Hyatt announced that Andaz Seoul Gangnam has opened in the heart of the South Korean capital, marking the Andaz brand’s entry into the country.
The Andaz name – ‘personal style’ in Hindi – encapsulates the very essence of the brand’s driving philosophy that celebrates, respects, and caters to guests’ personal style and preferences, in an atmosphere that fully embraces each hotel’s locale. From New York to London and now to Seoul, Andaz hotels and resorts draw direct inspiration from a location’s history, culture and architecture, and by distilling the best of its locale, allow guests to truly engage with a destination and experience it authentically, rather than merely visit.
“We are honored to bring the distinctive Andaz brand to South Korea in our first collaboration with KT Estate,” said David Udell, group president, Asia Pacific, Hyatt. “With Andaz Seoul Gangnam, we look forward to inspiring our guests, immersing them in the local culture and showcasing warm Korean hospitality.”
“We are delighted to be part of the vibrant Apgujeong neighborhood in Gangnam district, which is known for its high-end retail stores and K-Pop studios,” said Juan Mercadante, general manager, Andaz Seoul Gangnam. “We hope to inspire and stimulate the senses of our guests, from the hotel’s design which reflects Gangnam’s sophisticated ambiance and dynamic gourmet alleyway dining hotspots, to our custom-made scents.”
Design
With direct access to Apgujeong metro station and located by a bridge connecting northern and southern Seoul, Andaz Seoul Gangnam is designed to fuse traditional local culture and creative modern living. The hotel’s overall concept is inspired by bojagi – a traditional Korean wrapping cloth used in significant ceremonies and as gift wrap to preserve good luck, according to traditional Korean folklore.
Andaz Seoul Gangnam is designed by award-winning, internationally renowned Dutch design firm Studio Piet Boon. As guests move through the hotel’s light-filled interiors, unique layouts unfold to reveal unconventional corners and dynamic architectural angles that are layered with contemporary bojagi patterns cloaked in soothing muted shades and subtle textures.
All of the artwork featured in the hotel is created by artists either from Seoul or with a strong connection to the city, and the hotel will actively nurture local talent, offering a platform for emerging young artists. Greeting guests at the entrance is Wish, an 8-foot-high (2.5 meter) bronze abstract of a mother with overlapping hands by Choi Jong-tae, a notable Korean contemporary artist. While checking in, guests can admire Dialogue, an oil painting of frantic brushstrokes in cobalt blue by Oh Su-fan, who combines eastern calligraphy with western abstraction. In A’+Z bar, Brush is a strikingly hyper-realistic depiction of a Chinese calligraphy brush on Korean rice paper by Lee Jung-woong.