PRESIDENTIAL SUITE
Intercontinental Singapore
For Presidents: Old World Charm at Intercontinental Singapore’s Presidential Suite
Words by Ethan L of ARCHITALITY
Visuals by Klaus T of CHUTTERSNAP
The Intercontinental Singapore is unique heritage property with a seamless mixture of Straits Chinese and European elements all blended into one. And you’ll feel this while checking in at its quaint lobby - a distinctly vintage flair is in the air. Cream-coloured walls, black and white-patterned tiles and floral motifs embossed in its wooden furnishings. The hotel sits within the storied district of Bugis, which was filled with merchants, seamen and more. Now surrounded by conserved shophouses, this area is a quirky blend of old and new.
The double-doored Presidential Suite is certainly designed to impress. On entry, you’re greeted by the generously sized entrance lobby clad with cream-coloured and duck-egg blue French wall panels.
The double-volumed salon has plush classic sofas topped with light blue pillows, surrounding a circular black marble table. Square side tables have nostalgic 1920s ‘Shanghaitang’ Chinese porcelain lamps, with landscape paintings on their delicate oval-shaped bodies. One detail that permeates the Suite is its oversized bay windows allowing ample sunlight in. Meant to resemble the traditional facade of shophouses, these stately windows are dressed up with double-layered cornices and duck egg-blue drapes.
Walls are covered with French-inspired panelings, in soothing shades of white and beige with gold trimmings on the edges. The light brown carpets are painstakingly embossed with Peranakan floral motifs, adding a sense of rare localised regality. The grand crystal chandelier hanging overhead is charming - it must’ve enchanted countless celebrities who have graced the suite too.
Making a left to the suite’s throne, the four-poster bed is neatly dressed in white, with its striped sheets and pillows fluffed to attention. Flanked by coquette-looking porcelain table lamps with floral patterns, the white and beige French wall panels stand out - adorned with interlocking patterns. A side armchair lazes in the corner, accompanied by a set of printed botanical butterfly drawings on the walls. Facing the windows is a palanquin-esque cabinet that contains a retractable television that can be hidden when not in use, topped with pink marble - sheer genius. Gold hand-painted reliefs depicting ancient Chinese court life during the Ming Dynasty starkly contrast against the polished black varnish. Oriental, yet with European flair - this makes the design uniquely steeped in local heritage.
The bathroom retains its black and white marble tiles, complementing the recent fittings added during the hotel’s extensive 2016 refurbishment. Refreshed by FBEYE Studios’ take on 21st-century Peranakan design, the theme seems to be bright and light. Sidelights at both His & Hers sinks, French-panelled walls with blue and beige hues. Complete with a private Finnish sauna and a built-in soaking tub, it feels modern yet very much rooted in a vintage manner. The Suite also overflows with Byredo: Bal d’Afrique in bottles and bars, solids and liquids, body wash and body balms. Living like a president means being cloaked in bergamot, lemon, neroli and cyclamen.
The large salon is connected to an equally sumptuous dining room by a narrow corridor, which doubles as a study. The study has a furnished wall housing a shelf of Peranakan antiques, from fine hand-painted chinaware to stone figures - just like a lived-in Nyonya household in Joo Chiat. Regal bay window seats with golden-brown upholstery line the corridor, creating an ideal nook for reading and lounging.
The dining room is stunning in size, with a long conference table worthy of hosting stately meetings and diplomats. Of course, complete with a rectangular chandelier and a fully equipped kitchen behind. This Suite is all a president needs.
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Interiors: FBEYE Studios
Exteriors: DP Architects
Amenities: Byredo’s Bal D’ Afrique
Fittings: Mariani