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project required extensive experience in listed and historical buildings. This project took five years to complete from August 2014 to August 2019,” says Kwan. Throughout the hotel, space usage and flow were re-considered in the public areas to increase social engagement and create an ease of flow. With a sensibility that is much more contemporary than its previous design iterations, there was an emphasis on maximising scale through the careful curation of custom furniture in sumptuous shapes, ornate screens, locally sourced heritage antiques, and impactful lighting. The reception area and lobby lounge were transformed into an elegant reception and now serves as a gateway to the hotel’s alluring dining spaces: The Tiffin Room, Writer’s Bar, La Dame de Pic, Long Bar and Butcher’s Block. The colours used throughout this area are composed of the original black and white contrasts juxtaposed with caramel,
shades of green, and creamy neutrals. Light floral references and gilded trimming along with a bejewelled chandelier from Preciosa add a layer of refinement to the overall vision. “The client wanted to maintain its original colonial ambience, tranquil garden setting, classical architecture, and in addition, the new design was required to rejuvenate and inject new life to the hotel,” says Kwan. “We needed to employ the latest lighting technology, equipment and careful consideration to the lighting installation details in order to minimise the impact to the existing structure in order to achieve our design intent.” Bakos adds: “Decorative lighting was essential - as important as choosing the other design details like the colour palette or finishes. Raffles is such a grand hotel, we knew we needed to use impactful lighting to mould each of the spaces we designed, create a sense