Air China Showcase New Shanghai And Beijing Lounges

JPA Design have released the latest lounge project images for Air China, the same time they announce they will be designing the interiors for the carriers new 787s. The new lounge is set over two floors at Shanghai, Pudong Airport and good news for frequent fliers, as it is a member of the International Star Alliance group. At 20,000sq ft. for Business and 7,000sq ft. for First Class, it is officially the design consultancy’s largest lounge project to date. With the additional opening of the Air China Lounge at Beijing Capital Airport T3, Zone D, together they are the seventh and eighth airport lounges that JPA has designed for Air China.

“JPA’s design approach takes inspiration from and pays homage to the host nation. References to Air China’s brand colours and specially commissioned Chinese patterns threads throughout the lounges. At the same time this Chinese heritage enjoys an injection of an International element to cater for the discerning needs of today’s global traveller.” state the press release.

There are a myriad of spaces, a common trend in new larger lounges, that used to be vacuous by their sheer size. The lounges include what you would come to expect of a luxury lounge. Comfortable and plentiful seating and dining areas, buffets, bars and business centres. The First Class lounge in Shanghai and the Air China Lounge in Beijing feature beautifully articulated curving timber screens to separate the dining and striking back-lit bar areas from the quieter, more relaxed lounge areas while also creating a sense of privacy and exclusivity.

Said Alex Duncan, director at JPA Design and heading the lounge projects for Air China “the trend now is to create an oasis for the busy traveller, one that offers a real sense of comfort and luxury with all the facilities you would now expect and in an environment that acts as a refuge from the stresses of the airport.  The lounge forms a crucial part of the total travel experience.”

We like these lounges, there is a mix of textures and styles here that make for an intricate and interesting look. Sometimes lounges can be too simplistic, and makes them boring to visit after just a couple of times. By making a variety of zones, designers are able to inject little ‘corners’ for people to discover each time and make their continuing loyalty to one airline, more rewarding. The uses of natural products such as wood, and luxurious carpet, also help with the sound aspect in a lounge, which with many reflective surfaces can be loud and echoey. From the images, we also like the large floor to ceiling picture windows, satisfying our inner AvGeek.