LIVING IN THE RITZ
THIS APARTMENT DESIGNED BY EDMUND NG MELDS LUXURIOUS REFINEMENT WITH A CONTEMPORARY EDGE
How does a designer stay true to the essence of the Ritz- Carlton brand, while injecting an interior with a contemporary edge? In the redesign of this apartment at Ritz- Carlton Residences, Edmund Ng Architects’ creative interpretation offers plenty to please the eye. “The apartment has to express the grandeur synonymous with the Ritz- Carlton brand, but the owners also wanted a wow factor,” says Edmund Ng, founder of the eponymous firm, which is also known as Metropolitan Office Experimental. In response, the award-winning practice has refurbished the apartment with a blend of classical and contemporary elements to create a relaxed yet sophisticated home.
SETTING THE SCENE
At an impressive 6,000sqft, the apartment’s unusually large floor area was the outcome of combining two apartments—a context which presented Ng a set of unique challenges and opportunities. “I needed to reconfigure the space to work as a whole, instead of two separate apartments with ‘duplicated’ facilities—from dual master bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens to even powder rooms,” shares Ng.
“THE APARTMENT HAS TO EXPRESS THE GRANDEUR SYNONYMOUS WITH THE RITZ-CARLTON BRAND”
One kitchen was turned into a supporting pantry for a theatre room. A powder room is ingeniously used as a wine bar, while two bedrooms were combined to form a large master bedroom. “I didn’t feel like I was working on an apartment, but a bungalow unit,” admits Ng. “This apartment offers a luxury of space that can rival a piece of landed property.”
GRAND GESTURES
No space exemplifies the apartment’s unique appeal like the living room. “We designed the living room almost like a hotel lobby lounge, with pockets of different spaces for people to move around,” Ng reveals. At about 12m in length, the living room makes a striking welcome. Its minimal palette, dark-trimmed furnishings and elegant panelling set the tone for the entire apartment. Contrasting textures are added in flourishes, through the introduction of patterned rugs and artworks. Visitors to the living room are greeted by two distinct sections—a sofa area and an area anchored by a grand piano framed by a hanging chandelier. Completing the space is a geometric sculpture relief which adds a sense of dynamism to the living room.
CURATED CONNECTIONS
These well-considered details continue to create a smooth journey throughout the different spaces. Head to the dining room, where the seamless connection between the indoor dining space and outdoor deck evoke an elegant yet unfussy ambience. A wooden screen shades the dining area from the surrounding buildings when needed. “By linking the indoor and outdoor spaces, the feeling of spaciousness feeds into the abode’s grand design,” says Ng. The bedrooms are replete with curated decorative pieces, from gilded frames and Expressionist-style rugs to whitewashed colonial art pieces that add interest against the more classical furniture. Case-in-point: the master bedroom pairs its cool blue palette with a checkered pattern on the armchair, and a playful rug with a paintsplatter motif. Ultimately, this apartment exemplifies a cosmopolitan vibe—from its generous spaces to the relaxed luxury of living in a Ritz- Carlton branded suite.