▲ Exterior View of the Hotel
The Shanghai Sheshan Shimao Deep Pit Intercontinental Hotel, also known as the “Shimao Deep Pit Hotel,” is uniquely constructed within an old quarry pit. To harmonize the rugged texture of the original pit with its natural surroundings, the interior design embraces the concept of “Mine · Italian Aesthetics.” This approach blends the raw rock cliffs with the ethereal elegance of the landscape, crafting a distinctive cultural and artistic atmosphere exclusive to the Shimao Deep Pit Hotel.
Located at the base of Sheshan Mountain within a scenic area, the deep pit is surrounded by lush vegetation growing on cliffs and cascading waterfalls. The hotel is nestled in this breathtaking environment. After extensive site explorations, CCD deeply appreciated how humanity has continually transformed nature over millennia, while nature’s power quietly seeps into human civilization. This intricate relationship between humans and nature inspired the initial hotel design, aiming to seamlessly integrate architecture with the natural environment.
The textured lobby walls, layered and uneven, mimic the natural cliffs
To evoke this immersive atmosphere, CCD sought to strike a balance between humanity and nature, designing spaces where natural landscapes and man-made elements coexist and intertwine. Through innovative design techniques, the architecture melds with the environment so well that visitors may question whether they are exploring a cave or relaxing in a luxurious hotel. The design neither conceals the building within nature nor isolates it from its surroundings; instead, it harmoniously balances both realms, achieving a dreamlike blend of fantasy and reality.
▲ General Layout of the First Floor
Design Concept: Journey to the Center of the Earth
At the onset, CCD drew inspiration from the project’s geography, the changing rock formations within the pit, and the desire to deliver a spectacular experience. This led to the overarching design theme, “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” which runs throughout the hotel. From the ground-level lobby to guest rooms, the lake bar, underwater suites, and specialty underwater restaurants, every part of the guest experience tells a story. It invites visitors to join a British explorer from the last century on an adventure—from the surface, descending underground, and eventually reaching the water’s depths—creating a hotel space rich with adventure and a unique brand identity.
1. Hotel Lobby
The lobby serves as a centerpiece in the “Journey to the Center of the Earth” narrative. It delves into the gray outer rock layers to reach a vibrant core, symbolizing energy that blooms year-round. The facade subtly replicates the natural mine rock layers, inspired by the horizontal and vertical changes caused by magma flows beneath the surface. The undulating textures and layered design echo the cliff’s natural contours. Utilizing natural gray stone, the interior’s color palette reflects the hues of the deep pit rocks. At the center, a 3D projected dynamic water curtain displays various images at set times, resonating with the cliffs and distant waterfalls outside. This blurs the line between indoors and outdoors, creating a magical atmosphere full of surprises and anticipation for guests.
▲ Hotel Lobby Featuring a 3D Projected Dynamic Water Curtain
The lobby walls are colored to match the mine’s tones, inspired by the metal tools used by miners. A deep antique bronze hue dominates, reinforcing the synergy between culture and nature.
▲ Deep Antique Bronze Colored Lobby Wall
This innovative hotel presented numerous BIM challenges due to its uniqueness. Unlike conventional projects, the underground location with water and underwater levels posed difficulties in floor planning, material selection, and mechanical and electrical system support. The limited natural light, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity all added complexity to the design process.
▲ Lobby Rest Area
▲ Lobby Rest Area
▲ Lobby
2. Banquet Hall: A Unique Paradise
Continuing along the public walkway that mimics a rock wall and mountain path, a faint light breaks through the darkness of the cave. Looking upward reveals a new type of sky. The banquet hall features BIM architecture with ceiling designs inspired by floral shapes, resembling a courtyard deep within a cave. LED lighting projects through the ceiling opening, creating shifting light and shadow effects. This captivating design opens a fresh perspective on the banquet hall space, evoking a dreamy starry sky ambiance.
3. Chinese Restaurant: Fengqi Wutong
Adjacent to the banquet hall’s skylight is the entrance to the Chinese restaurant, where a large skylight courtyard ushers in natural light onto ancient pine trees. In the classical text Zhuangzi, the pine tree is praised for its uprightness and evergreen nature. This ancient pine complements the restaurant’s phoenix theme, creating a harmonious ambiance that balances movement and tranquility.
▲ Chinese Restaurant
▲ Phoenix-Themed Chinese Restaurant
4. Full-Time Restaurant: Energy Station
Within this extraordinary journey, the full-time restaurant serves as the energy hub for explorers. Each food island is designed with lighting effects that symbolize energy sources visible from afar. The grid-patterned facade resembles indicator lights on a battery, signifying continuous energy replenishment. The diverse food island platforms allow guests to select their desired nourishment, maintaining vitality throughout their exploration in the pit.
▲ Full-Time Restaurant
▲ Full-Time Restaurant Energizes the “Adventurers”
5. Executive Lounge: Green Valley
Accessible through a cave entrance and descending along a deep valley, guests discover lush green fields with dense trees and verdant screens. Located on the B13 floor, the executive lounge resembles a forest workstation. Furniture and lighting are custom-designed to meet explorers’ high standards, offering a brief and comfortable rest before their underwater adventures.
▲ Executive Lounge
6. Bar: Cluster Fire Shining Rock
Situated on the B14 floor between the pit bottom and water surface, the bar resembles a submarine rising from the earth’s lava layer to the surface. Visitors encounter installation art symbolizing sparks generated by friction as the submarine rests against the cliff. The interior glows with fiery red tones, contrasting with the rocky colors of the pit. Steam-era style booths and bar stools, along with custom torpedo-shaped barrel wine racks and lighting fixtures, provide distinctive features that will surely attract social media attention.
▲ Inside the Bar
▲ Bar Interior Decoration
7. Swimming Pool: Biquan Cave
Located at the water’s edge at the pit bottom, the indoor swimming pool features a ceiling and columns inspired by stalactites, evoking the serene ambiance of a blue spring cave. Natural light filters through the glass curtain wall, allowing guests to enjoy swimming while marveling at the majestic cliffs outside. Artificial stone decorations resembling mushroom bubbles enhance the dreamlike atmosphere of the pool.
▲ Dreamlike Swimming Pool Resembling a Blue Spring Cave
▲ View of the Deep Pit Cliffs Through the Swimming Pool’s Glass Curtain Wall
▲ Artificial Stone Elements Inspired by Mushroom Bubbles Enhance the Pool’s Dreamlike Quality
8. Underwater Restaurant: Secret Realm Beneath the Water
Explorers discover wonders akin to treasure hunts as flowing water carves limestone fissures, forming water curtain caves. The underwater restaurant’s ceiling and reflective surfaces resemble interconnected crystals, dazzling with vibrant colors that resonate with the surrounding space. Guests can watch fish swimming outside, light candles, and savor a uniquely immersive dining experience.
▲ Underwater Restaurant Inspired by a Water Curtain Cave
▲ The Ceiling and Reflections Conceal Connected Crystals Displaying a Brilliant Spectrum of Colors
▲ Colorful Underwater Restaurant
▲ Metal Accents in the Underwater Restaurant
▲ Underwater Restaurant
▲ Underwater Restaurant Interior
▲ Underwater Restaurant Floor Plan
9. Guest Rooms
Constructed along the rock wall, the hotel’s varying floor layouts and structural conditions presented significant design challenges. By analyzing each floor’s features, three primary floor plan types were established. Drawing from the geological rock layers’ colors and textures, guest rooms were designed in distinct styles to provide varied experiences. The deep pit showcases rock layers with shades of red, blue, and dark gray, inspired by stones rich in iron, hematite, and calcium carbonate. Correspondingly, guest rooms feature red, blue, and gray color schemes.
▲ Blue-Gray Themed Guest Room
▲ Guest Rooms
The guest rooms incorporate British industrial design influences, inspired by mining aesthetics, emphasizing a “wild luxury” style. Retro industrial lighting, leather, rivets, matte metals, and vintage luggage details are all thoughtfully integrated. Special attention is given to ergonomic design, ensuring furniture height and size suit explorers’ needs. This creates a timeless industrial charm without compromising comfort.
▲ Room Soft Furnishings
▲ Retro Bathroom Vanity
▲ Vintage-Style Furniture
The design pays meticulous attention to detail, extending the industrial style into guest corridors and elevator lobbies. Wall finishes mimic the textures of underground rock mines, while stone pillars and retro kerosene lamps evoke the image of a stylish explorer navigating the pit, enriching the adventure experience.
▲ Guest Room Corridor
▲ Corridor Wall Decorations Evoking Underground Rock Mine Tunnels
10. Family Suite: Suspended Jizhou
Imagine drifting in a flatboat deep within lava, floating inside a cave—this captures the essence of the family suite experience. This duplex unit’s facade resembles the living room of a luxury yacht. The entrance and living room on the B15 underwater level resemble the bottom of a cabin. Upon entering, guests are surrounded by fish swimming outside the windows. Upstairs on the B14 water surface level, the living room includes a children’s play area and bedrooms, evoking the feeling of being on a yacht’s deck. The suite design echoes luxury yacht style, with furniture featuring elegant curves, offering an authentic yacht travel experience to adventurers.
▲ Family Suite in Luxury Yacht Style
11. Honeymoon Suite: Dream Encounter Secret Realm
Located on the B15 underwater level, the honeymoon suite immerses guests in the underwater world at the pit’s bottom. The design uses glass mirror materials on the walls to reflect water patterns and play with light and shadow. This creates an effect of swimming alongside colorful fish, offering a romantic and unforgettable experience in a dreamy, mysterious setting.
▲ Honeymoon Suite
▲ Soft Furnishings
The glass mirror walls reflect water patterns, filling the suite with the underwater ambiance
▲ Washbasin
12. Presidential Suite: Spy Shadow Tracking
The Presidential Suite is inspired by the James Bond 007 theme, evoking the image of a secret British intelligence base hidden deep within the pit. Opening the heavy steel safety door reveals a modern, luxurious living space shrouded in mystery. Situated at the building’s edge, the suite offers a 270-degree panoramic view close to the cliff. Large glass curtain walls showcase the rugged landscape outside, contrasting with the bright, comfortable interior equipped with smart technology. This design dramatically highlights the natural cliff surroundings.
▲ Presidential Suite Floor Plan
The suite’s color palette centers on black and gold, with walls featuring textured metal panels, grey oak, glass, and black marble flooring in public areas. The bedroom employs warm wooden floors and textured soft furnishings, illuminated by carefully designed lighting. The interplay of luxurious yet understated materials reflects the strong and enigmatic character of James Bond 007.
Project Information:
Interior Design: CCD Hong Kong Zheng Zhong Design Firm
Location: Southwest Sheshan Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China
Category: Interior Design
Ground Floor Area: 13,520.6 m2
Underground Building Area: 46,551.5 m2
Total Building Area: 60,072.1 m2
Construction Company: Shenzhen Yatai International Construction Co., Ltd
Project Year: 2018
Photography: CCD Hong Kong Zheng Zhong Design Firm, InterContinental Shanghai Sheshan Shimao Shenkeng
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