Singapore was the muse for HBA's facelift of iconic Singapore Marriott Hotel on Orchard Road.
Singapore herself was the muse for global hospitality interior design leader HBA’s restyling of the iconic Singapore Marriott Hotel in Orchard Road.
“A city as lively and diverse as Singapore provided inspiration left, right and centre,” said HBA Principal, Connie Puar. The new look required an ‘east-meets-west’ blend introducing modern interiors to existing Chinese architectural influences, including a pagoda rooftop and an abundance of Chinese motifs. HBA’s brief was to refurbish the lobby, sidewalk Crossroad Café, re-design all-day venue Marriott Café and create a new F&B venue named Java+ and restyle guestrooms and suites, while adding studio accommodation.
The existing architecture played a pivotal role, with eight sides quite obviously lending themselves to the idea of a Chinese pagoda rooftop. Subtle Chinese detailing also extended throughout the property, from a lobby feature wall to guestroom air grilles in traditional Chinese patterns. As a result, HBA “wanted to showcase Singapore’s Chinese roots without slapping the guests in the face with it,” said Ms Puar.
Marriott Café underwent the largest change, introducing a central kitchen showcasing the hub of the art of cooking. From the kitchen to a beam and plank ceiling, it was restyled around the idea of a Singapore shop house. With white-washed surfaces and rich rosewood bringing both playful and serious tones, the result is a refreshed crisp and cool signature restaurant.
New addition Java+ was carved out of Marriott Café and given its own identity. A new trellis pulls the outlet out from under the shadow of the lobby and makes it feel like its own space. The highlight of the restaurant is an oval bar which serves both the lobby and Java+. In the morning it is the perfect place for an express breakfast, while at night it transforms into a tapas bar, and the perfect place to people watch with a glass of wine.
For the lobby, HBA adapted Marriott’s staple red as a backdrop. Warm wood panels stayed on the walls, but accents of dark wood and light slots were added around the portals to both connect with second and third floor function spaces as well as give the eye a break when panning up the three-story facade. On entering, the first thing that catches the eye is a new over-scaled metal lattice screen behind the reception which transforms the entire space. Along with the lobby soft refurbishment, the hotel entrance had a facelift with a new ceiling design, sweeping guests from hot and sticky Singapore into a refreshing water-lined entranceway.
Marriott’s sidewalk café Crossroads was made more inviting by cladding the ceiling in warm wood planks, with feature lighting over a brand new marble bar giving the outlet a more comfortable, homey feel.
New-look guestrooms – now equipped with state of the art TVs, outlets and amenities – host an array of neutral tones with “just a pop of navy to lend a dapper air.” The rooms are fairly small, but the new design utilises the space much better, transformed into the epitome of convenient and functional. Bathrooms feel far more luxurious, highlighting differences in texture between two very similarly toned marbles.
“Being smack dab in the middle of Orchard Road makes this a prime hotel for tourists and both foreign and domestic business people. It’s close to everything. We really strove to take into account local and international tastes while designing a hotel that was fit to sit as Orchard Road’s crown jewel,” added Ms Puar. The facelift, working closely with lighting specialists to ensure spaces were properly accented with light, “also showcases our ability to work within challenging existing site constraints.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
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