Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s A Set of Six book, the F&B lounge aims to capture the writer’s sailing days alongside Captain Craig—the same captain who gave the name to the street where the lounge is located. Playful decorations, antiques, plantation shutters and bespoke furniture attempt to convey the 1880s colonial-era aesthetics. Spice jars and an apothecary cabinet dominate the front room that disguises the lounge entrance.
Behind the door, a private room offers cocktails and champagne. Circular mirrors hint at porthole windows, detailing the woodwork. The curved bar is a nod to the interior architecture of a vessel. Three-tiered shelves near the ceiling call to mind the hull laden with valuable cargo of spice and gunpowder. At the centre of the lounge is an antique map of IndoChina, reproduced from the 17th century original by Jean-Baptiste Bourguignon d’Anville. Meanwhile, juxtaposed feature mirrors create a play of reflections whilst the infinity ceiling mirrors add to the mysterious ambience.
The project’s strong emphasis also lies in its customer-centric experiential design. It tells a story, conjuring up tastes and smells, light and darkness, and a whole spectrum of emotions. Each short story comes alive with the chef and mixologist’s dishes and cocktails, which allude to various places and episodes in Conrad’s book. It is an escape that connects with the users’ senses.
Taking over an existing F&B outlet, the designers reused all the existing kitchen equipment, air-conditioning system and critical sanitaryware pieces. The current bar was salvaged and repurposed to create the three-tier shelves, which became one of the signature elements of the design. This was then equipped with energy-efficient LED light fixtures.
Overall, the concept fuses Singapore’s cultural heritage and historical references to the world’s renowned literature work. All the elements were derived from the book’s storyline of an adventure at sea, from the décor and lighting to branding and menu.
PROJECT DATA
Project Name
Set of Six
Location
20 Craig Road #01-01, Singapore
Completion Date
December 2020
Founder/Investor
Asifur Chowdhury
Gross Floor Area
180 square metres
Interior Design Firm
HOT DESIGN FOLKS
Principal Designers
Evgeniya Lazareva
Interior Fit-Out Contractor
KWYM Interior Designs
Images
Marcus Lim
