Capella Shanghai

One of the latest examples in Asia is Capella Shanghai, Jian Ye Li, which opened in September 2017. Located inside a traditional shikumen (a stone-gate residential complex), the hotel stretches across 22 alleyways – all part of the Hengfu cultural and heritage preservation zone, within the former French Concession. This historic district was originally built in the 1930s by the Foncière et Immobiliere de Chine property company as a mid-upper-income merchants’ town, where both expats and Chinese traders lived side-by-side.

Over the years, the compound suffered severe structural damage. In an effort to preserve the architecture, the government earmarked the courtyard-style residential area as a protected zone in 2003, later enlisting hotel group Capella to take over the renovations. The two-year restoration process followed archive drawings and blueprints closely in order to retain the distinct East-meets-West architectural elements associated with shikumen estates, such as Chinese matou (‘horse head’) gables alongside Western-looking brick townhouses.

The hotel’s 55 villas and 40 serviced residences sit in the heart of the Xuhui district, which is alive with small restaurants, shops and people going about their everyday life – washing laundry, mending shoes and hawking food from street stalls.

A turn into the hotel grounds is, as it once was, a contrast to the everyday lives of Xuhui residents. Across the 2.3 hectare property, you’ll find romantic courtyards, gardens, a library and a spa. In a Capella-managed shopping and dining promenade right outside the resort, French chef Pierre Gagnaire has opened his first restaurant and bar on the Chinese mainland. Le Comptoir de Pierre Gagnaire is an elevated all-day dining experience channelling old-world Parisian Shanghai in both the decor and menu.

Indonesian firm Jaya International designed the interiors of the villas, where Sino-French style takes the form of French furniture juxtaposed with Chinese artwork. Decked out in warm wood and serene green shades, each of the one- to three-bedroom villas includes a private courtyard, entertainment room, desk, rooftop terrace, marble bathroom and a dedicated butler to lean on during your stay.