The Blue (hotel)

The building was originally constructed in the 1970s as an office of an insurance company. In the subsequent years, it operated as a mixed-use hotel with retail units on the ground and first floors.^[1]

The hotel was rebuilt in 2023 by the London-based architect Tszwai So, also known as the author of the award-winning Belarusian church in Finchley. It is described as an example of Emotionalist architecture,^[2][3] inspired by the Belarus-based UNOVIS artist movement of the early 20th century.^[4]

The hotel features 59 guestrooms, a restaurant, and a public art venue.^[3]

In 2024, the renovated hotel was shortlisted in the Sustainable Renovation category of the Dezeen Award^[5] and in the Completed Buildings: Creative Re-use and Completed Buildings: Hotel and Leisure categories of the World Architecture Festival award.^[6]

• 
  The building in 2012 before reconstruction
• 
  John Dennis, British Representative to Taiwan, and Tszwai So, architect, visiting The Blue in January 2025