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Hospitality Net
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hospitality Net
The Standard, Singapore Now Open
The Standard, Singapore, officially opened its doors tonight with a spectacular grand opening party that brought to the fore its signature lifestyle brand of irreverence and high design. The private event saw the who's who in creativity, art, media, and fashion arrive in the city, coupled with electrifying entertainment and sublime food and drink. At the centre of the evening was Dreamscape, a fantastical living installation conceptualized by artist Eric Tobua—in collaboration with The Standard's brand and design team—who also created the striking centerpiece that is a permanent piece of the hotel's reception. Known for blending nature, performance, and surrealism, Tobua brought his imaginative world to life— transforming the hotel into a dreamlike landscape where fantasy meets reality. The original Dreamscape, a terrarium-inspired piece set at the reception desk, drew inspiration from Singapore's lush natural beauty, including Gardens by the Bay and the Botanic Gardens. It featured magical elements like a crystal pond, a white snail, orchids, orange groves, tropical flowers, colourful frogs, and even a mermaid. For the grand opening, Tobua scaled this vision into a full-scale experiential journey throughout the hotel's tiered garden, reimagining the space as a living fairytale. The journey began at Café Standard with signature cocktails and elegant canapés served under intimate lighting, accompanied by a curated soundtrack. From there, guests wandered into The Garden, which had been reimagined as a fantastical realm dotted with immersive encounters. A green bush pianist, camouflaged head-to-toe in leaves, emerged from the vertical wall to perform live music, while flower dancers and orchid pole performers glided through the foliage. Whimsical characters like the white snail and other fantastical creatures drifted between guests, adding playful spontaneity to the evening. In the middle of The Garden was the official unveiling of Impossible Blooms, a bold flower sculpture by Singaporean artist Samuel Xun. Commissioned by The Standard, Singapore, the work symbolised life, blooming, and transformation. Costumes inspired by the sculpture's vivid forms allowed dancers to emerge like spirits from the artwork itself, embodying the surreal and celebrating the blurring of boundaries between art and life. The space also featured a series of striking installations: a sculptural waterfall adorned with vibrant tropical flora, turning an existing water feature into a living masterpiece where design and nature converged; and an Orange Grove Walkway, a whimsical trail of glowing oranges and twisting branches that paid homage to both Dreamscape and the hotel's location on Orange Grove Road. Each twist and turn revealed a new scene, inviting guests to wander and wonder. From spontaneous art encounters to ambient performances, the evening reflected The Standard's commitment to surprise, delight, and defy convention. The evening's crescendo unfolded poolside, where the tranquil waters were transformed into a serene pond echoing Dreamscape's crystal lagoon. In a breathtaking performance, synchronized swimmers dressed as colourful frogs and lotus flowers glided across the surface, a living reflection of Tobua's dream world. Another standout moment came when Singaporean soprano Felicia Teo took the stage for a stunning opera performance in a glowing tiger lilyinspired gown, her voice ringing through the garden under the stars. Hotel website
South China Morning Post
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Welcome to The Standard, luxuriant Singapore's most striking new property
If you've ever stayed at a Standard hotel you will know what to expect from the chain founded in the US in 1999 by man-about-town André Balazs: superb design, happening eateries and bars and an in-the-know crowd of artsy and fashion types, including lots of celebrities. But as the Standard International hotel group has evolved and expanded globally, its properties have also come to adapt to their locations, especially in Asia. Late last year, the company opened its fifth Asian outpost, in Singapore, hot on the heels of the group's acquisition by hospitality giant Hyatt; the other four are in Thailand and the Maldives. The Standard Singapore is located in the residential area of Orange Grove Road. Photo: Handout Unlike its counterparts in cities such as New York, where Standard International operates two properties, or Bangkok, The Standard Singapore is far from 'party central', figuratively and geographically. Nestled between the Shangri-La Hotel and the Shangri-La Residences in the leafy residential enclave of Orange Grove Road, the hotel seamlessly blends with its lush surroundings while staying true to the quirky vibe at the core of the brand's DNA. The site-specific art installations that have become a signature of Standard properties around the world appear throughout: from reception's Dreamscape , a terrarium depicting a landscape inspired by Singapore's tropical environment, by artist Eric Tobua, to a lip-shaped sculpture adorning the luxuriant courtyard garden, the heart of the property. Dreamscape, an art installation by Eric Tobua, in the lobby of The Standard Singapore. Photo: Handout Housed in a new structure on the former site of an apartment building, the eight-floor hotel features two restaurants: Café Standard, which serves casual food and drinks in a welcoming area on the ground floor occasionally used as a workspace; and the more formal Kaya at The Standard, a Japanese izakaya-style restaurant where you can enjoy dishes such as the delicious drowning beef and Japanese-inspired drinks at the buzzy bar. One of the hotel's most striking installations is artist Saran Yen Panya's Secret Mint Julep Party : the textured wallpaper adorning the restaurant. For more laid-back moments, the swim-up bar is the spot to hang out and enjoy a sunset cocktail while lounging in the pool. The Kaya at The Standard stands out not least for its wallpaper, created by artist Saran Yen Panya. Photo: Handout The 143 rooms and suites, most offering sweeping views of the neighbourhood's high-rises and tree-lined streets, are decorated with wood panelling and feature comfortable sitting areas at the floor-to-ceiling windows. The bathrooms are remarkable for their yellow and white tiles, which are also a nod to other properties in the chain. The yellow-and-white palette of a tiled Standard bathroom. Photo: Handout
