WELCOME BACK TO THE DUXTON RESERVE
Singapore’s finest heritage boutique hotel, sustainably restored by international designer Anouska Hempel, reopens its doors
Society fixture Anouska Hempel needs no introduction to fans of 1960s and 1970s cult cinema, having starred in the likes of Hammer’s The Kiss of the Vampire, On Her Majesty's Secret Service and The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins. But Hempel’s life had a second act too, and it’s as an hotelier and interior designer that she’s more famed for these days, ranked as one of the top 100 interior designers and architects in the world by Architectural Digest.
Noted for its daring, stunning and dramatic creations her eponymous Anouska Hempel Design studio works across continents, reflecting her passion for travel. Her latest projects, like something from a romantic drama (or indeed a James Bond thriller) include two English private estates, a private estate in Istanbul, Le Castille hotel in Paris, the Hotel d’Inghilterra in Rome, and the Grosvenor House Suites on Park Lane. It’s quite a journey from her first hotel, Blake’s, established in 1978 in South Kensington, as one of the first luxury boutique hotels in the world.
In the latest development for the company, The Duxton Reserve reopens its doors from December 11th in the heart of Singapore. Big golden fans greet visitors as they enter into the heritage boutique hotel which represents a blend of Oriental spirit and Hempel’s own elegant signature style; a mix of black, gold and yellow hues, plus wallpaper from her own collection. Elsewhere guests will discover calligraphy brushes, bamboo screens and indenture wallpaper from Anouska’s personal collection, alongside black and gold sofas and black lacquer tables. Situated in Tanjong Pagar, it’s the perfect location for this East meets West affair; Tanjong Pagar is located in Singapore’s Chinatown where business and nightlife rub shoulders.
Each of the 49 guestrooms and suites has a unique individuality, with names such as such as Nutmeg, Shophouse, Opium and Kimono, while the Opium Rooms and Suites feature jet black walls and four-poster Chinese platform beds. Conversely, the Pearl Suites have gleaming white walls, white bedding and dressers inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
Food and drink-wise, visitors will be seduced by the cocktails at Anouska’s Bar (try a Yellow Pot) and the Yellow Pot Restaurant, the Chinese restaurant headed up by chef Sebastian Goh, with dishes served in large yellow bowls, black tiffins and black Bento boxes. There’s also a Traditional Chinese Medicine room at hand, 24/7, should over-indulgence cause indigestion…