Shanghai Surprise

One of the world's new destination cities gives you even more reason to make the trip: The Waterhouse at South Bund in Shanghai is a beautiful new boutique hotel fashioned out of a derelict old building, a former Japanese army headquarters in Shanghai.

I'm a big proponent of mixing vintage and modern design, as the mix creates a feeling that's warmer, familiar, more lived in, and less clinical, and the Waterhouse definitely achieves this. The contrast of the rather dilapidated exterior with the updated interiors make for a great juxtaposition of the old and new, and the wide open spaces filled with carefully curated modern furnishings really impart a sense of luxury that's not imposing. If anything, it's all surprisingly comfortable.

I'm generally not one to wax poetic about the whys and wherefores of architecture and interior design, but I do appreciate a great space, so I'll let the photos do the talking. But if you need more info on the hotel itself, check out their website at waterhouseshanghai.com.