Barracks Hotel Sentosa wins inaugural EdgeProp award with old-world charm
By Timothy Tay
/ EdgeProp Singapore |
The Barracks Hotel Sentosa Singapore took home the inaugural Best Rated Hotel award at the EPEA 2023. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
A historically significant hotel property has clinched the Best Rated Hotel Development Award, a new category introduced at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards (EPEA) 2023. Steeped in Singapore’s colonial history, The Barracks Hotel Sentosa is one of Far East Hospitality’s landmark hotel properties on Sentosa and the winner of this inaugural award.
Built in 1904, the refurbished property opened its doors as a boutique hotel in December 2019. It took Far East Hospitality nearly five years to conceptualise and refurbish the heritage site. The Barracks Hotel Sentosa is designed by architect and director Laurence Liew of Arc Studio Architecture + Urbanism, and the interior design was helmed by KKS International.
The Barracks Hotel Sentosa is one of three hotel properties in a cluster that is managed by Far East Hospitality. The other hotels are its flagship 606-room Village Hotel Sentosa and the 193-room The Outpost Hotel Sentosa.
This cluster of hotels also won the Fédération Internationale des Administrateurs de Bien-Conselis Immobiliers (FIABCI) Gold Award at the World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2023, under the hotel category.
Colonial charm
The Barracks Hotel Sentosa incorporates two conservation heritage buildings that were part of the original British military outpost established in 1904. The site has changed hands several times over the past 119 years — from a retreat after its decommissioning to a kid’s camp for the Ministry of Education and then as a training centre of the Singapore Tourism Academy.
Today, The Barracks Hotel Sentosa offers Far East Hospitality’s ultra-exclusive hospitality experience and the refurbishment has restored many of the original architecture elements. The interior colonial design stands out amid the modern improvements with a mix of louvred windows, timber doors and moulded columns. The palette is rich dark wood that is complemented with brass and leather furnishings.
With just 40 en suite rooms housed within the pair of two-storey heritage buildings, it is the epitome of a personalised hospitality experience. There are 33 premier rooms of 312 sq ft, six suites of 635 sq ft and a 312 sq ft accessible room.
Rooms on the ground floor come with an outdoor patio with direct access to the swimming pool. Meanwhile, the rooms on the second floor feature double-volume ceilings, with an added touch of character from the exposed timber cross beams, and each has a balcony that overlooks the pool.
The hotel is also connected to the four other conservation heritage blocks. One has been set aside as an events space while the remaining three are used as The Mess Hall, an F&B space that is leased to Japanese restaurant Hidemasa by Hide Yamamoto, Eurasian restaurant Quentin’s and French bistro Le Faubourg.
Rooms on the ground floor connect to the swimming pool while the second-floor rooms come with a balcony each. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Stories from the past
Hallmarks of the building’s storied past are prominent throughout the hotel and smoothly incorporated with the modern hospitality services and amenities of the hotel. The hotel also boasts a majestic sense of place that complements the high-quality hospitality service and experience.
A row of tall palm trees frames the front of the main hotel building while what used to be the parade square for the soldiers billeted in the former barracks is now a tranquil green lawn and a focal point for the entire development.
Built in 1904, the refurbished property opened its doors as a boutique hotel in December 2019. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
The hotel offers tours that cover the colonial architecture and heritage points of interest around the hotel, Sentosa Island and the mainland with stops including Sentosa’s Fort Siloso, Gillman Barracks and Dempsey Hill.
The guest experience will not be complete without the hotel’s signature round-the-clock Equerry Concierge Service that includes in-room dining, dinner reservations and laundry service.
With this level of five-star service, coupled with an outstanding restoration of the conservation heritage site, it is no wonder the judging panel of this year’s EPEA 2023 awarded The Barracks Hotel Sentosa with the Best Rated Hotel Award. The hospitality property demonstrates excellence in aesthetics, facilities and service, innovation and guest ratings.
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