SINGAPORE'S WANDERLUST HOTEL MAKES A STATEMENT WITH ITS POP ART AND SURRELIST DESIGN CONCEPT

A concept hotel that doesn't look like German dungeon porn.

Normally, the thought of staying in a concept hotel makes us long for the simple splendors of Motel 6. We picture Santa-themed “love hotels” or places done up like a set from Interview with A Vampire-- and German dungeon porn. Sweet dreams!

But the new Wanderlust Hotel in Singapore -- which advertises its “concept” on its Web site -- isn't quite so self-serious. And it proves just how far the entire boutique hotel phenomenon has spread, while adapting to local tastes and whims.

Designed “to draw madcap voyagers and curious travelers,” it’s set up as a showcase for local designers. Each gets a floor and free agency to dress it any which way, whether in trompe l’oeil modern furniture (up top), glammy salon chairs or a wacked-out typewriter that would look right at home in Gulliver’s Travels (below). The whole thing’s so quirky and clashy and tacky, it seems like an anti-concept of sorts.

Which is a clever business tactic unto itself. Wanderlust Hotel is a property of the marketing company-turned-hotel group Design Hotels, which has turned the idea of boutique properties into a global enterprise. The company has more than 190 hotels around the world, each meticulously designed and entirely sui generis. Clearly, it recognizes that people like staying in playful theme hotels that aren’t mannered. More on Wanderlust below:

The lobby is fitted out like an industrial-chic barbershop. ByAsylum]:

Here, the art and design collective :phunk studio used an acid Pantone palette to paint rooms the color of famous songs.

COMMENTARY:  All I can say is WOW!!.  The Wanderlust Hotel is one crazy-ass hotel, nothing like I have ever seen before.  The fact that it is located in Singapore is even more surprising.  This hotel comes right out of a scene in the film "Beetlejuice".  I can visualize that crazy character running the reservation desk.  It's an expression of art, part Andy Warhol pop art and Salvadore Dali surrealism.  The hotel's design concept is completely unconventional, what I call hotel designer on an LSD trip, a mix of anything and everything, but surprisingly the design concept works.   Kids would go crazy in a hotel like this.   It's more of a playhouse than a hotel.

Courtesy of an article dated September 30, 2010 appearing in Fast Company Design  

 

Comments

[Cooper Woods]

wow! Its suprb and awesum. i had never look like this before yeh its cools, concept is also good.

[Leland Smitty]

I love the cartoon room it looks amazing, it is so retro and yet modern and cool at the same time. This sounds like a really interesting place to travel to.

[Allison]

These are amazing indeed. Uber modern and the vibe id transcendent. They are better than the cheap hotels in central london.

[southwest travel]

That was really a total POP ART AND SURRELIST DESIGN CONCEPT. Very effective, everything looks great and pretty inviting. Very nice, the colors were so stunning and very close inspiring.

[Camiguin Resort]

Uniquely different! Pretty much impressive. I love that violet effect lights in the first photo that looks very classy. If all hotels get an ambiance as beautiful as this, then surely, no one would not love to drop for a stay.

[Phil Grahm Salt]

Wow! Totally different from the conventional interior design in hotels. its uniqueness will surely attract people.

[Pousada promocao]

I can see the frantic running booking office. It is an expression of art part pop art Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali surrealism. The concept is completely unconventional design hotel.

[Cagayan de Oro Hotels]

Classically great!I was just so stunned with that last photo you've shared that look so pretty well organized and designed. The ambiance just seemed so pretty cool and refreshing. And what makes it perfectly impressive is that it does look so neat and clean.

[lighting controls]

Hey it seems to be somewat differnt..like de sofas and chairs look stylish but the wall
http://www.winterizemyavsystem.com/
just contrast between roof and de wall..

[home theater architect]

Very distinct and different 4rm otherz..
http://edgholidaygifts.com/
amazing..