The doors of Capella Singapore were finally opened to its first paying clients on 30 March. This marks the beginning of what the hotel owners hope in the industry of local hospitality – a business that seamlessly and successfully combines the colonial past of Singapore with the most recent resort-type of accommodation and a modern standard of luxury.
Constructed at a value of $400 million by Pontiac Land group’s associate company and operated by West Paces Hotel Group, the Capella Singapore is launching its 111-room hotel at the time of recession, thanks to the present worldwide economic meltdown. The hotel, which is the first in the region, is built to draw advantages from the market as ultra-luxury hotel regains its lustre.
Given the hotel’s stunning 30-acre area located on the Sentosa hillside and given the fact that each hotel’s development has been disappeared, there is an uncertainty that Capella Singapore will make a sure buzz when it launches for business next month.
Architect Norman Foster led the design line-up, which certainly came so impressive. Mr. Foster’s ability of combining the traditional design to futuristic elements has brought him with global reputation, though he has not been able to create an iconic, impact-making edifice in Singapore.
The Grand Arrival of Capella Singapore, leads up a long driveway in a hill and follows the natural curves before ending in Tanah Merah, two colonial buildings built in the 19th-century that functioned as British Government halls.
Rooms inside Tanah Merah are structured on a close scale and designed in a neo-colonial style with wooden furnishing, white-stained ceiling beams, patterned rugs, and grey-veined white marble floors. A stair flight leads to a wood-panelled lounge called The Library from the reception room.
Tanah Merah is just the beginning of the Capella’s experience. This traditional colonial-era building houses a long, curvilinear roof guest rooms. The modern shape, evocative of the advanced curves set up in most of Foster’s projects, appears from above similar to a big figure eight. The continuous roof made of aluminium is completed in a dark earth tone, in conformity with Tanah Merah’s conventional roof tiles.
Guests will notice a bird’s eye view of tropical greenery, including a tree canopy that goes after the site’s contours down to the ocean, where ships are anchored in the distance. Expert designers were hired to design individual areas: Andre Fu for Cassia Chinese restaurant, Koichi Yasuhiro for The Knolls restaurant, and Jaya Ibrahim for the guestrooms.
A swimming pool and 38 garden country houses are scattered over the inclined area, together with 82 duplexes and suites for long-term visitors to enjoy the hotel services.
Michael Luible, the general manager of Capella Singapore said, “Among affluent travellers who have houses and yachts around the world, the problem is who looks after them?“ He also added, “We take all these problems away and market the homes under the Capella umbrella”.
“It’s all about privacy and space and creating a certain word of mouth. We are offering a resort lifestyle and hopefully, we will deliver a ‘wow’ experience,” Mr Luible said.