Project Overview

YOTEL is a modern and innovative affordable-luxury hotel conceived for today’s lifestyles. Situated within Singapore’s famed Orchard shopping district and standing at 30 storeys tall with 610 guestrooms, the building takes an elongated form, with a food and beverage arcade at the ground level and a seven-storey car park podium.

Project Commissioner

Yat Yuen Hong Company Limited

Project Creator

DP Design Ltd

Project Brief

YOTEL’s distinct design aesthetic is inspired by first-class airline cabins.

The façade of the monolithic tower, wrapped in glass and aluminium panels, forms a collage of patterns with varying modulation of frames. This is complemented by a rustic bronze podium that is starkly juxtaposed to appear three-dimensional against the tower. The podium screen is comprised of triangulated elements in alternating colours, creating a vibrant colour pattern. Open spaces have been planned for co-working, social gatherings and exercise so as to create a sense of community and interaction opportunities between the users. The guestrooms are intuitively designed with an array of amenities at the guest’s fingertips. Each room features an open bathroom layout – a unique trademark of YOTEL that creates the illusion of a larger space. The hotel is designed to serve the guests effectively without needing to provide extensive back-of-house facilities.

Modern, sleek spaces are infused with an Asian influence that lends a textured look. A combination of soothing purple mood lighting, patterned grey flooring and predominantly white finishes are used in the public spaces including the waiting lounge, lift lobby and guestroom corridors, maintaining a sense of simplicity and sophistication. The hotel’s signature purple tones are echoed in accent lighting within the cabins, with wood panels and flooring that add warmth to the modern vibe. Meanwhile, at the hotel’s club lounge, vibrant splashes of colour in the furnishings add a touch of whimsicality to the stylish, cosy and inviting character of the space.

Project Need

A stay at YOTEL Singapore is all about intuitive service and efficiency, and being at the forefront of technology. For example, the Technowall in each cabin features everything that a modern traveller will need – i.e. ironing board and a smart TV for easy connectivity. Therefore, accessories, fittings and fixtures were selected and designed to maximise and create smart spaces. Colour schemes at different parts of the hotel including Mission Control, cabins and Grains & Hops restaurant and bar were customised to enhance the experience and comfort for our guests while working, dining or relaxing.

In keeping innovation partnerships unique to each YOTEL location, there is the YOBOT in New York which has certainly inspired and fascinated guests and passers-by alike over the past five years. YOTEL Singapore is in discussion with partners in Singapore to see what a unique innovation piece might look like for the new hotel and welcome partners who wants to work with us on these kind of project.

Design Challenge

Today's travelers are both value-conscious and tech-savvy. The design concepts of YOTEL Singapore focus increasingly on generational consumer and technology trends, and the nuances in habits of specific geographical source markets. Local characteristics and design clues can influence unique and tailored hospitality concepts to bring about creative and distinctive solutions. Travelers today, seek convenience and affordable luxury. At YOTEL Singapore, modern, sleek spaces are infused with an Asian influence that lend a textured look. Located at the heart of Singapore's famous shopping belt, Orchard Road, YOTEL Singapore is designed to provide guests a comfortable experience with plenty of natural daylight and smart features.

Through inventive designs, efficient planning and thorough consideration of the usage of materials, the design team cleverly combined innovative technology to transform a small hotel into something hip, neat, edgy and innovative. Retaining the element of comfort, YOTEL Singapore is designed with essential hotel facilities without hurting the pocket.

Defined at the design stage that a typical room size would be 12 square metres each, skeptics may have preconceived ideas that the room would appear too small, thus making it an uncomfortable living space. However, this misconception was quickly refuted by the design team. Working closely with the architects on the precious placement of shafts, toilets and added volumetric height to all typical room, it has brought about lots of surprises to an otherwise modest-sized hotel.

Sustainability

To achieve a sustainable hotel where guests can enjoy a luxurious stay, the design comprised of four components: energy efficiency, water efficiency, sustainable materials and education.

Firstly, excellent energy efficiency in the building is achieved through various ways such as reduction of heat gain, efficient air conditioning and mechanical ventilation systems, efficient lighting systems, integrated hot water systems, efficient vertical transportation system, and energy efficient operational sensors and controls. They are regularly inspected to ensure smooth operation and hotel guests can comfortably enjoy their stay without disturbance.

Secondly, water efficiency is achieved by carefully customising the water fittings based on how water is used in hotels. Thus, high hygiene levels are maintained while efficiently conserving water.

Thirdly, the project team chose several certified and tested materials that are known to have less impact on the environment and positively contribute to human health. These materials are used in the construction of the hotel for excellent indoor air quality and environmental sustainability.

The various sustainability features of the hotel are displayed at several panels in the hotel common area. Thus, the hotel guests are educated on the importance of sustainability and how Yotel has successfully achieved the certification of Green Mark Gold, a distinguished mark of recognition for the hotel’s sustainable design.