Narratives reflecting a brand
Lim Hong Lian
Who is he?
Born in Singapore and educated in the UK, Lim Hong Lian began his design career in London working in the hospitality industry. Returning to Asia in 1979, he joined an international design firm and was later invited to join Chhada Siembieda & Associates as the Managing Partner of the Singapore office in 1981. During his decade-long tenure, he grew the company’s luxury hotel portfolio and established his reputation as one of Asia’s most respected hotel designers.
In 1991, he founded H.L. Lim & Associates (later renamed LTW Designworks), which quickly became the studio of choice for the world’s leading luxury hoteliers and hospitality operators.
Please share with us some of your works, and name the one you are most proud of?
There are a lot of projects I am proud of. To name just one would be very difficult. Every design I’ve worked on has its own highlights and challenges, which is what makes each one unique and memorable. For instance, in the design of Jumeirah Nanjing, we used ancient Chinese tales to tell a story.
Our influences included Tang Dynasty poetry and other scholarly elements that were translated into refined and modern design details. Another example is the Grand Hyatt Changsha, where we’ve created a custom red and white feature wall rising 2 meters in height and inspired by the motion of the river.
What’s your design style?
My style is contemporary, but it also varies from project to project. We work closely with each client to craft a distinct narrative that reflects the brand and also the hotel’s context, so every space is unique.
Where are you most creative?
Anywhere: in the studio, at home or walking on the streets. Wherever the location may be, I need to be in a state of relaxation to be creative. This is when the ideas will flow naturally without having to exert too much effort. I constantly remind myself that there is more than one solution to solving problems and keeping an open mind also helps me to come up with original ideas.
Where would you like to go most in Shanghai?
Besides our office in Shanghai, you can find me at the Jing An Shangri-La in Puxi. The location is very central and they have great F&B outlets where I can relax while I enjoy a few bites or drinks. If I’m traveling via Hongqiao Airport, I like to stay in one of the spacious rooms inside Cordis Shanghai — one of the recent designs our studio completed last year.
What will be the next big design trend?
We can expect to see less vibrant colors, more neutrality in palettes and the use of natural materials.
Marble and stone will still be popular as they both reference natural and organic textures.
There will also be a stronger push on using eco-friendly and replenishable materials as the industry continues to focus on more sustainable design practices.
