André Fu Studio
This acclaimed Hong Kong-based interior design practice has unveiled a historic new project at one of London’s most iconic hotels. Here, we delve into the details with its founder
André Fu (pictured right) established his eponymous studio in 2000. Since then, he has worked on projects including Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto and Villa La Coste in France, as well as launching his own lifestyle collection, André Fu Living. Most recently, he designed the new spa at Claridge’s hotel in Mayfair, which opened in September 2022. When did you first realise that you wanted to work in design? As a child growing up in Hong Kong, I always loved drawing and I was interested in experiences and hospitality from quite a young age. I left Asia for school in the UK when I was 14 and then studied architecture at the University of Cambridge. During that time, I would go to London and visit the capital’s South Bank, as well as Tate Modern to see the works of Mark Rothko, which I loved and found very inspiring. I also travelled around Europe a lot, which meant I got to see amazing buildings firsthand. That period opened my eyes to different things: a visit to the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech showed me how landscape can be integral to an experience, while the Villa Savoye in France, designed by Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret, was equally impactful. Being exposed to these iconic places gave me an idea of architecture and design’s wider context. Where else do you find your inspiration? For me, inspiration is always around. In the context of design today, it’s a lot more about lifestyle and choosing pieces that feel thoughtful and curated. My aesthetic is born out of the fact that I’ve experienced a range of diverse cultures. I am part of a generation of designers who don’t belong to one specific background, and it’s that awareness and exposure that gives us an interesting perspective.
Tell us about your thought process when it came to designing the new spa for Claridge’s There has never been a spa in the almost 200-year history of Claridge’s, so it was a real opportunity to introduce something different. I wanted to create an experience that felt very authentic in spirit, which included subtle oriental references, reimagined to suit the space. The overall feeling had to be serene and tranquil: you’re in the heart of London but transported to a world of calm. The whole thing is really minimalistic and sensuous. It was obviously a huge project! Arethereanyimportantdesignfeaturesyouparticularly love? The sense of arrival was really key for me, so in the entrance area we have a rotunda more than three metres high, created using French limestone, with a circular water feature in the centre. An artwork by Victoire Bourgois of delicate glass rings linked together trails from the ceiling all the way down to the water feature, with water actually trickling down it. Interlocking wood profiles give the impression of walking into a bamboo forest, while dimly lit corridors emphasise the sense of journey. There’s also an indoor swimming pool with a vaulted ceiling, which is an excellent example of the play of light and shadow I’ve used throughout the space. andrefustudio.com