The West has the man in the moon, whereas China believes there’s a goddess who lives on our closest celestial body, together with a little jade rabbit. She is an immortal beauty called Chang’e and not only provided the name for the last lunar mission but also for the Mira Moon design hotel in Hong Kong. Marcel Wanders and YOO! designed the interior, a mélange of traditional Chinese craftsmanship and Western design, with highly witty objects by Moooi and refined mixers by Axor.

The main source of inspiration was the legend surrounding Chang’e and it crops up in many of the details. For example, huge lanterns orbit a golden moon in the lobby, which is to be seen once a day, while another moon complete with little rabbit is only visible at full moon. Incidentally, Yutu the rabbit is to be encountered everywhere, as a red lamp base above the reception desk, or completely in white sitting on the bedside table or as a graphic design at the end of the corridors. Carvings on the ceilings and wall panels allude to Chinese arts & crafts, an homage to the country’s history.

By contrast, the arm chair, sofas and bathroom fittings follow Western standards that have since gained sway in China, too. The luxurious bathrooms with the marvelously colorful floral mosaics emulate the hotel’s design idiom by marrying historical and modern elements. The wash basins, for example, are mounted on traditional wooden stands, while the Hansgrohe mixers from the Metris line with their geometric, minimalist shapes create an elegant contrast. The standalone bathtubs with the Axor mixers designed by Patricia Urquiola boast natural, soft contours and likewise meet the high international standards of a design hotel. And when gazing out of the bathroom window across Victoria Harbour you may just catch sight of the little rabbit in the moon.