Design, Art, Culture: The Opposite House’s Dramatic Renovation Makes It A Place to Appreciate from Every Angle

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

With Gallery-Like Spaces, a Collection of New Restaurants and Redesigned Guest Rooms, The House Collective’s “House of Art” Offers A Journey of Rediscovery 

The Opposite House, recently named #1 The Top 5 Hotels in China, #1 The Top 15 Asia City Hotels and #3 in Top Hotels in the World by Travel + Leisure, is making its relaunch after the completion of an extensive renovation of its public spaces, restaurants and guest rooms. The first hotel under The House Collective brand by Swire Hotels, located in Beijing’s hippest neighbourhood of Sanlitun, has drawn inspiration from the city’s electric creative energy for its renovations that encompass design, art and culture. With a collection of new restaurants and social spaces, the redesign makes The House Collective’s “House of Art” into a dynamic and inspiring destination that tastemakers will appreciate from every angle.

Design

Imagined as a contemporary art gallery, The Opposite House was originally designed by acclaimed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma in 2008. Its now-iconic emerald green glass exterior reflects the hotel’s setting in Taikoo Li Sanlitun and inside, the airy atrium presents its signature rotating art exhibitions under monumental drapes that create a screen of light.

The House’s new experience begins with Kengo Kuma’s “Origami” installation, which serves as the lobby’s new reception wall. Kengo applied Tyvek, a translucent synthetic textile resembling hand-made paper, to create a screen of light with organic texture and shades.

In the refreshed guest rooms, floor-to-ceiling windows open onto lush views of the leafy surrounds and neighbouring Taikoo Li complex. Transparent partitions maximise space while lending a modern touch to the rooms for a contemporary feel. Beijing-inspired décor complete the artistic ambiance.

"We are very excited about the relaunch of our House," said Olivier Dumonceaux, General Manager of The Opposite House. “As a space where art comes to life, The Opposite House has always been driven by the fusion of design, creativity and culture. With the art installations and pop-ups alongside new restaurant and bar concepts, we believe that our House is a true lifestyle destination with unique experiences for every guest."

Art

At The Opposite House, you can immerse yourself in art everywhere. Whether it’s the House’s collaboration with contemporary artists, to its curation of works, or even simply a cocktail, art can be appreciated from every angle. Each season, The Opposite House presents a different series of artworks, offering guests fresh cultural insights into the world of contemporary art.

The House Collective’s biennial art programme in 2019, ‘Encounters Across Cultures: Seeds of Life’, featured multidisciplinary artist Katja Loher, who collaborated with local artists and choreographers to create ‘Videoplanets’ of the Five Elements for a floating installation in the Atrium. This year, ‘Encounters Across Cultures’ returns, where contemporary dancer Yu Jinying and Li Xinmeng have joined forces to create an interactive art installation across space and time that explores The Opposite House’s architecture.

As the “House of Art”, The Opposite House is a destination for the capital’s culture makers.

Blending fashion and art, The House features buzzed-about happenings from fashionable high tea that takes inspiration from the designers’ creation to pop-up stores featuring sought-after luxury brands. And almost as though an haute couture runway, Superfly, Union and the lobby’s Atrium inspire photos from The House’s worldly guests.

“Whether collaborating with artists to bring the ‘Encounters Across Cultures’ art programme or hosting special events with fashion brands, it’s always exciting to partner with artists and brands to create more unique experiences for our guests,” said Ami Tsou, Director of Communications & Marketing of The Opposite House.

Culture

The Opposite House is set in the bustling Sanlitun, drawing on the area’s creative energy and melange of cultures. At Superfly, vintage vibes, Chinese pop culture and Sichuan’s street culture collide; at Michelin-starred Jing Yaa Tang, Chef Li Dong explores the parallels and juxtapositions of traditional and modern Chinese cuisine; Union takes inspiration from the ancient Silk Road for an array of flavours from China to the Mediterranean; and Frasca celebrates traditional Mediterranean cuisine and the authentic flavours of Italy, rounding out the House’s global culinary offerings. “Jing Yaa Tang, Superfly, Frasca and Union are each our tribute to the past and the present, and cultures within and outside of China,” said Will Gao, Manager of Union. “Besides focusing on creative experiments on classic cocktail recipes, we also love to infuse fresh ideas which is why we often invite renowned bartenders from different cities as guest bartenders at Union.

The Opposite House Experience

In the heart of Sanlitun, stepping off Beijing’s bustling city streets and into The Opposite

House is like setting foot in an urban oasis. A space designed for peaceful moments inspired by nature, you can brush your hands against bamboo trees, swim under the “stars” and

discover your inner self at poolside yoga. Every step of the stay, from check-in to check-out, the House’s attentive team assure guests enjoy quality and personalised experience.

As Guest

Experience team leader Jessica Ju explains: “Our team always strives to provide guests with

personalised and high-quality services. We hope to offer new experiences to every guest for a true sense of leisure and relaxation.”

To celebrate the recent honour by Travel + Leisure 2021 World’s Best Awards as #3 in Top Hotels in the World and #1 in The Top City Hotel in Asia, The Opposite House is launching “Appreciate From Every Angle”, a special offer for guests to experience the House themselves.

Just need to top up RMB 600++ to the daily rate to enjoy a stay at Studio 70, daily breakfast for two at Frasca and a choice of two from the four dining experiences:

• Michelin Menu for two at Jing Yaa Tang

• Silk Road cocktails at Union

• Custom menu for two at Frasca

• Special menu for two at Superfly

Chooks-to-Go to Give Away P2.5M in Christmas Raffle Promo

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Two and a half million pesos are at stake as Chooks-to-Go, the Philippines' largest roasted chicken chain, launches its Christmas raffle promo.

Dubbed "A Merrier Chooksmas," the promo runs until December 23, with 66 winners of various cash prizes to be drawn on January 14, 2022.

The luckiest winner will receive one million pesos; five winners will get P100,000 each; 10 winners, P50,000 each; and 50 winners, P10,000 each.

"This is our Christmas gift to all our loyal customers who support us through thick and thin," said Ronald Mascariñas, president of Chooks-to-Go's parent company Bounty Agro Ventures, Inc. (BAVI).

"Ito ang aming munting pasasalamat sa milyon-milyong Pilipino na tumatangkilik sa Chooks-to-Go. Nang dahil sa kanila, patuloy ring nakapaglilingkod ang Chooks-to-Go sa ating mga kababayang apektado ng pandemya."

To join the promo, customers need only to keep their Chooks-to-Go purchases' receipts and send entries through the promo registration webpage, bit.ly/aMerrierChooksmas. The page may also be accessed through the QR code posted at participating Chooks-to-Go stores.

For the full promo mechanics, visit the same link above or go to Chooks-to-Go's Facebook page [http://facebook.com/chookstogo].

Chooks-to-Go is the country's number-one rotisserie chicken brand, with almost 2,000 outlets nationwide. In 2008, it pioneered the no-sauce-required roast chicken formulation and now serves zero-antibiotics chicken.

Per DTI Fare Trade Permit No. FTEB 128746 Series of 2021.

DOTr signed the project’s Tagum-Davao-Digos segment contract with its Project Management Consultant

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The much-awaited Mindanao Railway project finally moves closer to reality as DOTr Secretary Art Tugade signed the project’s Tagum-Davao-Digos segment contract with its Project Management Consultant today, 20 October 2021.The Mindanao Railway project is a 1,544-kilometer railway system connecting the cities of Davao, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga, Butuan, Surigao, and Malaybalay.

The MRP's first phase - the Tagum-Davao-Digos (MRP-TDD) segment - will have 100 kilometers of railway line to connect the cities of Tagum in Davao del Norte, Davao City, and Digos in Davao del Sur with eight (8) stations. The MRP's first segment is designed to accommodate 122,000 passengers and will reduce travel time between Tagum and Digos from the usual 3 hours to just 1 hour.

Emphasizing the decades-long delay of the railway’s construction, Secretary Tugade said the signing of the Project Management Consultant contract starts the government’s commitment to finally deliver the Mindanao Railway project.

"Since more than four years ago, when President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office, people were already expecting and people were already asking the question: 'Where is the Mindanao Railway [project]?' Today, we are saying that with the signing of the agreement, it is about to be born and it is about to be triggered into reality," Secretary Tugade said.

China Railway Design Corporation (CRDC), the Project Management Consultant for the MRP-TDD, will assist the MRP-Project Management Office in the preparation and management of the overall project implementation program, including its land acquisition activities, coordination with concerned government offices, a review of the project's detailed design, and supervision of construction activities, among others.

"I believe that the winning Chinese companies will do their best to fulfill their tasks, providing professional recommendations and consultancy to the project and offer its satisfactory management services. I also believe that with the close cooperation of all joining parties, we will work together to release more benefits to the peoples of our two countries," Mr. Zhu Min, Chinese Embassy Chief of Economic and Commercial Counsellor's Office expressed.

The massive Mindanao Railway Project, the first railway system outside Luzon, is one of the big-ticket infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration under the Build, Build, Build program. It is designed to help improve inter-island connectivity and boost economic development in Mindanao.