The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the roof of the world, is a mysterious and legendary land.
In the May of 2010, Hanloong’s team went to Lhasa and launched the fantastic project of Intercontinental Lhasa Paradise.
In order to learn about Tibetan culture and its related folk-custom, history, art and life-style, the team travelled through different cities and countryside, like Lhasa, Shannan, Xigaze, Gyangze, Shangri-La, Lijiang, and Jiuzhaigou Valley.
Besides the study about social culture and natural environment, temples, aristocratic manors, official mansions, dwellings, and palaces were paid special attention because of the uniqueness of the hotel.
After field research and literature review, the team completed several analysis reports, such as the analysis about the art of Tibetan construction and special folk-custom, marketing research and customer preference of high-end tourism and hotel in Lhasa, analysis about operating model and successful elements of famous domestic and foreign theme hotels, and the strategy conception of Lhasa Paradise. Based on these analysis, the scheme of Lhasa Paradise investigation and cultural creation was provided to the client.
During the research, we found some codes of Tibetan construction:
Modelling: upright and foursquare, flat roof, post-and-lintel construction, some with hip roof golden top. In general, the construction is trapezoid, closed and narrow in the top while separated and wide underneath, delivering a sense of stability;
Material: stone, wood, and a type of local soil are mainly used, rough and simple;
Coloring: red, yellow and white are used exteriorly, whereas red, yellow, white, blue and green are used in interior drawings, the major parts are colorful, a feeling of primitive, mystery and rough are created by various colors;
Harmony with nature: the coordination with surrounded mountains, geography, climate, vegetation, etc.
The rough and dignified Tibetan constructions have distinctive local and religious features, but these features are not the entire compositions of Lhasa Paradise. As a result, Hanloong’s team had to visit many hotels to catch the distinctions.
The team visited Lhasa Hotel, Brahmaputra Grand Hotel, Lhasa ShenHu Hotel, Yabshi Phunkhang Heritage Hotel, Banyan Tree Ringha of Shangrila Hotel, and Intercontinental Resort Jiuzhai Paradise. Referring to diverse characteristics of Tibetan culture and various operating models from these hotels, Lhasa Paradise absorbed the essences and made creations according to the specific environment.
Consequently, with the mutual efforts of the team and client, Intercontinental Paradise finally stands out among the mysterious snowy plateau and becomes an amazing display of Tibetan culture.
