Inside the design of Pullman Orchard, Singapore
The recent opening of Pullman Orchard, Singapore – an Accor hotel – sees the designs of EDG Design coming to life in a fashion-inspired Singapore hotel. Here, the studio shares insight into the design story crafted throughout the property.
An ambitious undertaking from day one, the entire project – from initial concept through to construction and opening – took less than 18 months. Drawing inspiration from Orchard Road’s iconic fashion houses, EDG’s design narrative celebrates the retail iconography that make the location’s boulevard so famous. Functional spaces within the hotel are inspired by, and even named after, rooms of a prototypical luxury fashion label, such as the Atelier Lounge and The Archive Club, with each space taking on branding and design cues from retail processes and fashion boutiques.
Conceived as a prominent retail shopfront, the entryway of the Pullman entices guests to traverse up the grand stairs into an intimate reception hall, where a curved communal table sits in the middle of the room, with self-check-in pods illuminated by rectangular light rods suspended from above.
Stadium style bleacher steps allow guests to choose from a variety of seating locations – on timber steps or inset leather banquettes, adorned with custom art and accessories, for instance. A blue and bronze metal chain curtain wraps around the periphery of the walls and ceiling, backlit with a custom lighting effect that creates a rhythmic flow across the room from day to night.
“Our aim from the beginning was to create a dynamic, lifestyle driven destination,” says Robert Shen, EDG partner and Managing Director. “In working with the Accor team and a very supportive client in Bright Ruby, we’ve been able to achieve a remarkable turnaround for this very challenging building in record time.”
The hotel’s lounge area, located on the fourth floor, is a multi-function space that houses a lounge, bar and meeting salons, while the Porter lounge combines a lounge area, casual workspace, meeting facilities, a private dining room and full-service bar. Piya Thamchariyawat, EDG principal and Senior Creative Director, explains: “We strategically placed the central bar as the nucleus on the 4th floor, which serves the Atelier Lounge and meeting rooms, the three-meal restaurant and the pool deck from one point of control, maximising operational efficiency for the hotel.”
The Pullman’s all-day restaurant, Eden, is located within a new glasshouse structure specifically designed to house the restaurant and overlooking Orchard Road below. Inspired by classical European winter gardens, the restaurant is filled with natural light and lush greenery throughout. A long buffet line and vertical chillers maximise space, while localised black and white tile flooring and curved metal screens are married with wood-framed chalkboard panels and hand-drawn textile motifs. The pool deck sits adjacent to the restaurant’s outdoor patio, conceived as an urban beach club with private cabanas and call buttons that encourage guests to “Press for Champagne”.
The hotel’s new Club Rooms – transformed from what was formerly the café and bar in the old hotel – are designed to be an upscale residential setting in a split-level layout. An open wardrobe and airy bathroom are framed with ribbed glass blocks to allow natural light to penetrate into the vanity from the room’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The room’s fixtures, like its inset sofa and coffee/work table were all custom-designed by EDG’s team, mimicking the retail displays seen in Orchard’s shops.
Finally, the Archive Club is the hotel’s executive lounge, with red lacquer bookshelves adorned with curated objets d’art alongside plush seating and an open pantry for guests.
