M Social Singapore Hotel opened in the city’s riverside neighborhood of Robertson Quay. The 293-room hotel is part of an integrated development project that also includes a luxury apartment project, UP@Robertson Quay.
French designer Philippe Starck designed the property, whichgt is characterized by the use of raw concrete balanced with the concept of immateriality with the use of multimedia projections and video screens.
In the driveway, guests are greeted by steel sculptures of two peanuts, as well as a cube, all finished with a bronze, rust-like patina. The latter doubles up as additional luggage storage area. At the reception area, there is a 10-meter-long high table flanked with three display cabinets designed by Starck. Underneath is an alabaster floor lit from the inside to recall the effect of marble. The lobby also has the country’s first self-check-in kiosks. The area may also be used as a mini business center.
There are four different guestroom configurations. The Nicer Room has a private outdoor terrace, while the duplex-style Bigger Room has full-height bay windows, a designated workspace and a relaxation area.
A second public area is the restaurant and bar, Beast & Butterflies, housed in a separate wing of the hotel. Here, there are eight different chandeliers recessed into the ceiling. Along one wall in the restaurant, 40 tablets are mounted and run its length, projecting contemporary artworks.
Starck-designed furnishings include tan-colored leather armchairs, retro-style checked sofas made by weaving leather together and clusters of lava lamps on tables. There are also communal tables made using the same inside-lit alabaster as the flooring in the reception area, as well as an open kitchen, two 13.5-meter counter tops overlooking the bar, and a total of 28 television screens. Above, LED lights incorporated with motion detection technology get activated when there is a flow of human traffic.
Beast & Butterflies also has black columns that were painted with murals by Spanish artist Luis Urculo, who also customized pieces in a similar style to line the walls of the lift shaft.
Another amenity is the open-air deck, where there is a 31-meter-long lap pool tiled with blue mosaic and which stretches out towards the Singapore River. There are also woven grey lampshades hanging on the green wall, each placed beside a wooden outdoor lounger.
