IMMERSE AND ENGAGE

A hospitality revolution is happening in Hong Kong’s Jordan at Eaton Workshop, writes SARAH ENGSTRAND

hotel become more than a hotel? And more importantly, why? The first answer is simple: when its vision is bigger than folded towels and turn-down service. The second, however, is more complex. The world is changing and a new generation is coming up to replace the old, even in the realm of property development.

Katherine Lo, daughter of real estate magnate Lo Ka-shui, is revitalising her family’s Eaton brand, evolving the established hotels into something new.

Equal parts Soho House and activist headquarters, the newly launched Eaton Workshop marks a fresh era for hospitality. Divided into two concepts, there is the hotel – a place for socially minded travellers to immerse and engage in the city – and there is Eaton House – a Warhol Factory-inspired co-working space geared towards “innovators, progressive thinkers and creatives” with pricing options to make it as accessible as possible; it has already attracted the likes of Sally Coco owner Vera Lui and artist Stanley Wong, amongst others. A number of residencies are also available for artists and activists.

From the outside of the Nathan Road location in Jordan, not much has changed. But follow the neon signs in and you’ll find a space like Hong Kong has never seen. Designed by AvroKo to be a fully functional, everevolving home of art, activism, social enterprise and hospitality, it’s a retro-decked out warren. A towering atrium looks over an eclectic food court, commissioned wall art leads to a maze of social enterprises in the members-only Eaton House and there’s an in-house radio