Global chain Langham Hotels International will build a luxury hotel with a design theme near Hongik University in collaboration with Germany's Red Dot design institute, which hands out the prestigious design award.

The Hong Kong-based operator in a press release Thursday said it plans to build the first-class tourist hotel in the Donggyo area of Mapo. With six stories below and 21 above ground, the hotel will have 350 rooms and will cost about W180 billion (US$1=W1,164) to build.

The group has bought 90 percent of the land, and will start construction this year once it gets the building permit. The hotel is to open in 2015.