A suite dream come
true
Always wanted your own butler and Bentley to zip around in? The
upcoming St Regis Singapore has it all
Straits Times, The
(Singapore)
Life! - Life Design, Pg L18-L20
December 15, 2007
Author: Yeo Qianhua
THE uniforms donned by the butlers and doormen are the work of
renowned Singapore fashion designer Benny Ong, whose clientele
included the late Princess Diana.
That is just one indication of how St Regis Singapore, which opens
next Saturday in Tanglin Road, is pulling out all the stops to
ensure that it will live up to its billing as a six-star
hotel.
Owned by Richmond Hotel, a joint venture between City Developments,
Hong Leong Holdings and TID, the hotel boasts 299 rooms - all
serviced by butlers - and will mark the hotel chain's 13th in the
world and third in Asia, after Beijing and Shanghai.
And it looks set to carry on the legacy of luxurious pampering that
began in 1904 with the first St Regis in New York.
The Singapore hotel's interior architecture bears the imprint of
American firm Wilson and Associates, which also worked on The
Venetian in Las Vegas.
Ms Wong Wye Ling, the hotel's director of marketing communications,
says it is conceptually different in design from its American
counterparts.
'St Regis San Francisco is ultra modern while the one in New York
is very classic and uppity - after all, it was built in 1904.
'As for St Regis Singapore, the interior design is classic but with
modern touches as well.'
For one thing, the floors are covered with custom-made
floral-inspired carpets which add an elegant and timeless touch.
But the effect is juxtaposed with contemporary pieces such as lamps
made of air-blown glass.
Step into the hotel and you might be surprised that you are not
swallowed up by a voluminous lobby that you would expect of a
six-star establishment.
However, walk further down the corridor and this will open up to
reveal the carefully concealed vast lobby, which houses art pieces
by notable artists such as Georgette Chen and Chen Wen Hsi.
Apparently, this architecture is modelled after the famed gardens
of Suzhou, China, where visitors are able to absorb the sights of
the landscape bit by bit due to their walled structure.
In all, the hotel will have on display over 40 original paintings
and sculptures bought from auction houses. Some of the featured
artists are Gu Gan and Fernando Botero, whose signature obese
bodies dominate his art.
These artworks can be found all over the hotel, from the pool to
the ballroom to the suites.
In essence, opulence is key to the decor and no expense - the hotel
owners decline to reveal the amount - has been spared to up the wow
factor.
It has, for instance, customised three Bentleys which are painted
in the signature St Regis bronze to whisk important folks to and
from the airport.
When asked if there are plans to expand the fleet, Ms Wong says:
'It depends on the demand but because we've yet to open, there
aren't any concrete plans just yet.'
Special handcrafted crystal chandeliers that hang from the ceilings
in the lobby, in French restaurant Les Saveurs and in the John
Jacob Ballroom were also specially bought from the Czech
Republic.
The ballroom, named after the founder of St Regis New York, has a
floor space of 697sqm and can accommodate up to 1,000 guests.
The highlight, however, is its skylights that allow natural light
to stream in which, in turn, can lend a romantic glow to the
space.
Which is why Mr Franck Hardy, executive assistant manager of food
and beverage and designer of the glass plates used at Les Saveurs,
says: 'We're modern, timeless, artistic but not in-your-face. So
far, the word 'elegance' has come up a lot when people talk about
the hotel.'
Oh, if you are thinking of staying there, the rates on the hotel's
website start from $600 a night for an executive deluxe guest
room.
[email protected]
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Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited
