Raffles Hotel Singapore to Embark on Restoration Program
The renovation process of the iconic 19th century hotel will begin in January 2017 and be conducted over three phases.
by Laura Calugar
Raffles Hotel Singapore facade
Singapore—Raffles Hotel Singapore, part of Raffles Hotels and Resorts, has recently announced that it will undergo a complete restoration that will take place in three phases. The renovation project will be led by Aedas Singapore, a global architecture and design firm who was behind the restoration process of the London Coliseum and the Mallory Street/Burrows Street in Wan Chai, Hong Kong. The interiors of the project will be handled by designer Alexandra Champalimaud, who has previously done work for New York’s The Plaza Hotel and Waldorf Astoria, Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, and the Dorchester in London.
The luxury 103-suite hotel is owned by Katara Hospitality, a globally recognized hospitality owner, developer and operator. The last restoration cost $160 million and was conducted from 1989 to 1991.
Raffles Hotel Singapore courtyard
The first phase of this restoration program will begin in January 2017, with renovations planned for the Raffles Hotel Arcade. This part of the hotel offers visitors access to 40 regional and specialty shops, indoor and outdoor function areas, restaurants and bars. Phase Two will begin at the middle of 2017, when restoration efforts will commence on the main hotel building and lobby, as well as a portion of the hotel suites. Following that, Raffles Hotel Singapore will close for the final phase near the end of 2017, before a grand reopening in the second quarter of 2018.
“By introducing new experiences for our guests while respecting the history and heritage of the hotel, we want to ensure that this hotel continues to remain at the epicenter of Singapore’s social and cultural scene,” Simon Hirst, general manager of Raffles Hotel Singapore, said in a prepared statement.
Declared a National Monument by the Singapore Government in 1987, Raffles Hotel Singapore opened in 1887 and it’s now one of the few remaining great 19th century hotels in the world.
Images courtesy of Raffles Hotel Singapore
You must be logged in to post a comment.