Cover The layered beauty of Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat, a boutique hotel by Shanghai-based firm Neri&Hu
The layered beauty of Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat, a boutique hotel by Shanghai-based firm Neri&Hu
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Discover remarkable hotels that embody the history and natural wonder of their one-of-a-kind destinations
There’s a good reason travelling is often referred to as an escape—whether we opt for a remote lodge amid snow-capped mountains, a quiet resort on a private island, or an opulent hotel ensconced in the bustle of the city, what we seek is to get away from the mundane if only for a while.
Countless hotels cater to luxury travellers, extending grand spaces and generous amenities. But only a few can claim to immerse their guests in rich layers of culture, heritage and the charm of bygone eras, evoking an authentic sense of place in their respective destinations.
With inspiration drawn from enchanting landscapes and deep-rooted histories, these properties elevate the average escape through intricate narratives that merge past and present.
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Amansara, Cambodia
Amansara showcases the pre-war mid-century New Khmer architectural style of the 1960s
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A ten-minute drive from the ancient temple of Angkor Wat lies Amansara. A cultural landmark in its own right, the property was originally built as a private residence for King Norodom Sihanouk’s personal guests by French architect Laurent Mondet, showcasing the pre-war mid-century New Khmer architectural style of the 1960s.
Its interiors have since been reimagined by Aman Group’s long-time collaborator, the late Singapore-based Australian architect Kerry Hill. The resort now hosts guests in 24 luxurious suites, which feature materials and finishes such as terrazzo and dark timber, with sandstone reliefs mirroring those of neighbouring temples, inviting guests to relax in Amansara’s serene atmosphere.
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A view of Angkor Wat, as seen on a sunrise temple tour
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Similarly soothing are the spa facilities, which offer treatments rooted in Khmer healing traditions. Here, a 43-metre Cambodian-style sandstone relief provides a backdrop to a quiet reflection pond, where guests can take part in activities such as yoga and Apsara dance classes.
Completing this immersion in the culture and history of Cambodia are the resort’s curated library and boutique. The former is home to a comprehensive collection of books on Angkor and Khmer history, doubling as a space for regular archaeology and history lectures, cultural performances, and exhibitions spotlighting works by local artists.
Amansara’s culinary offerings introduce guests to authentic Khmer cuisine and heritage, like at Khmer Village House, a traditional stilted abode set in a garden within the Angkor Wat World Heritage Site, which overlooks the 10th-century royal reservoir of Srah Srang.
21 Carpenter, Singapore
Above The Garden Terrace at 21 Carpenter
The Garden Terrace at 21 Carpenter
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Opened in December 2023, 21 Carpenter in Singapore features a modern, brutalist extension to a cluster of conserved 1930s shophouses, including the historic remittance house Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee, once used by Chinese immigrant workers to send their earnings to family and loved ones back home.
Honouring the building’s emotional and historical significance, award-winning Singaporean architectural firm, Woha incorporated phrases from classical Chinese poetry included in recovered remittance letters— written by professional scribes for the mostly illiterate workers—into the aluminium façade of the hotel, wrapping it in a layer of nostalgia.
Above 21 Carpenter features a modern extension to a cluster of 1930s shophouses
Above Woha brought together past and present in the hotel’s design
21 Carpenter features a modern extension to a cluster of 1930s shophouses
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Woha also retained design details from the original building—including Chengal flooring, ribbed glass and the painstakingly restored Shanghai plaster façade. It’s no wonder 21 Carpenter won the Best Adaptive Reuse category at the recent Singapore Tatler Homes Design Awards 2024. But the hotel isn’t all history and heritage—inside, guests will find nods to Singapore’s new generation of creative minds with ceramics by Un Studio, and textiles designed by local artist Liu Liling.
On the first floor is Kee’s, a neo-bistro serving Pan-Asian cuisine headed by Singapore-based chef Andrew Walsh of one-Michelin-starred Nua Irish restaurant, Cure.
Read more: How Woha turns a historic remittance house into a brutalist, design-led urban hotel
Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat, China
From gridded walls to water elements, the retreat melds into the surrounding landscape
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Located near Yangzhou’s picturesque Slender West Lake, the award-winning Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat is a serene boutique hotel designed by renowned Shanghai-based firm, Neri&Hu. Behind its soothing surroundings and contemporary design was a particularly challenging site—once little more than a collection of haphazard structures and a scattering of small lakes.
New functionality was breathed into the derelict buildings, which have been adapted into many of the current spaces, with the addition of new extensions to accommodate guests.
While the renovation was multi-faceted and wide-ranging, the retreat came together through a unifying design language inspired by Chinese architecture—specifically historic courtyard houses that combine contemplative indoor spaces with marvellous surrounding landscapes.
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The layered beauty of Tsingpu Yangzhou Retreat, a boutique hotel by Shanghai-based firm Neri&Hu
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Multiple courtyard enclosures—created in a grid of walls and interconnected paths—house suites, amenities and gardens that envelop guests in the region’s heritage. The gridded walls, constructed entirely out of reclaimed brick, create an enticing play on light and shadows, inviting guests to explore the hotel’s series of passageways.
Framed views of the lakes from within the retreat further establish the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, while the landscape beyond can be enjoyed from elevated vantage points.
Rustic materials meet modern applications in this redefinition of a traditional courtyard residence, while reverence for nature and thoughtful design elements allow unbridled enjoyment of its unique locale.
Credits
Images: Courtesy of the respective hotels and designers
Photography: Darren Soh, Jovian Lim, Pedro Pegenaute
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