633 SQM, BUILT 2015
5 KEYS, INDEPENDENT HOTEL BRAND
ANCHORED BY HERITAGE_ Loke Thye Kee Residences is situated in the heart of Georgetown Penang, one of 5 Malaysian UNESCO world sites rich in heritage. MOD’s design draws inspiration from this heritage and specifically the historic Loke Thye Kee restaurant, its 100-year-old namesake and neighbor. Harking back to the romance of the early 1900’s, Loke Thye Kee Residences recalls the spirit of a bygone era but adds its own contemporary twist to modernize the living experience. Designed amidst the footprint of the traditional shophouse courtyard and alleyway, each of the 5 suites is preluded by a lush garden forecourt and an intimate private balcony.
The traditional meets the contemporary on several levels, from the materials to the spatial experience. For example, the latticework in the reception area is inspired by the intricate tile patterns that are typical of the shophouse typology. The idea was to 'continue' the tiling pattern three-dimensionally in the abstract way.
The rough texture of the original brick walls are visually enlivened by hidden LED cove lighting and the typically enclosed vanity and wardrobe spaces are celebrated as transparent glass boxes which seamlessly extend into the rest of the room.
The suites are furnished with soaring pitch roofs and the traditional meets the contemporary on several levels, traditional timber hardwood floors are contrasted with customised contemporary fixtures that are designed to appear as if levitating.
"In this case of LTK Residences, as with New Majestic Hotel and Macalister Mansion, our heritage based work is always interested in questioning how heritage is defined. We believe that heritage isn't just a moment in time rooted in the past, but that it is a continuum of time, from past, present and even into the future, we think of it as "living heritage".'
1. Winner, Best Hotel, Malaysia, 2017 at BCI Asia Interior Design Awards, Malaysia
2. Finalist, Interior Design of the Year - Suite, 2016 at Asia Hotel Design Awards, United Kingdom
