SHANGHAI – JIA Shanghai, the city’s first design-led boutique residence, scooped ‘Best Hotel Design of the Year’ award in the annual Interior Design China (IDC) Hospitality Design Awards.

JIA Shanghai won the top prize for overall Best Hotel Design. The competition also included five other categories for the design of Restaurants, Lounge/Bar/Night Clubs, Suite/Guest Rooms, Spas and Lobby/Reception Areas.

The award was presented on June 27, in conjunction with the International Hospitality Design and Innovation Forum at the Shanghai 100% Exhibition.

Annually hosted by Interior Design China and Hotels China magazines, China’s leading hospitality design awards recognize the past year’s most outstanding hotel projects. Competition judges included renowned international architects and interior designers, professionals, academics and editors from Interior Design China and Hotels China. Among them were Rao Liangxiu, ex-president of CIID and senior design professional with China’s Architecture Design Institute, Spanish designer Jaime Bouzaglo, American architect Michele Saee, and editors from Canada’s Intérieurs magazine and Italy’s Area magazine.

JIA’s founder and owner, 29 year-old Singaporean Yenn Wong said, “I am especially thrilled for our talented designers and my own team of specialists who contributed with invaluable input, to collect the prestigious award for Best Hotel Design.” Yenn took the approach of appointing three different designers to create the interiors of JIA Shanghai. The rooms and suites were designed by Melbourne-based BURO Architects in association with Hecker Phelan and Guthrie Interiors (HP&G). HP&G are responsible for award-winning projects such as The Prince Boutique Hotel, Longrain and Comme in Melbourne, and Establishment in Sydney and, together with BURO, the iconic and awarded Botanical Hotel in Melbourne.

The lobby of the hotel is designed with an eclectic mix of bespoke furniture by award-winning interior designer, André Fu of Hong Kong architectural firm AFSO. Fu is a protégé of renowned architect John Pawson and designer of the homes of several celebrities in Hong Kong, including Michelle Yeoh’s. He has been described by Condé Nast Traveler USA as an “Asian design sensation,” by Travel + Leisure, USA as the “Designer of the Moment” and by Wallpaper magazine as an “upcoming talent.”

Design of JIA Shanghai’s very popular Italian restaurant, Issimo, was awarded to Hong Kong based Darryl Goveas of Pure Creative International who are responsible for several award-winning restaurants and bars in Asia and also for flagship store concepts for luxury fashion brands Dior, Dior Home and Fendi.

JIA Shanghai opened its chic doors in August 2007 and has collected awards across the world, voted on the “Hot List” 2008 by Condé Nast Traveller in the UK and Condé Nast Traveler in the US, and included on the Travel + Leisure “It List” 2008.

With its prime, central location in a stunning 1920’s building on the corner of Nanjing Road and Tai Xing Road, JIA Shanghai features 55 spacious guestrooms and suites, some with private balconies, and a host of special facilities for the most discerning travelers. Two penthouse suites are located on the top floor, each appointed with ultra-indulgent facilities and the Penthouse Plus including a super-size Jacuzzi, steam-room, DJ booth and cocktail bar with a pesonalized bartender.

JIA Shanghai also features a Techno gym and a Business Center with two offices and a boardroom with videoconferencing facilities, as well as Issimo, its signature restaurant and bar which serves the truly authentic home-style Italian cuisine of celebrity chef Salvatore Cuomo, an excellent wine list and sensational cocktails in an invitingly warm and rustic ambience.

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