High flyer: StudioIlse unveils new Cathay Pacific business class lounge in Hong Kong

Set on creating a cool, informal atmosphere to the usual corporate airline lounge, London-based designer Ilse Crawford has revealed an understated residential theme for her refurbishment of Cathay Pacific’s largest business class lounge.
This is reinforced by the use of plush natural materials such as cherry wood, bronze, limestone and leather, that enhance the chic, muted palette, sublime low-key lighting and comfortable furnishings including Crawford’s Solo chair. ‘We wanted to give the lounge a more informal feel, but also to engage the senses,’ explains Crawford.
‘Slow’ and ‘fast’ areas such as the vibrant jade-green noodle bar and the zen-like teahouse – both a nod to the airline’s heritage – have been devised to satisfy all needs, while a relaxation room, with its low-slung loungers, is peppered with thoughtful details including coat hooks, lockers and side tables with integrated charging stations. ‘Just because you are in an airport, it doesn’t mean you should go somewhere you wouldn’t normally visit,’ says Crawford.
The designer was set on creating a cool, informal atmosphere to the usual corporate airline lounge
This is reinforced by the use of plush natural materials such as cherry wood, bronze, limestone and leather
‘We wanted to give the lounge a more informal feel, but also to engage the senses,’ explains Crawford
‘Just because you are in an airport, it doesn’t mean you should go somewhere you wouldn’t normally visit,’ says Crawford
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
Hong Kong International Airport
Adjacent to gate 65
1 Sky Plaza Rd
Hong Kong
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Catherine Shaw is a writer, editor and consultant specialising in architecture and design. She has written and contributed to over ten books, including award-winning monographs on art collector and designer Alan Chan, and on architect William Lim's Asian design philosophy. She has also authored books on architect André Fu, on Turkish interior designer Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu, and on Beijing-based OPEN Architecture's most significant cultural projects across China.
-
Is this the world’s most comfortable sofa? Cozmo and Pearson Lloyd invite you to find out
Pearson Lloyd and Cozmo lay bare the design process behind ‘Hug’, their new high-backed sofa design, at the eye-opening exhibition ‘Comfort Lab’ during LDF
-
A Mexican clifftop retreat offers both drama, and a sense of place
Casa Yuri, a clifftop retreat by Zozaya Arquitectos, creates the perfect blend of drama and cosiness on Mexico's Pacific Coast
-
Tour David Lynch's house as it hits the market
David Lynch's LA estate is for sale at $15m, and the listing pictures offer a glimpse into the late filmmaker's aesthetic and creative universe
-
Rosewood is searching for the next generation of women leaders
The Rosewood Foundation introduces ‘Rise to the Table,’ a fully sponsored initiative aimed at addressing the gender gap in the food and beverage sector
-
The Trip to Hong Kong: exploring a bold new capital of culture
A resilient desire to shift perceptions yet preserve heritage is driving a new energy in Hong Kong as the next generation creates a bold new capital of culture
-
Take off with the June 2025 Travel Issue of Wallpaper*
Head to Hong Kong, paint the town red in Las Vegas, reimagine room service, and make a splash in sizzling swimwear – the June issue is hot to globe-trot, on newsstands now
-
A local’s guide to Hong Kong, by photographer Lean Lui
As Hong Kong hosts its annual Art Basel fair, local photographer Lean Lui shares her go-to spots for an alternative take on the city
-
Where to stay in Hong Kong
From sky-high glamour to intimate design sanctuaries, here's our pick of Hong Kong's finest stays
-
The Peninsula Hotels broadens its artistic horizons with Victoria and Albert Museum partnership
The Peninsula Hotels and Victoria and Albert Museum announce a multi-year collaboration set to produce world-class art experiences around the world
-
Inside Club Bâtard, Hong Kong’s exclusive new members’ wine club
Club Bâtard brings together an exclusive mix of fine dining and drinking across three floors of Hong Kong’s historic Pedder building
-
Hong Kong hotel Lanson Place gets a serene new look
Lanson Place Causeway Bay, Hong Kong is a luxurious hotel newly reimagined by Pierre-Yves Rochon