TRADITIONAL DINE / LUSH DECADENCE

WORDS

LOW SHI PING

PHOTOGRAPHY EDMON LEONG,

JOYCE WANG STUDIO

LUSH DECADENCE

THE DYNAMISM OF CHINESE CULTURE IS ON FULL DISPLAY AT MOTT 32 SINGAPORE, DESIGNED BY JOYCE WANG STUDIO.

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1. The entrance of Mott 32 is done up with its classic bank bar gold gates.

OPPOSITE.

The main dining area of Mott 32 has pendant lights with embroidered linen shades.

The lights are turned down so it might be hard to appreciate, but closer inspection of Mott 32 Singapore, located in Marina Bay Sands, throws up a smorgasbord of rich, luxurious detailing and story-telling that spans time, culture and geographical boundaries.

Conceptualised by Joyce Wang Studio, the modern Chinese restaurant is rife with references from Chinese imperialism, the country’s colonial era, its traditional shophouse architecture, greenery, the Aesthetic Movement and Hong Kong, where Mott 32 first originated.

The eponymous designer of the Studio offers her take on how she designed the space, and her thought processes around the selection of materials.

Mott 32 is visually stimulating, with so many details to take in and be distracted by. Why did you choose this stylistic direction?

We wanted to celebrate the botanical theme without reservation, and ensure it extended to every surface in order to grant diners an all-immersive experience. Details have been imagined with colonial influence, nods to the Aesthetic Movement and of course, the Garden City.

How similar is Mott 32 Singapore to the other outlets around the world?

All Mott 32 projects (Singapore, Hong Kong, Vancouver and Las Vegas) share in the rigour to defy expectation and deliver something visionary. At the same time,

ABOVE.

The Lantern Private Dining has a handpainted and embroidered ornate wallcovering of a rich, gold-leaf pattern on a semi-sheen blue background.

each is undeniably unique, as every design concept is so closely inspired and informed by its home city and the local dining culture of its surroundings.

One example of an element which remains constant across all Mott 32 locations, is the hideaway dining alcove not immediately noticeable to first time visitors – these special spaces create an experience that diners look forward to when planning their next visit to a Mott 32 restaurant. For Mott 32 Singapore this is The Orangery, a botanical sanctuary-esque pavilion, with draping ferns and rich foliage perfect for yum cha gossip.

How does the interior design of Mott 32 Singapore complement its cuisine?

In designing for an elevated dining experience such as Mott 32, the earthy velvet palette of terracotta, teal and volcanic grey and considered lighting feels immediately

exclusive. In line with the cuisine, the design embraces the dynamism of Chinese culture while innovating tradition, and delivering an honest, rustic, contemporary result.

How did you decide on the spatial configuration of the restaurant?

Mott 32 integrates three semi-private dining rooms alongside one main private dining room. We set out to create a space versatile enough to cater to a whole host of different diners and to evoke different atmospheres dependent on placement in the space. In a sense, each becomes its own conceptual pocket.

The Orangery, which celebrates the Garden City, has ferns draping around the brim of the alcove redirecting guests to look up for a fresh perspective. The Lantern Private Dining Room, conversely, has its own personality, which imbues the art movement with the value of beauty in art and design. We went around the city to source objets of curiosities to sit against a hand-painted and

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2. The Orangery has ferns draping around the brim of the alcove redirecting guests to look up for a fresh perspective.

3. One of the three semiprivate dining rooms with its own silk embroidery wallpaper.

MOTT 32 SINGAPORE

LOCATION

Singapore /

COMPLETION

2019 /

SITE AREA

11,715ft 2 /

INTERIOR DESIGN

Joyce Wang Studio /

CLIENT

Marina Bay Sands /

CONTRACTOR

Falkcon Interior /

M&E CONSULTANT

EWC /

QUANTITY SURVEYOR

Rider Levett Bucknall /

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT

Mosscape /

SANITARYWARE

Duravit, Kohler, Waterworks

embroidered ornate wallcovering of a rich, goldleaf pattern on a semi-sheen blue background, echoing The Peacock Room created by artists James McNeill Whistler and Thomas Jeckyll, located in the Freer Gallery of Art.

What inspired the design of the numerous pendant lights in the different spaces?

The pendants have been designed with embroidered linen shades to bring a further layer of decadence, while providing a point of contrast to slick metal detail – thereby communicating a modern language of Chinese imperialistic design. In the Lantern Private Dining Room, the field of pendants and antique ornaments create another world within a world as the room is set behind the seethrough wine coolers, creating the perfect balance between privacy for diners but also an environment to want to “be seen”.

What are the different materials you used to make the table tops?

In The Orangery, we used a resin-coated material with loosely layered paints underneath. It is a technique that has been derived from car painting and we were able to create a bespoke colour palette specifically for this venue. At the

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bar, the table tops feature rainforest marble, its veins and movement playing on the surrounding foliage. In the Lantern Private Dining Room, we used a precious blue agate stone to craft the lazy Susan, which then sits atop a timbre table top.

FLOOR PLAN

JOYCE WANG, PRINCIPAL, JOYCE WANG STUDIO

What type of timbre is used on the walls and floor throughout the restaurant?

Rustic timbre is used extensively on the walls and floors throughout the space. Drawing on Singaporean shophouse architecture, we looked to modernise and innovate this through the use of timbre slats and classic Mott 32 bank bar gold gates. The timbre pairs harmoniously with the greenery and earthy-toned furnishings to fulfil the natural, Garden City aesthetic. We have mainly used oak throughout the restaurant but stained it in different ways to highlight its grain in certain areas, while hiding it in others. This made for a unifying language throughout the space, while simultaneously imbuing feature dining rooms with their own personality.

Rope is used abundantly, especially on the ceiling of the main dining area. What is the significance of it?

Mott 32 is a restaurant that boasts a Hong Kong story. Even so, we have opened outposts across cities internationally. We want to celebrate the fact that it originated in the dynamic city of Hong Kong, whereby the cuisine and design alike have been honed to satiate the tastes of a discerning crowd. Hong Kong’s humble beginnings was one of a fishing village and with the rustic rope detailing, we transport diners back to this period of trade and exchange. The rope canopy in the main dining area harks back to dockside activity – creating an authentic tension between Hong Kong’s past and present.

What influenced your decision on where to place the artwork of our national animal, the lion?

At Mott 32 Singapore, the lion is positioned outside the men’s lavatory. We wanted to locate the graffiti (created by graffiti artist Joe-joe) in an area that is not first noticeable on entry and can only be appreciated in a more private setting by diners – perhaps even only on their second visit. Hence, we felt the journey towards the restrooms provided a more subtle opportunity for the artwork to be discovered.

4. Mott 32’s bar front is clad in ancient Chinese featherembossed tiles, while the bar back has apothecary drawers that add an air of mystery.