By Willy Wilson | May 20, 2010
The Upper House: Asian contemporary design at its best
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| Asian design sensation, Andre Fu |
From old money to generation X, every decade coins a different phrase to describe a particular niche market. The latest demographic to be profiled by the marketing industry is the uber buyer. The uber buyer is well traveled, financially secure and an early adapter to trends. Those who fall under this category make up the backbone behind brand-name products and luxury services. When it comes to property, prestigious locations are on their top list.
This ‘buyer trend’ has been seen across Asia and has prompted the rapid growth of design-oriented residences and hotels such as The Upper House, a 117-room boutique hotel located on the top of Hong Kong’s premium mall, Pacific Place.
Stylish, compact and quietly sophisticated, The Upper House is designed to cater to the uber buyers. From the subtly-lit driveway that leads to a dramatic 13ft nickel front door to a circular bamboo enclosure that greets guests at the entrance, every inch of The Upper House is designed to spell luxury.
Impressive layout of the room sees a 300sq ft bathroom with a dedicated walk-in overhead rain shower, a dressing area and a free-standing bathtub. The floors are Italian ‘Periato Svevo’ limestone, and the walls Turkish ‘Terre d’Oriente’. The splendid design and décor is made complete by the dramatic Hong Kong harbour view.
Natural material, original sculpture installations and seamlessly proportioned spaces are integrated to create a sophisticated and modern "Asian influenced" residence. The most impressive aspect of The Upper House is how contemporary finishing binds heavy Asian aesthetics effortlessly, creating a state of balance that exudes a Zen-like ambience.
By employing quality elements such as natural timber, Shoji glass, limestone, textured nickels and lacquered paper panels, The Upper House presents an understated luxury.
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| The Sky Lounge oversees a lush scenery |
“With an intention to create a small intimate hotel reminiscent of a private residence, I have purposely conjured a sense of tranquility throughout the design and ambience of the hotel,” says Andre Fu, a noted interior designer who conceptualised The Upper House.
Known for high profile projects such as Singapore’s La Capella resort and Datuk Michelle Yeoh’s private residence, Fu is a Cambridge graduate who has been hailed by Vogue UK as ‘Design Wunderkind’ and Conde Nast Traveler US as an ‘Asian Design Sensation’.
StarProperty.my chatted with Fu about the The Upper House’s design concept, setting trends in Asia and Feng Shui.
How would you describe your design style and philosophy? Do you have a preference for a particular concept?
I get this question a lot, and I always have a consistent answer - stylish urban. I consider myself an approach-driven designer. In that, I put a contemporary aesthetic in my design. However, the way I approach a project really follows the mannerism, characteristics and vision my clients try to deliver.
All of these factors influence the DNA of the products, which hopefully is unique and distinct.
What was your design approach for The Upper House?
The Upper House is conceived with two key words - calm and comfort. There is a strong sense of residential calmness in every design decision made. What makes it non-residential is the fact that it is extremely architectural. The design approach is streamlined, and not decorative. It thrives in clarity and purity, but bold at the same time.
How do you translate such concept into design vocabularies?
I employed a restrained palette, mostly limestone, to inject that urban aesthetic. Natural elements such as oak and bamboo highlight Asian influence. A dash of sophisticated tones such as mineral grey, green tea and beige neutralise what would otherwise be an ethnic-oriented design.
What do you want the guests to feel when they stay at The Upper House?
Through the architecture and design of The Upper House, I want the guests to experience a poetic journey in this hotel.
It has been reported that you took into considerations some Feng Shui principles when designing The Upper House. How did you find the balance of Feng Shui principles and contemporary design aesthetics? What are the challenges? And how did you minimise them?
Feng Shui, in its core, is about designing a well-aligned and proportional space. So my interpretation of what most people perceive as Feng Shui is that it is a concept of creating a comfortable space. What makes The Upper House appears to be Feng Shui friendly is the clarity of space and uncluttered arrangement of space. But I did not specifically conform to any Feng Shui principle in my design decision.
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| Snapshots of Café Gray Deluxe in The Upper House |
Your designs seem to be the epitome of everything cool in Asia. What would you consider your greatest achievements in terms of being a trendsetter in Asian contemporary interior design?
Admittedly, The Upper House is my biggest project to date. I started to work on this project in Spring 2006, and finally the project was completed in October 2009. Looking back, it was definitely a journey in itself. The level of precision in the design of this hotel, when compared to the original sketch, is amazing. Having my work recognised by international media as the archetype of contemporary Asian design is really flattering, although I have to say that this is a group achievement.
How do you approach or evaluate a project in terms of accepting or rejecting it?
I have made a decision to make my firm a boutique size. I am selective when it comes to a project. Out of 40 to 50 inquiries my company receives every month, I would only take one. I stand by a principle that if I were to commit on a project that would take at least two years of my life, then I would make sure that it is more than just design and décor. I care about the longevity of the product, the mutual commitment to the project shared by me and the client, and every single detail pertaining to the project.
What type of projects are you most comfortable working on?
I hope that that wouldn’t be anything I am comfortable working on [laughs]. As a designer, when a project enters a comfort zone, it would be quite dry. I’m always on the lookout for something outside my comfort zone. I like to re-invent experiences, venture into different segment. At the moment I’m working on a high-end art gallery, a 20,000sq ft gymnasium and a limited edition carpet with my signature design.
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