Swatch Art Peace Hotel, Shanghai

Rooftop terrace of hotel with multiple seating areas

The rooftop terrace of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai. Formerly known as the Palace Hotel (opened in 1909), the building has been re-set as an 'art residence' for jet-set artists and travellers by new leaseholders, the Swatch Group

(Image credit: TBC)

By Amy Fabris-Shi

last updated 12 August 2022

in Features

The former Palace Hotel fronting Shanghai's Bund waterfront is one of the city's oldest hotels. In its opening year, 1909, the First International Opium Commission was held here, and Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling celebrated their engagement in 1927. Winding the clock forward to 2011, this venerable landmark has been re-set as an 'art residence' for jet-set artists and travellers by new leaseholders, the Swatch Group.

Behind the russet-and-white Victorian Renaissance façade, the Swatch Art Peace Hotel is a bold reinvention. The Swatch Group's China flagship Breguet, Omega, Blancpain and Swatch boutiques grace the gilded street-level rooms on the Nanjing Road/Bund intersection. But this is more than a retail destination, or even a design hotel.

Ascending the dark Jacobean staircase, 18 work-live apartments are occupied by selected guest artists-in-residence from around the world, who enjoy a free six-month tenure. The antithesis of the 'tortured artist', these lucky painters, videographers, composers and other arty types create and bed down in designer ateliers, relax in the chic communal library, kitchen and lounges overlooking the Bund, and exhibit their work in sunlit studios and blonde-wood gallery spaces.

In return, they must leave a piece of art for the hotel collection. An installation of musically vibrating wires strung across a hotel wall is a reminder of one artist's recent stay.

If not artistically inclined, staying at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel is expected to be 'wait list' only. On the fourth floor, seven individually designed rooms and suites are available for reservations. These range from simple 40 sq m abodes with bare oak floors and grey brick walls repurposed from Shanghai alleys, to four quirky, themed suites stretching up to 250 sq m.

The suites, by Parisian designers Jouin Manku (comprising Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku), are inspired by Chinese culture with an edge of Shanghai audacity. In the Happiness Suite, a king-sized bed is cupped inside a cane half-birdcage, while a black ink-well bathtub is shielded from view by semi-transparent silk screens splashed with watercolour characters.

The kaleidoscopic Prosperity Suite is a rock-star worthy pad with a canary yellow lounge leading through to a huge cocktail bar and mirror clad jet shower. For jetlagged guests, an installation of tiny dangling sheep figurines beside the bed can be counted into snooze mode.

The sixth-floor penthouse is reserved for Kuala Lumpur-based pan-Asian restaurant and bar Shook!. Its alfresco rooftop bar, complete with two private cupola lounges, is a top spot for sunset cocktails against the dazzling backdrop of Shanghai's own artfully eccentric skyline.

Hotel exterior lit up in the evening — Behind the russet-and-white Victorian Renaissance façade, the Swatch Art Peace Hotel is a bold reinvention

Open plan interior of bedroom and bathroom with wooden flooring and ceiling — This is more than just a design hotel. Ascending the dark Jacobean staircase, 18 work-live apartments are occupied by selected guest artists-in-residence from around the world, who enjoy a free six-month tenure

Open plan bathroom and bedroom of hotel with grey finishings — The antithesis of the 'tortured artist', these lucky painters, videographers, composers and other arty types create and bed down in designer ateliers, relax in the chic communal library, kitchen and lounges overlooking the Bund ...

Glossy stained floor and seat with television on wall — ... and exhibit their work in sunlit studios and blonde-wood gallery spaces

Large wooden table with light fittings above — In return for their stay, the artists must leave a piece of work for the hotel collection

Wall to wall desk with white shelves on brick wall — A studio at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel

Large dining table with red stools — Living quarters for the artists

Low seated arm chairs and coffee tables — If not artistically inclined, staying at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel is expected to be 'wait list' only. On the fourth floor, seven individually designed rooms and suites are available for reservations. Pictured here is the Peace suite

Walkway showing table and chairs as well as wooden flooring — The Peace suite

Open plan bathroom and bedroom with glass divider — Guest accommodation ranges from simple 40 sq m abodes with bare oak floors and grey brick walls repurposed from Shanghai alleys...

Open plan bedroom, bathroom and living area — ... to themed suites stretching up to 250 sq m. Pictured here is the Good Fortune suite

Open plan bedroom and bathroom separated by a white wall divider — In the Happiness Suite, a king-sized bed is cupped inside a cane half-birdcage, while a black ink-well bathtub is shielded from view by semi-transparent silk screens splashed with watercolour characters

Chinese styled suite with curved furniture and purple painted walls — Concieved by Parisian designers Jouin Manku (comprising Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku), the suites are inspired by Chinese culture with an edge of Shanghai audacity

Dark brown wooden revolving door — In contrast to the overtly modern suites, the hotel's wood-panelled lobby has been left intact to retain some of its historic character. Formerly known as the Palace Hotel, the building has played host to everything from the First International Opium Commission in 1909 to the engagement celebrations of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling in 1927

Inner boutiques with golden finishings — Gracing the gilded street-level rooms on the Nanjing Road/Bund intersection are the Swatch Group's China flagship boutiques for Breguet (pictured), Omega, Blancpain and Swatch

Wooden furniture with painted sea scenery on back wall — The Blancpain boutique

Landscape photograph of buildings next to busy road and river — The Bund

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