La Residence Hotel & Spa was once called La Residence Superieure de I’Annam (The Superior Residence). In the comparison with other French colonial architecture of the time, the mansion – now La Residence Hotel & Spa in Hue was modest, but the building carries a profound history.
Now a five-star hotel with 122 rooms, elected to Conde Nast Traveler’s Hot List in 2007, la Residence is an exceptional boutique hotel and spans more than 11, 000 sq.m. As renovations got underway in 2003 and 2004, the hotel’s European architects paid homage to the art-deco mansion at the heart of the property by designing two wings in a similar nautical modern style. Given the hotel’s perch on the Perfume River, and its views of the imperial Citadel across the water, the renovation placed a premium on the existing harmony between the building, the river and the natural environs.
Consequently, the three main building evoke a sense of placement and arrival that suggests a much longer pedigree as a collection of buildings. From one building to the next, from the railing and balconies, from the trellises to the porthole windows, the architecture frolics with the playful appeal of the art deco design movement that’s’ bequeathed a wonderful legacy to modern Vietnam.
Likewise, the décor at La Residence is a reflection of the original mansion’s style. Inspired by the mansion’s rounded facades, high ceilings, terrazzo floors, and the singular shapes of the balconies and handrails, the French designer the work of the depths of the art deco archives. She explored the work of artists and furniture designers who specialize in art deco, and then worked on redesigns for the lighting, furnishings, woodwork and metalwork as those styles were current in the 1930s.
After nearly five years in operation, La Residence Hotel & Spa sparkles as one of Central Vietnam’s most spectacular gems. With respect for the differences in cultural values and yet a steady eye on preservation, La Residence has succeeded in reviving the ambiance of La Residence Superieure de I’Annam, and the marvelous architectural heritage of the French in Hue.
This article written by Lanh Nguyen from Vietnam Heritage Travel
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