Kiah’s Gallery
August 17, 2018
The Sultangate Music Festival Open Mic – Open Call
August 24, 2018
Wandering through the streets of Sultan Gate, you may find your attention drawn to a chic shop front, coupled with an eclectic mix of items steeped in grey proudly displayed on the wall. A second quizzical glance draws you into what you discover to be a hotel, and behind the sleek black exterior lies bursts of vibrant colours that will inevitably capture your interest and along with your heart.
Intrigued? You should be, for this – XY Hotel – is a gem that breathes life into passions and art. It embodies the beautiful union between art and technology, while creating a home away from home, nestled within a district steeped in history and artistry.
Founded in August 2017, this contemporary hotel contains quirky and whimsical art pieces and tastefully colourful interior designs. Rattan chairs are given a new lease of life with a fresh pop of colour, a ladder is hung haphazardly from the ceiling, and the grey items outside? They are items of a time long past, from the original shop before this hotel was created, and an ode to history and heritage.
There are 15 rooms, each ‘quirkily designed and curated with commissioned wall art by young Singaporean artists’, says Hwee Cheng, the co-founder of the hotel, proudly.
Hwee Cheng and her husband Han Bin (who is the main founder of XY Hotel Bugis Hotel) are both colourful personalities who fit the unique culture of Sultan Gate.
‘Both my husband and I are old souls,’ Hwee Cheng confesses, ‘and we love the rustic feel of Sultan Gate filled with old conservation houses and heritage buildings.’
XY Hotel embodies an artistic vision full of passion, hard work and a desire to give back to society. Han Bin is a strong advocate of the local arts, and having grown up in humble surroundings himself, has always wished to give back to young aspiring artists.
