The newly refurbished Mandarin Orchard has reinvented its identity to become more contemporary while maintaining its Chinese roots
 
The origins of Orchard Road lie in its spice plantations and fruit orchards that flanked either side of the 2.5 km stretch.
 
It was sometime during the early ‘70s, when the Road’s commercial development intensified, that the twin multi-storied towers of the Meritus Mandarin Hotel were erected.
 
Crowned by ‘Top of the M’ revolving restaurant and characterised by its oriental interiors, the hotel has long been a favourite among visitors and locals alike.
 
When it was time to reinvent its identity, the hotel adorned a contemporary garb without forsaking its Chinese ancestry.
 
Italian travertine marble, scrumptious palette of tan and chocolate and a delectable dose of artwork create a modern and refined interior.
 
The entrance lobby which previously had a street frontage to Orchard Road was relocated on the fifth floor while converting the cavernous space into a high-end retail mall.
 
In the reception area, the arriving and departing guests are greeted by an artwork by Suzann Victor. Conceptualising the traditional lantern, Panoramic Matrix depicts a Chinese landscape as it suspends majestically from the ceiling.
 
The popular restaurants: Triple Three and Chatterbox that were culinary institutions since their opening were given an Asian identity. At Triple Three, Design Director of design worldwide partnership (dwp) Jack Liew used a continuing gesture of “å–œ”, the single key element adapted from the Chinese character denoting happiness, in the fretwork, partitions, sliding panels and backdrops.
 
Chatterbox, which reflects the ambience of a bustling Chinese restaurant, continues to serve its Asian favourites albeit in a modern setting that is reminiscent of a bamboo grove.
 
While the interiors are redesigned, the name of the hotel was appropriately redefined as Mandarin Orchard, tying the veritable icon’s identity permanently to its birthplace.
 
 
Mandarin Orchard
meritus-hotels.com