Hotel Mono is a striking new landmark in the historic Chinatown area in Singapore, the result of an extensive refurbishment of six conservation shophouses by my firm. Once a rundown budget hotel, the 46-room establishment now radiates an assertive design language. For its design, I wanted to create something that does not conform to the standard expectations of what hotels should look like. It should also appeal to young social-media-savvy travellers who place a high value on design in their choice of lodging, and my client will back this by offering affordable room rates. Besides creating strong visual branding for the hotel, the monochromatic colour scheme is also a calming sight for guests after they return from exploring the city. To meet the tight time and budget constraints of the project, I used simple low-cost materials to create high design value. Examples include the old-school mosaic used in the bathrooms, and the 1.5 inches-thick black metal bar which serves as lighting point, clothes rack, and sculpture in all the rooms. The pared down minimalism of Hotel Mono has created a new design typology for small independent hotels as well as for heritage shophouses in Singapore.
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