Situated at opposite ends of the Regent Singapore atrium, Tea Lounge and Dolcetto by Basilico offer a contemporary high tea experience fit for personal indulgence or social affairs – be they celebratory occasions, intimate lunches or business meetings. Both spaces complement the lobby’s existing interiors while featuring new materials that connect to one another.

“The main challenge we faced was ensuring that they complemented each other but still had their own distinct personalities,” say Matthew Shang and Paul Semple, Principals at multidisciplinary design practice HASSELL. The practice has employed a contemporary colonial garden aesthetic for the spaces with lush greenery and a natural palette.

“We wanted them both to slot seamlessly into the existing space and fit Regent Singapore’s overall design, and its unique Portman atrium and geometry,” they add.

Featuring full-length windows with plantation shutters that filter natural light into the room, the Tea Lounge provides an elegant environment for the enjoyment of afternoon tea.

Soft curves, dark ebonised timber, brass accents and bold upholstery with a variety of spatial settings offer unique dining experiences. Considering the fluctuating guest numbers, self-standing partitions create flexible areas that maximise comfort.

A central buffet table stages freshly-made pastries, inviting guests to interact with the patissiers as they create mouthwatering masterpieces. As a focal point of the space, the table doubles up as an area for the preparation of tea and coffee.

At the other end of the lobby, the Milanese-inspired café Dolcetto by Basilico features a window display that tempts passers-by to walk in or grab a quick bite to go. Keeping the space open, loose furniture and planters create a clear walking path, subtly demarcating the pastry shop and the hotel lobby zone.

Humanising Dolcetto by Basilico is a live service station that enables diners to interact with the chefs as they work on their creations and showcase the making of tea and coffee in its full glory. “People love engaging with the chefs during the service, so the live service element was about bringing movement and colour to the space,” explain Shang and Semple.

A generous, power-enabled communal table provides an unconventional and relaxing environment for flexible working or casual business meetings.

Merging visually with the Tea Lounge, Dolcetto by Basilico is composed of warm timbers, terracotta – a European palette with brass highlights and Mediterranean-inspired planting, creating a quiet and comforting retreat at the tail end of bustling Orchard Road.

Photography by EK Yap, courtesy of HASSELL.

Take a tour of HASSELL’s The Working Capitol co-working space in Singapore.