Gregor Hoheisel, co-founder of Graft, provides a peek into Beijing’s newest boutique hotel

For Gregor Hoheisel, there is no better home for an architect than China. “There are chances here that just are not possible in Europe or anywhere else,” he says. Since founding the Graft architecture firm back in 1998 with three of his fellow architects and surfing buddies, Hoheisel has seen the firm grow into a global player in modern architecture. Graft currently has projects in North America, Asia and the Middle East, and is now a key contributor to Project Pink, a venture spearheaded by Brad Pitt to rebuild the Katrina-ravaged lower 9th ward in New Orleans.

Graft’s newest contribution to Beijing is The Emperor, a swanky, boutique hotel located on the eastern edge of the Forbidden City. The project involved gutting an old building used by Qinghua University and upgrading it, which, Hoheisel says, was no easy task. “We had to deal with a hyper-historical project in a 1970s grey- brick building, which was not of outstanding architectural quality.” Meanwhile, constructing a historically-themed hotel next to one Beijing’s iconic heritage sites presented its own set of difficulties.”There was no chance of competing with the real thing, so we tried to avoid any of the cheesiness of reinterpreting Chinese style, but we still tried to incorporate subtle hints to give the building a sense of place,” says Hoheisel.

Despite the complications, the project is both a stunning transformation and a whimsical introduction to Chinese history and culture. In lieu of room numbers, each of the hotel’s 55 suites is imprinted with caricatures of Chinese emperors, who appear across every threshold. In the corridors and rooms, smooth, sweeping lines make up the seating, beds and desks while natural light pours in through skylights. On the walls, subtle hints of Imperial Beijing appear in silhouettes.

Highlights of the building are the vast rooftop terraces, providing striking views of the Forbidden City, and the basement restaurant, serving up handwritten menus and imperial food. Meanwhile, small touches, such as the nightly raising of the rooftop lanterns and complimentary seals carved into room keys, help give a sense of cultural authenticity to this contemporary hotel.

Famous for its eclectic fusion of cultural elements, Graft’s style is apparent within this striking hotel. “We don’t like pure breeds,” says Hoheisel, “we want conceptual bastards, something that plays tricks with your mind.” They’ve certainly done just that.

By Matthew Durnin