The newest offering and first city hotel from luxury hospitality group Six Senses is housed in exquisitely restored heritage shophouses
1. An award-winning conservation project
A row of three-storey, prewar conservation shophouses originally constructed in the early 20th century was reimagined and carefully restored to create Six Senses Duxton. The hotel has received the Urban Redevelopment Authority Architectural Heritage Award as recognition for its efforts as a conservation project.
2. Stunning design by an acclaimed British designer
Steered by Anouska Hempel’s strong artistic sensibility, the hotel’s aesthetic is decidedly chic and lavish with Chinese, Malay and European touches. The polished interiors sport luxurious gold- and black-toned furnishings and quirky elements such as wallpaper modelled after an 1865 contract for land outside of London. As a nod to the area’s storied past, each of the rooms and suites are themed and have their own distinct style. For example, the centrepiece of each Opium Suite is a grand, hand-carved Chinese Emperor-style bed, while the Pearl Suites feature a crisp, white colour palette and striking mother-of-pearl drawers from Hempel’s private collection.
3. An emphasis on wellness
In line with Six Senses’ wellness philosophy, every room and suite features a hand-hammered brass singing bowl from India. The audio frequencies created by the singing bowls serve as vibrational sound therapy to restore the flow of energy and bring about a state of wellbeing. Guests can also make use of a wellness bag – placed in each room during turndown service – that’s filled with brain-teaser puzzles, adult colouring cards, a Six Senses Little Book of Wellness and locally or regionally sourced products such as nutmeg oil for soothing muscle aches.
4. A traditional Chinese medicine approach
Taking things one step further on the wellness front, Six Senses Duxton has called on Professor Zhang Mao Ji – a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner with over 40 years of experience – to offer complimentary on-site consultations for guests. In addition, guests will receive two chilled TCM tinctures every day – one to be taken first thing in the morning and the other before going to bed at night. Examples include a daytime concoction of roselle, rosebud and hawthorn for detoxifying the body and an evening tincture of chrysanthemum, lavender and marigold to boost blood circulation.
5. A modern take on Chinese culture
Yellow Pot, the hotel’s signature restaurant, is centred on classic and innovative Chinese fare inspired by the age-old Chinese philosophy of balanced living and healthy eating. Thanks to Czech-born beverage consultant Kamil Foltan, this also extends to their bar programme, which offers artisanal tipples crafted with traditional Chinese herbal ingredients. Try the Escape to Kaifeng, a cocktail that marries a house-made chrysanthemum cordial with Tanqueray London dry gin.
SEE ALSO: 6 best hotels for a relaxing staycation in Singapore
This article was originally published in the July 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine.
