With its recent rebranding, Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium Amsterdam enters a new chapter, one that feels both considered and distinctly of the moment. I had the pleasure of witnessing this shift during an evening at the hotel, where the unveiling of its new signature fan took center stage.
At Mandarin Oriental Conservatorium Amsterdam, a new design detail quietly captures the essence of the city. The hotel has unveiled its signature fan, reimagined by Studio Drift, transforming the iconic Mandarin Oriental symbol into something distinctly Amsterdam.
A symbol, redefined
The Signature Fan is a global emblem of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, traditionally reinterpreted for each destination. Where Vivienne Westwood once gave it a British twist, and Hans Tan translated it into ceramic in Singapore, Amsterdam finds its expression in movement.
Light, air, water
For Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta, the artists behind Studio DRIFT, known for their poetic, tech drive installations, the city’s identity lies in its ever-changing light. Warm tones dissolve into cooler hues, like sunlight shifting across the canals at dusk. It’s fluid, layered, and constantly in motion, just like Amsterdam itself.
F.l.t.r.: Laurent Kleitman (CEO Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group), Amanda Hyndman (COO Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group), Lonneke Gordijn (Founder DRIFT), Ralph Nauta (Founder DRIFT) Fotocredit: Damon Rigter
More than design
Set within the historic Conservatorium building, originally designed by Dutch architect Daniel Knuttel, the fan reflects a deeper philosophy: where heritage meets innovation, and contrasts exist in balance. Its seven segments subtly anchor it in the city’s DNA, echoing canals, bridges, and history.
But more than anything, this is a piece about connection. Water, light and air flow through the design as symbols of movement and encounter, mirroring Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s vision of bringing people, cultures and experiences together.
Because in Amsterdam, beauty is never static, it’s always becoming. Wouldn’t you agree?
The evening unfolded with refined bites by Ottolenghi and Taiko Amsterdam, a final note that echoed the hotel’s new rhythm: layered, considered, and unmistakably of the moment.