Taipei’s Grand Hotel has a long history. But the hundreds of pieces of furniture that it houses are growing old. The hotel has decided to give them a new life with the help of young Taiwanese designers.
Taipei’s Grand Hotel was built in 1953. Throughout the years, there have been different renovations done on the place, but most recently, it’s the hotel’s furniture that’s attracted the attention of restorers. The hotel has worked with the National Taiwan Craft Research and Development Institute to inject new life into its decades-old wooden furniture.
Hundreds of designers submitted proposals for the project, but only 15 of them had their designs chosen. The designs take elements of the hotel into account, such as a design on one of the Chinese-style armchairs that resembles the carved lattice ceiling of the hotel lobby. Another has added leather to transform a wooden chair into a reclining chair, giving it a contemporary look.
In addition to giving the hotel interior a fresh look, the hotel management says that the project has also allowed more young designers to gain recognition while letting more people learn about the history and culture of the landmark hotel.