An art-inspired stay
Aiming to redefine the accommodation experience, K11 Artus is Asia's first self-styled artisanal home, says Helen Dailey
Positioning itself as a residence rather than a hotel, K11 Artus offers artistic inspiration at every turn, says Helen Dalley
Perched above the K11 Musea shopping mall and part of Tsim Sha Tsui East’s swish Victoria Dockside development, K11 Artus doesn’t position itself as a hotel, referring to itself instead as a residence. With a proliferation of artworks scattered throughout, it has the feel of a hip museum or art gallery, and has already proved a hit with global creatives looking for somewhere inspiring to stay. In partnership with the K11 Craft & Guild Foundation, it’s on a mission to preserve and promote fast-disappearing Chinese artisanship, like the intricate inlay work known as baibaoqian, and guangcai, a handpainted overglazing utilised on ceramics, with fine examples of both on display throughout the residence. Guests can purchase some of the objects displayed with proceeds going back to the charity, while one per cent of all room revenue is also donated to the foundation.
With shared spaces and residences designed by Hong Kong’s most esteemed architect, Andre Fu and his studio AFSO, the residence is arguably a piece of art itself, with bold geometrical shapes cosying up to curved furnishings. Check-in is at the 10th floor, where staffs’ names are stylishly scrawled on an easel in front of their desk. In this area, referred to as the Living Salon and intended as a quiet spot for contemplation, sculptures are coolly juxtaposed against what has to be one of Hong Kong’s most glorious harbour views. My favourite piece is David Nash’s ‘Spiral’, a bronze curve sitting in front of a circular window overlooking the harbour, which symbolises evolution and growth. In the salon, there are also chess boards of varying sizes, piles of artfully arranged books on art and culture, and foosball tables
manned by stern silver players, while cacti plants cut spiky silhouettes against the floor-to-ceiling windows.
My one-bedroom residence is assuredly roomy for space-strapped Hong Kong (this room type ranges from 799-1,245 sq ft), with an open plan kitchen/ lounge area leading out to a wrap-around balcony overlooking Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong island. To the left is the bathroom/bedroom and walk in-closet, while shelves and surfaces are enlivened by elegant ceramic curios. The artistic bent continues in the living space with a booklet entitled ‘Find Your Own Poetry’ casually displayed on the living room table, with poems from William Blake, Emily Dickinson and John Donne enclosed along with a page at the back headlined “write your own poetry” and a slip of paper peppered with nouns, adjectives and phrases to help get the creative juices flowing. A desk is topped with an easel and some coloured pencils, another clear invitation to unleash those artistic talents. I demur on both counts, but still, they are uniquely creative invitations.
Breakfast and dinner are served at the Commune, an intimate space decked out in cool blues and silvers headlined by those knockout harbour views. Coffee, congee and dumplings taste so much better when you can pick out the iconic green and white livery of the Star Ferry as it cuts a slow, determined swathe over the harbour from Wan Chai. Later that night over a dinner of pasta and cheesecake, I’m distracted from my plate when the light show dutifully begins at 8pm, setting the skies and harbour alight in vivid swathes of neon.
Aside from acquainting myself with the sculptures, I resolve to get a dip in before checking out. Before breakfast, I head up to the infinity pool on the rooftop, which, on a windy December day with the palms blowing at right angles, isn’t exactly tempting, but the warm water (28 degrees) takes the edge off, I do a quick 10 lengths, Kowloon’s skyscrapers never leaving my eyeline, before retreating to the warmth of the shower and the Aesop toiletries and a stylish grey dressing gown with a luxuriantly soft lining.
Taking the lift back down to the lobby area, perhaps the quietest I’ve ever encountered in 15 years’ of travel journalism, chairs and sofas stuffed with cushions encouraging you to linger awhile, I stop to admire the baibaoqian on a chest of drawers, colourful birds and butterflies enlivening its black lacquered surface softly illuminated by the twinkle of the Christmas tree lights. Pulling back the heavy doors of the residence one last time, I’m thrust into the relentless hustle of Tsim Sha Tsui, red taxis zooming past, pedestrians coming at me from every angle, before I retreat down the stairs into the MTR station, my artistic cocoon becoming a sadly distant reality as I negotiate my way through the crowds and onto the platform.
Art lovers seeking an inspiring retreat in Hong Kong, look no further: K11 Artus is a unique and coolly creative consideration. artus.com.hk