Ascott Orchard is a premium serviced residence tower in the heart of Orchard Road, the fashionable retail hub of Singapore. The client enlisted the services of CL3 on the basis of the company’s experience in designing highend, compact residential units in Asia. The design aims to maximise compact spaces, be stylish and timeless, as well as fit within a limited budget.
DESIGN CONCEPT
The fashion concept, taken from the location, is woven into the design elements throughout the property. It elaborates the fine detail and tailoring of fashion to create a distinctive hotel interior that incorporates fashion photography, mannequins and retail display. Using a simple material palette of soft grey tones with some high contrast elements, the design is monochromatic and sophisticated.
The fashion essentials of texture, elegant folds, layering and flowing fabrics have been combined with details of bespoke stitching and leather wrapped panels on furniture elements. Pierre Frey fabrics have been used in most areas but the simplicity of the spaces, emphasis on the external views and quality of light, together with the elegant furniture and finishes, create relaxing and comfortable areas and apartments.
LAYOUT
The residence offers 220 studios and apartments over 20 floors, with a varied mix of studios, one-two- and three-bedroom apartments, from 30 to 80 square metres. The lobby and reception lounge are on the first and second floors, while a gym and residents’ lounge are on the fourth floor overlooking the pool deck and landscaped garden. Natural light and views of the landscape and sky are maximised, yet easy access from the pool terrace into the adjacent shopping mall gives residents direct connection to the buzz of the city.
The entrance area on the first floor boasts a 10-metre ceiling with an open void allowing the space to flow into the reception lounge on the second floor, also with a 5-metre ceiling height. The entrance is emphasised by the 10-metre high feature carved stone wall, emulating a draped fabric, and is contrasted by the curved metal sculptural bench, which also complements the wall panels with dark finish at the entrance doors.
The reception lounge is an open area anchored by a large dark slatted screen and dramatic art wall mural. The photographic artworks throughout the hotel reflect the heart of fashion and showcase the flowing or folding elegance of fabrics, implemented in large murals at all levels, rooms, corridors and public spaces. Artwork accessories also incorporate stylish fashion items and mannequins, tailored in branded fabrics.
The double-storey gym on the fourth floor allows for workouts in both the open-air and airconditioned areas, incorporating a fully glazed view of the pool and deck. The first bay of the gym is a covered open space with equipment stations. The gym area design includes simple black framing and photographic artworks established in the lower floors and uses extensive mirrors to visually extend the space and bring the landscaped deck into the interior.
Also on the fourth floor is a small guest lounge that provides a kitchen and dining area, together with a casual seating area and television wall. Guests can use the lounge for general entertaining or private functions, and it offers the ambience of a private apartment lounge and dining zone rather than a public area.
The apartments are designed using the fashion concept, similar to the public areas and incorporate fabrics along with fabric wrapped and stitched furniture. They are designed to maximise the space and natural light, easily flowing from one living space to another. The apartments feature open, fully fitted kitchens and dining table. The material palette is light in colour tone, with high contrast provided by some dark fabrics, laminates, timbers, frames and furniture. Mannequins are used as artwork features, often combined with mirror panels to allow for a rear view, along with the photographic murals being installed as bed headboard walls with simple black frames. Bathrooms use large lightcoloured tiles for floors and walls, clear glass partitions and the mirror cabinets reflect the dark frame elements also found in some of the kitchen wall cabinets, mirror and artwork frames.
MATERIALS
Natural and local materials were used as much as possible, with most furniture and finishes made and sourced within Asia. Some fabrics were from Europe and were considered as branded items.
Budget considerations were paramount with materials selected and adjusted in close coordination with the client and quantity surveyor and localised as far as possible, without destroying the client’s vision. Tiles were used for the bathrooms rather than stone, and there were extensive negotiations with suppliers over prices.
PROJECT DATA
Project Name: Ascott Orchard
Location: 11 Cairnhill Road, Singapore
Completion Date: 10 October 2016
Site Area: 10,623.90 square metres
Gross Floor Area: 4,261.80 square metres
Building Height: 20 storeys (hotel block)
Number of Units: 220
Clients/Owners/Developers: CH Residential Pte Ltd; CH Commercial Pte Ltd
Architecture Firm: RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd
Principal Architect: Lee Kut Cheung
Interior Design Firm: CL3 Architects Ltd
Principal Designer: William Lim
Artworks Consultant: The Light Particles
Signage Consultant: Asylum Creative Pte Ltd
Civil & Structural Engineer: AECOM Singapore Pte Ltd
Mechanical & Electrical Engineer: Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (S.E.Asia) Pte Ltd
Quantity Surveyor: Arcadis Singapore Pte Ltd
Lighting Consultant: WSP Consultancy Pte Ltd
Landscape Architect: COEN Design International Pte Ltd
Green Building Consultants: RSP Architects Planners & Engineers Pte Ltd; Beca Carter
Acoustic Consultant: Acviron Acoustics Consultants Pte Ltd
Main Contractor: Woh Hup (Private) Limited
Interior Fit-Out Contractor: Woh Hup (Private) Limited
Images: Nirut Benjabanpot, CL3 Architects Ltd
