With interiors by prolific local studio Ministry of Design, The Standard, Singapore brings local flavour and nostalgic touches to the celebrated brand’s first property in the Lion City
It’s been over 25 years since the original The Standard opened, a game-changing hotel that came to define the zeitgeist. The renovated motel on Sunset Boulevard developed a reputation for being a bit tongue in cheek, a bit risqué — and not by accident. Founder André Balazs cut his teeth in the world of nightclubs and entertainment, so it’s not surprising that the original Standard became known as the place to party for celebrities and A-listers in the early 2000s. While the West Hollywood hot spot may have closed its doors in 2021, the brand has seen a wave of expansion across the Asia Pacific region, most recently with the opening of The Standard, Singapore.
Similarities between the small island nation and Hollywood are few, so the key for local studio Ministry of Design (MOD) and the group’s own in-house design team was bringing some local flavour to the well-loved brand. ‘We wanted to make sure that the Singaporean property would capture some of that original Hollywood spirit,’ explains MOD founder and design director Colin Seah. ‘But we knew that we needed to stamp a more local, uniquely Singaporean vibe on it, which is why you see a lot of tropicality, even in smaller, more concentrated touched like the terrarium, an ode to The Box at the original Hollywood Standard.’
Seah is referring to the lobby’s check-in counter, which is actually a glass-encased installation created by artist Eric Tobua. ‘If you look at the terrarium from a distance, it just looks like an innocent depiction of Singapore. If you look at it up close, there are half-naked mermaids and psychedelic mushrooms — it's very playful,’ Seah points out. Touches of tropicality continue the second floor at the hotel’s all-day-dining spot Kaya, which features custom wall panelling by designer Saran Yen Panya, where larger-than-life cocktails co-mingle with embroidered depictions of local flora and fauna. Greenery and flora continue beyond, as the restaurant opens out to an extensive al fresco space that blends seamlessly into the pool area and swim-up bar.
Mid-century architecture and design, a large part of The Standard’s design DNA and the group's Los Angelese roots, were also an important source of inspiration for the team at MOD. This is perhaps most evident in the ground floor Café Standard, where swathes of terrazzo — a common thread throughout the hotel and the inspiration behind the somewhat abstract corridor carpets — backdrop tactile layers, new spins on modernist icons and a retro-inspired lighting installation.
The retro feel continues through each of the 143 guestrooms, where design elements have a welcoming familiarity, to a certain generation anyway. ‘You'll also notice certain common traits, like the bed canopy, which is a nod to The Standard, High Line, the first one in New York,’ Seah points out. Another nod to the High Line property are the floor-to-ceiling windows, affording panoramic views of the lush enclave within which the hotel is situated, remarkably just a few minutes’ walk from the city's shopping strip, Orchard Road. This feature comes courtesy of the new build’s architects, DP Architecture. Rising up out of the jungle with its undeniably sexy facade, we’re quite sure Balasz and his Hollywood clientele would approve.
Text by Suzy Annetta
Images by Jovian Lim
- 转自：Design Anthology
- 图片©Design Anthology
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