The iconic nightclub is back — and more iconic than ever.
When Pirajean Lees set out to redesign Dragon-i — Hong Kong’s legendary nightclub that’s hosted everyone from Pharrell to Chaka Khan — they didn’t just give it a facelift. They gave it a new story. It takes on a dual concept, a high-voltage nightclub and an intimate members club, both pulsing with the city’s after-dark soul.
The London-based studio, helmed by Clémence Pirajean and James Lees, approached the project like filmmakers. Known for their narrative-led design — where spaces are crafted as unfolding stories — they drew on the neon-lit lyricism of Wong Kar-wai’s Hong Kong. Think cinematic framings, seductive nostalgia, and just the right dose of unruly energy.
Stepping into the nightclub feels like entering a visual crescendo. The main bar glows with glass bricks that refract the light like shards of a disco ball, while mirrored ceilings and AV installations ripple overhead, responding to every beat from the central DJ console. Silver leather banquettes wrap around the dance floor, reflecting colored lights in motion — equal parts theatre and dream sequence.
The palette is tactile and emotional: timber and glass, shimmer and shadow. Every texture invites touch, from the bespoke fabrics to the perforated metals that nod to Hong Kong’s industrial-glam heritage. Even the lighting feels alive, layering rhythm, warmth, and spectacle into the air.
Next door, the new members club trades adrenaline for intimacy — though it’s no less cinematic. At its heart is a listening bar lined with the owner Gilbert Yeung’s personal vinyl collection. Turquoise velvet wraps the shelves and banquettes, while mirrored tables and honey-toned timber bring warmth to the cool hues.
The space feels like a reverie between eras. Stained glass, plush carpeting, and vintage touches conjure a retro-futurist mood — a little ‘80s excess, a hint of Wong Kar-Wai melancholy. It’s design as storytelling, unfolding across every surface.
Outdoor terraces, games rooms, and karaoke corners wink at the city’s nightlife traditions, yet nothing here feels derivative. Instead, Pirajean Lees captures Dragon-i’s original magic — that mix of freedom, cultural crossover, and mischief — and reimagines it for a post-2025 Hong Kong.
“Dragon-i is more than a nightclub or a members club; it’s a cinematic experience, a stage, and a story,” say Pirajean and Lees. And that’s precisely how it feels: Hong Kong’s nightlife stepping back into the spotlight, ready for its next act.
Photo courtesy of Edmon Leong
