Few locations in Hong Kong better capture
the spirit of modernism than the Murray
Building. Built by British architect Ron
Phillips, the 27-storey tower opened in 1969
as a government office. Soaring, unadorned
arches at ground level and a gleaming white
façade lent it a handsome, almost austere,
appearance, while recessed windows and
the concrete fins that separated them kept
out the sweltering heat, and made the
building a pioneer in sustainability. As such,
it remained a widely admired landmark
long after a concrete jungle sprouted in its
vicinity. And once the government moved
on to newer digs in 2011, it became a ripe
opportunity for redevelopment. Enter local
hospitality group Wharf Hotels, which
acquired the building and enlisted
Foster + Partners to transform it into first-
rate accommodation.
Named the Murray, the new hotel opened
to much fanfare earlier this year, its 336
rooms and suites some of the most spacious
in the city. The famous recessed windows
have been enlarged, opening up views of
Hong Kong Park and its adjacent zoological
gardens, as well as neighbouring skyscrapers
such as the HSBC Building, also by Foster +
Partners. Inside, richly textured furnishings
in understated tones, and bathrooms in blackand white Calacatta marble, are a vision of
relaxed refinement. The pared-back aesthetic
continues through the well-appointed gym,
indoor pool and five spa suites.
Eager for guests to ‘rediscover the
romance of going to a hotel’, Foster + Partners
devoted special attention to the arrival
experience, creating a forecourt around
a majestic old cotton tree (carefully sustained
through the hotel’s construction), and
a generously proportioned, sunlit lobby
featuring a chandelier-like charcoal work
by Korean artist Seon-ghi Bahk. A grand
staircase leads guests to the garden level,
home to a lush terrace and two restaurants –
the smart European Tai Pan, and the more
laidback Garden Lounge, which offers
both dim sum and French patisserie.
The next few months will see more
dining options open. Occupying its own glass
pavilion will be a branch of Michelin-
starred Cantonese restaurant Guo Fu Lou,
with interiors by André Fu and an expansive
terrace. And the rooftop restaurant and
bar, serving cocktails and international tapas,
will be the perfect spot to rub shoulders
with Hong Kong’s movers and shakers,
while drinking in the spectacular skyline. ∂
22 Cotton Tree Drive, themurrayaniccolohotel.
com. Rates: from HKD4,000 (£366)Arch revival
Foster + Partners reimagines a 1960s Hong Kong landmark
PHOTOGRAPHY: HOSHING MOK WRITER: TF CHAN150 ∑