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
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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.
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