Duddell’s Cultural Concept Destination in Hong Kong by Ilse Crawford.

Few cities in the world know how to do a private member’s club better than Hong Kong does. Of course, I’m speaking from experience here. No, but I actually am — it pays to have friends in high places in Hongkers. Although I’m afraid I haven’t yet had the privilege of attending the city’s hottest concept venue, which is the subject of today’s post — Duddell’s.

So what is this place? Well, it’s not a traditional restaurant & bar, nor an art gallery, and it’s much more than an exclusive members’ club. The owners describe it as “stepping into the beautiful house of an art collector, without bedrooms”…. A “cultural and social destination”…. Whatever that means. Actually, I’ll tell you what it means – it’s a place where you pay a lot of money to be a part of, if you’re lucky to get in, since there is a massive waiting list. Because nothing says “exclusive” and “cool” like a waiting list.

Anyway, we are here to discuss the interior dammit, and at the same time take a bow to the design goddess that is Ilse Crawford. Despite Duddell’s undeniable opulence and grandeur, Crawford took her signature humanistic approach to design, where people are placed at the centre of the project. The interior is reminiscent of a comfortable lounge room, with a double-Michelin-star-chef in the kitchen. Of course. Keeping it real. By the way, Duddell’s restaurant — which is open daily to the public — offers seriously high-end contemporary Cantonese food.

The art on show ranges from 20th-century ink-brush paintings from the MK Lau Collection, to international works selected by guest curators which bring the best of international modern and contemporary art to Hong Kong. Many pieces are on special loan from the rarely seen archives of private collectors.

The interiors are at both warmly and glamorous, relaxed and chic. Palette of natural stone, wicker, dark timber and marbled grey travertine shine brightly against vivid pops of colour and delicious pastel tones brought in through furniture and art. It’s just glorious. All of it.

Simply put – THIS IS HOW IT’S DONE!

The end.

Yang Rutherford created the identity system for Duddell’s as an example of branding that uses a blend of East and West. The multiple illustrations, which together form the Duddell’s unique marque, pay close attention to Hong Kong’s Colonial heritage and uniquely Chinese culture. 

“Inspired by the 19th Century autioneer George Duddell – who owned much of the area surrounding Duddell Street – the identity system features human figures with different surreal heads to represent the club’s many services. The primary logo form – a man with gavel and top hat – celebrates George Duddell’s career in the auction houses of Macau and Hong Kong in the 1840s.” – Yang Rutherford

Duddell’s Hong Kong
3-4/F Shanghai Tang Mansion
1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong

[Photography by Robert Holden, courtesy of Studio Ilse. Illustrations courtesy of Yang Rutherford.]