It’s been a long time in the works, but the Andaz group has finally landed in South East Asia. The location, in Singapore’s historic Bugis, cleaves close to the brand’s MO of opening in a buzzy, culturally-rich quarter. Visually, the decision pays off handsomely with remarkable views of the colourful rooftops of the area’s fin-de-siècle shophouses, a dollhouse silhouette that’s made all the more stark against the looming skyscrapers.
Occupying the top 15 floors of Duo, a massive mixed-use development that its architects Buro Ole Scheeren have conceived as a honey-combed curvilinear twin-tower, the interiors of the 342-room hotel are the work of André Fu.
Here, the Hong Kong-based designer cannily references the area’s spice trade, cultural and architectural heritage without slipping into obvious clichés. And so, the colour palette echoes the shades of spices, narrow corridors – a by-product of the building’s polygonal cross-section – are quietly refashioned as alleys, elevator signals bear the palimpsest of ancient streetlamps, and old letterboxes are reimagined as room-number plates, whilst a towering installation of stylised Singaporean landmarks by André Mendes rears up through the central atrium.
The diversions are modestly restricted to an outdoor lap-pool that overlooks IM Pei’s grand Gateway towers, the goal being to nudge guests into the local neighbourhood for spa and fitness options. Gourmands, though, will thrill to ten food and beverage outlets, of which the rooftop Mr Stock bar and lounge, on the 39th floor, offers thrilling wraparound views of the island.
ADDRESS
5 Fraser Street
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Welcome to Polymath Park, where you can spend the night in a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpieceA pair of determined Wright devotees have turned four endangered modernist houses into an overnight design retreat
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These are the jewellery pieces which have defined a generationFrom established jewellery houses, to up-and coming designers and avant-garde artists, a new book by Phaidon spotlights the stand-out jewellery from the last two centuries
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Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekThe clocks have gone back in the UK and evenings are officially cloaked in darkness. Cue nights spent tucked away in London’s cosy corners – this week, the Wallpaper* team opted for a Latin-inspired listening bar, an underground arts space, and a brand new hotel in Shoreditch
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The city skyline isn’t the limit for the newly opened Capella TaipeiDesigned by André Fu, Capella Taipei is a long-overdue and much-needed addition to the Taiwanese capital’s limited luxury hotel scene
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Wallpaper* checks in at Waldorf Astoria Osaka‘It’s rare to work on a brand new hotel of this scale in Japan in today’s landscape,’ says designer Andre Fu about Osaka’s newest luxury hotel. Wallpaper* paid it an early visit
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Wallpaper* checks in at The Standard Singapore for a quirky tropical city breakDisarming and energising in equal measure, The Standard Singapore is a lush addition to the brand’s growing Asia-Pacific portfolio
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Singapore bar and lounge Baia revives the opulence of Ancient RomeDaven Wu samples Baia’s bacchanalian cocktails and louche slouching spots that are drawing the crowds in Singapore
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Wallpaper* checks in at QT Singapore, a plush hotel amidst wondrous skyscrapersSet within an elegant neo-classical building, QT Singapore blends playful design and modern luxury in the heart of the city’s Business District
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Odem, Singapore’s first craft Makgeolli bar has arrivedAn extensive collection of Makgeolli, also known as Korean rice wine, can be enjoyed at this new bijou bar and restaurant in Singapore
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Inside Na Oh, Hyundai and Corey Lee’s experimental Korean restaurant in SingaporeAcclaimed San Franciscan chef Corey Lee is the driving force behind Na Oh, a new Korean restaurant at the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore
