182 Clemenceau

182 Clemenceau is a 172-room hotel located in Singapore. The client approached us with the intent of redeveloping an office building into a design-centric hotel. Our response is reflected in the carefully crafted interiors that draw reference from the site’s history and heritage whilst preserving the existing building structure. 

Located on a site that has undergone several reedifications, the inspiration behind the project’s interiors stems from the site’s history. The site was first used as the terminus along the Singapore-Kranji Railway and subsequently, a local cable-transmitted radio station, Rediffusion. Prior to its latest change of use, the radio station was torn down and replaced by a generic office tower. 

Upon entering the hotel lobby, guests are greeted by a curved wall to ceiling timber feature reminiscent of 20th century train stations, a nod to the building’s original purpose. Arrival to the lobby is defined by the experience of arriving at a casual social lounge, almost akin to entering one’s living room. Rather than framing the check-in counter as the key feature of the lobby, it was instead tucked to the side to relinquish the formality typically found in hotels.  

Throughout, the project attempts to strategically reference different periods and a variety of design languages within a confined space. Rather than designing standard lobbies on every floor, they were finished with a colour that hinted at the design of the rooms nestled within. 

Upstairs, the rooms draw references from Rediffusion radio station’s glory years in the 60s and 70s. In contrast to the refined walnut and brass palette used in the lobby, these spaces feature striking pops of colour and contrasting material. The 1960s themed rooms capture the era’s conservative yet lively mood. Rooms are decked in cornflower yellow and accented with white, presenting a bold yet unique vibe. On the upper storeys, rooms evoke a more refined vibe reminiscent of the 1970s, along with pops of orange and avocado green to add a playful accent.Each space was carefully curated down to the soft finishes to ensure that each room would project a strong identity and provide guests with a memorable stay. Though the rooms are relatively compact, no expense was spared to ensure that every corner was well designed yet functional. Every detail is intentional: for instance, the room's built-in bench edging was inspired by the iconic façade of the now defunct National Theatre which used to be located just down the road.  

For the rooftop, the intention was to introduce a tropical respite in the heart of the city. Visitors arrive to a walkway flanked by tall palms, while the strip of yellow tiles draws one’s eyes to the pool and framed view of the cityscape beyond. The intentional use of colour-blocking and curved furniture draws nuanced references to the 80s.