The modern Hotel ICON stands near the waterfront in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Built by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s School of Hotel and Tourism Management, a rare example of a university-owned hotel.

The lobby level features impressive ceiling heights. With its all glass-walled design, the space lets in plenty of bright sunlight. With its colorful arrangement of semicircular sofas, the café has an open feel and is a very comfortable space to be in when the weather is nice. The green wall covered with living plants serves to take the harsh edge off the feel of the building with its modern architecture and adds to its sense of being an urban oasis.

The defining feature of the rooms has got to be the scenery they look out on. Room windows offer sweeping views out over Kowloon Bay and gorgeous Hong Kong Island across the water. Hong Kong has a nightscape that is lively and beautiful.

What makes it unique to the room interior is the bathroom with its arc-like layout. Opening the slide doors to it, I find a washstand and shower booth toward the front of the long, narrow space and a bathtub and toilet toward the back. Featuring a curved arc shape, the shower booth is spacious, measuring 85cm wide and 190cm deep. I get a sense of the designer’s intent with the arching design of the bathroom, a space that customarily features rectangular floor plans. Above the washstand is a large mirror with a 120cm diameter. Green LED lights reflecting on the glass surface of the shower booth give an altogether futuristic impression.

The dining accommodations on the hotel’s second level are bright and include a terrace. A variety of dishes from a wide range of genres and cuisines are offered buffet-style in the large space.

Accented by yellow sofas, the restaurant on the 28th floor has chic decorations lined up on its wall-spanning bookshelves. A counter table made of marble-type rock adds a feel of sophistication to the space.
In contrast, the inner space has a relaxed atmosphere with its basic tone of grey, offering a space where guests can enjoy meals at unhurried paces while taking in the beautiful scenery.

The pride of the hotel is its outdoor swimming pool located on the 9th floor. Surrounded by rows of skyscrapers, a luxurious space where guests can take in magnificent views of the city. On this day, unfortunately, the weather was cloudy and I wasn’t able to enjoy a leisurely swim. With its subtropical climate, Hong Kong has high temperatures and humidity throughout the year, though, so it’s a delight to have an outdoor swimming pool to plunge into at any time.
The fitness center facing the pool offers a sense of liberation too with its glass-walled design. A café bar set up in one corner of the fitness center offers easy opportunities to take little breaks.

Distinguishing features were the terrific site location characteristic of larger hotels and the spacious fitness center. My room, while neutral in its interior’s appearance, offered a spaciousness—at least by Hong Kong standards—that I was grateful to have.