The Fleming: a luxury porthole to old Hong Kong

Oct 18 , 2017

The Fleming hotel was designed with the help of A Work of Substance.

The independent boutique hotel in Wan Chai has had a complete overhaul, paying tribute to the city’s maritime history

Contemporary Hong Kong is a design-lover’s dream, where cutting-edge trends are neighbour to nostalgic tributes. Home to both, The Fleming hotel seems a recipe for success.

Ten years after opening The Fleming, owner John Hui and consultant Jason Cohen took a year out to remake the hotel in the image of old Wan Chai, with help from design firm A Work of Substance.

The result is a modern twist on characteristics that would have been familiar to visitors and locals in days gone by.

Home to cutting-edge trends and nostalgic tributes, @TheFlemingHK is a #design-lover’s dream. After 10 years, @huij78 and @JasonCohen1977 took a year out to remake the hotel in the image of old #WanChai, with help from @aworkofsubstance. She’s now ready for the big reveal⠀ . . .⠀ #luxury #LuxuryTravel #boutiquehotel #hongkong #oldhongkong #luxuryhotel #streamline #artdeco #hotel #suziewong #starferry #luxurylifestyle #luxurylife #interiordesign #thefleminghotel #thefleming #decor #lighting #retro #maritime #nautical

A post shared by Style_SCMP (@style_scmp) on Oct 17, 2017 at 5:46am PDT

Like Foxglove, a “speakeasy” on Ice House Street, The Fleming recreates Streamline Moderne, the art deco aesthetic that was prevalent from the 1930s to 60s in ships and aircraft, and also in city skylines – particularly Hong Kong’s. Giving the hotel a sense of place are icons of Wan Chai in the 1960s and 70s, from buoys to bamboo scaffolding.

The Star Ferry pier in Tsim Sha Tsui is a notable example of Streamline Moderne in architecture.

The chairs in the lobby are inspired by The Star Ferry, while lifts and doors have rounded edges, and light fittings are nautically themed.

The lobby at The Fleming recreates the characteristics of Streamline Moderne.

The hotel has an old-time nautical feel to it.