation that acts as an artistic focal point in addition to a functional element. On the outdoor dining patio, textural walls of wood wrap the space to direct views of the picturesque lake, greenery and mountains.
Many of the furnishings throughout the public areas are custom crafted of carved wood and stone in organic shapes, balancing the grand scale of the interiors with tactile touchpoints, exceptional artisanship and refined detailing. All areas of the property are focused on the views outward, providing a visual connection to the outdoors.
“Every morning, the mist rises over the lake to reveal the setting’s radiance and tranquility,” MacDonald noted. “Our design story was based on this transformation, where everything is revealed gradually until the moment of clarity is reached. All the design choices express quiet luxury to sustain a sense of well-being. The narrative for The Springwoods Club Palm Tree Hotel brings together fundamental origins, local inspirations and global appeal to create an alluring destination.”
