With interiors by prolific local studio Ministry of Design, The Standard, Singapore brings local flavour and nostalgic touches to the celebrated brand’s first property in the Lion City
It’s been over 25 years since the original The Standard opened, a game-changing hotel that came to define the zeitgeist. The renovated motel on Sunset Boulevard developed a reputation for being a bit tongue in cheek, a bit risqué — and not by accident. Founder André Balazs cut his teeth in the world of nightclubs and entertainment, so it’s not surprising that the original Standard became known as the place to party for celebrities and A-listers in the early 2000s. While the West Hollywood hot spot may have closed its doors in 2021, the brand has seen a wave of expansion across the Asia Pacific region, most recently with the opening of
The Standard, Singapore.
Similarities between the small island nation and Hollywood are few, so the key for local studio
Ministry of Design (MOD) and the group’s own in-house design team was bringing some local flavour to the well-loved brand. ‘We wanted to make sure that the Singaporean property would capture some of that original Hollywood spirit,’ explains MOD founder and design director Colin Seah. ‘But we knew that we needed to stamp a more local, uniquely Singaporean vibe on it, which is why you see a lot of tropicality, even in smaller, more concentrated touched like the terrarium, an ode to The Box at the original Hollywood Standard.’
Seah is referring to the lobby’s check-in counter, which is actually a glass-encased installation created by artist
Eric Tobua. ‘If you look at the terrarium from a distance, it just looks like an innocent depiction of Singapore. If you look at it up close, there are half-naked mermaids and psychedelic mushrooms — it's very playful,’ Seah points out. Touches of tropicality continue the second floor at the hotel’s all-day-dining spot Kaya, which features custom wall panelling by designer
Saran Yen Panya, where larger-than-life cocktails co-mingle with embroidered depictions of local flora and fauna. Greenery and flora continue beyond, as the restaurant opens out to an extensive al fresco space that blends seamlessly into the pool area and swim-up bar.
