The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri La Hangzhou Named Among Prix Versailles’ The World’s Most Beautiful Hotels 2026

Shangri La Group is proud to announce that The Silk Lakehouse, Shangri La Hangzhou has been selected as one of the Prix Versailles – The World’s Most Beautiful Hotels 2026. This year, 16 newly opened hotels worldwide were selected, with only two properties in China receiving the honour.

Global Recognition
- Award: Prix Versailles, established in 2015, honors outstanding architecture and design.
- Selection: 16 newly opened hotels worldwide were chosen in 2026, with only two in China.
- Venue: Announced at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

The Silk Lakehouse
- Brand: First property under Shangri-La’s ultra-luxury Signatures brand.
- Location: Shores of West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape.
- Scale: 68 rooms and suites, designed to evoke the elegance of a Jiangnan silk merchant’s home.

Design & Architecture
- Designers: Belgian designer Gert Voorjans and Spanish designer Lázaro Rosa Violán.
- Style: Fusion of Eastern aesthetics with contemporary maximalism.
- Details: Silk textiles, hand-painted screens, lacquer artworks, curated art collection.
- Transformation: Led by Kokaistudios, removing top floors and refining façade to protect West Lake’s skyline, while integrating greenery for harmony with surroundings.

Cultural Connection
- Experiences: Personal Host Programme and hands-on cultural activities (tea culture, incense-making, cloisonné, seal carving, clay sculpting, fan crafting).
- Philosophy: Rooted in the idea of “home,” encouraging deeper guest connection with Hangzhou’s heritage.

This recognition places Shangri-La’s new flagship firmly in the global design spotlight, blending sustainability, cultural preservation, and luxury hospitality.