The interview: Yohei Akao, founder of interior design firm Strickland, on his transformation of the Grand Hyatt Singapore

Strickland founder and designer director Yohei Akao talks us through his meticulous transformation of the Grand Hyatt Singapore, bringing together nature, city and brand heritage in the iconic Orchard hotel.

Boulevard: What was the inspiration for your approach to the property?

Yohei Akao: Singapore’s nature, history, architecture and people.

Blvd: How did you approach an interpretation of both the Grand Hyatt brand, but also the Orchard location?

Akao: Grand Hyatt Singapore is a grand hotel brand, which is open to the city and its people. I envisioned this as a space to welcome all who pass through Orchard, with design elements that honour the rich history of the hotel as an iconic destination.

Blvd: Were there challenges working within the existing structure?

Akao: The greatest challenge was to honour the rich history of this hotel. We aimed to carry forward the deep affection people have for it, ensuring that its legacy endures into the future.

Blvd: Could you talk us through some of the details – the scalloped wood in the lobby, the textural wood finishes in the suites, the dramatic marble, the metallic accents. How did you arrive at these choices?

Akao: The design concept is “fusing nature and the city.” All materials were meticulously selected based on this concept. To connect with Singapore’s urban environment, warm natural elements like wood and rattan were harmoniously blended with modern glass and metal, creating an intimate and inviting space for guests.

For example, the ceiling at the grand lobby is wrapped by wooden fins inspired from local architectural style, creating a welcoming scene with a sense of scale and warmth. Guests are greeted with the old and new DNA of Grand Hyatt Singapore with the existing marble flooring.  A sculptural like reception counter positioned in the center of the space, provides an intimate experience for guests. On the wall, solid wood louvers carved in geometric pattern are softly highlighting the image of Peranakan tiles.

As you walk into the Terrace Wing, we also see a lot of softer tones and organic elements that reflect Singapore’s equatorial climate, such as a touch of solid cheery veneer and marble and lush terrace plants along the corridor between 10|Scotts and StraitsKitchen.

Blvd: Do your own interests, perhaps outside of design, inform some of these choices or your approach to design?

Inspired by a resort setting, wellness is imparted as part of Terrace Wing’s interior design concept with the incorporation of the daybed for all its guest rooms. Soft tones with ice-green marble surfaces are seen throughout the interior while rattan panel and wooden furnishings are added to the living area to create a resort living concept.

Akao: Yes, definitely my own interest plays a role in forming design. I’m drawn to antiques, such as old houses and furniture, that evoke a sense of nostalgia and warmth, as well as vibrant markets and eateries that have been cherished by generations.

Blvd: What are some of your favourite ‘moments’ you’ve created within the hotel spaces?

Akao: What is important to me is not the form, or shape of the space, but rather, the actions of the people who live there – and the resulting atmosphere. My favourite part of this hotel is the atmosphere of this hotel that has been brought to life from this renovation.

Blvd: What for you defines luxury in contemporary design?

Akao: Luxury is an exceptional experience and atmosphere that captures the flow of a new era, created at the junction of the past and the future.

Blvd: What do you look for in a metropolitan hotel?

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