IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
These Design Hotels properties in Asia feature stunning design and create a unique sense of place
CAP KAROSO
Just a cheeky 30-minute flight from Bali, Sumba is Indonesia’s (sort of ) secret paradise. The largely undeveloped island boasts rugged coastlines, white sand beaches, wild horses and, as of last year, Cap Karoso. Heading the design was GFAB Architects, who incorporated plenty of local influences like Indonesian art, handmade teaware and hand-carved wooden furniture. The resort has 47 rooms and 20 villas, plus an organic farm that also serves as a farming school. Its founders, Fabrice and Evguenia Ivara, are determined to make a difference: consulting Sumba’s indigenous community, they’ve committed to initiatives including hiring 80 per cent of the staff locally and using 50 per cent solar power for energy.
K5 TOKYO
With just 20 guest rooms, a booking at K5 in Tokyo is a coveted one. It’s housed in a former 1920s bank, and Stockholm-based architects Claesson Koivisto Rune made the most of the building’s original charm: from dramatic, draping textiles that hang from the tall ceilings to original raw concrete flooring. The interior design has a strong mid-century modern influence, with warm tonal woods and bold, sculptural decor featuring furniture custom built by local craftsmen. Every corner of K5 encourages the enjoyment of the simple pleasures in all things analogue—from the record player and vinyl collection in every suite to the broody Ao, K5’s lair-like bar soaked in red decor and lined floorto-ceiling with the hotel’s private book collection.
21 CARPENTE
Designed by local architecture irm Woha, this newly opened Singapore hotel features a modern, brutalist extension to the historic remittance house (a sort of bank where migrants sent money to family back home) Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee, which straddles Chinatown and lively Clarke Quay. The guest rooms feature restored details from the original building, including Chengal wood flooring, the building’s Shanghai plaster façade and ribbed glass. Throughout the hotel, minimalistic designs and large windows form bright, inviting spaces. Woha’s cofounding director Richard Hassell created calligraphy-style artworks for the hotel, inspired by the irst-generation Singaporean immigrants for whom this building held great signi icance.
INNIT LOMBOK
Located on the private island of Ekas Bay, Innit Lombok sits on a 250-metre stretch of private beach, with seven beach houses, 26 ocean-view villas and 27 hilltop residences. The earthy, minimalist design by architects Andra Martin and Gregorius Supie Yolodi allows the hotel’s lush surroundings to do the talking. Guests can enjoy farm-to-table dining, some of the world’s best surf, and movies under the stars at the outdoor cinema.
GENJI KYOTO
This charming 19-room boutique hotel in Kyoto is inspired by the Japanese literary masterpiece The Tale of Genji. Tributes to the 1,000-year-old tale can be found in the Ukifune Zen garden in the lobby courtyard, the classical painting and ceramic sculpture on its veranda,
and artwork in each room by young Kyoto artists, which feature motifs from the novel. The hotel’s design honours teioku ichinyo, the idea that garden and architecture have become one; serene green spaces are found throughout the property, including a roof garden and bar with panoramic views.