On reflection: Luxury glass tower designed to mirror natural surroundings

The property’s flagship building is a scallop-shaped glass tower designed to mirror its natural surroundings. The lower portion reflects the lake, the middle the nearby Yanshan Mountains and the top reflects the sky. The entrance is shaped like the mouth of a fish, a traditional Chinese symbol of prosperity.

The building is also designed for the enjoyment of guests staying on a private island elsewhere in the complex. ‘When guests look at the Sunrise Kempinski from Yanqi Island, it will really give them a beautiful picture of the sunrise and sunset,’ chief designer Zhang Hai Ao said in a statement.

Beijing is a study in extremes, enjoying great wealth in recent years while also enduring some of the world’s worst air pollution. The emphasis on nature will appeal to guests seeking a sense of balance, a trend LS:N Global describes in Greentopias.