Macalister Mansion 马来西亚百年老宅变身高雅设计酒店

面积达到1700平方米的麦卡里斯特楼位于马来西亚槟城，前身是一个有百年历史的豪宅，现在被来自新加坡的设计团队Ministry of Design改建成为一个体验丰富的设计型酒店。有8间豪华客房，以及公共的-餐厅，书房，酒吧，客厅。

麦卡里斯特楼的命名源于以前的主人英国总督上校诺曼.麦卡里斯特。在设计总监Colin Seah的带领下，这栋浓郁殖民主义风格的建筑被打造得与当地其他设计设计型酒店截然不同。在豪华保守的大背景下，设计师恰到好处的植入了现代感的设计，在过往与未来间取得了漂亮平衡。从2011年9月欣然接受委托起的一年多之后，这个酒店在2012年11月开张。

除了结构被加强，原有风格要素被强化外，窗户也被换上了隔音性能良好的窗户。建筑前方发草坪上设置了一个小型泳池和与之相连的泳池酒吧。此外酒店还有健身房，电脑室，图书馆。

Designed as a quirky but sophisticated lifestyle destination, guests enjoy a series of hospitality experiences as if they were in an actual home – good food, fine drink, engaging conversation, soothing music, a good night’s sleep or a lap in the pool.

The Macalister Mansion is associated with the good things in life and having a great time, but at a scale that is both intimate and personal.

Designed in a conserved colonial building, each of the 6 distinct F&B and Hotel entities form part of the overall Macalister Mansion experience.

Each entity is also branded as a distinct room or space found in a typical mansion – the dining room, the den, the living room, the bar, the lawn & rooms.

Set against the backdrop of a conserved mansion, Ministry of Design (also behind the famed New Majestic Hotel in Singapore) ensured that the heritage spaces have been careful restored and infused with contemporary design – allowing the project to strike a balance between the nostalgia of the past and a vision of relevance for the future. The name Macalister Mansion also honours Penang’s first British Governor Sir Norman Macalister and you will find numerous references to this historic figure captured in the a host of specially commissioned installation art pieces throughout the grounds and in each of the 8 hotel rooms.

Macalister Mansion

Strategy, Branding, Masterplan, Facade, Interiors, Landscape

1700 sqm | Penang, Malaysia | Completed 2012

Overview

Macalister Mansion is conceptualized as a quirky and sophisticated lifestyle destination where guests are treated to a series of experiences not unlike those found in the hospitality of an actual home.

Housed in a 100-year-old historic mansion that has been conserved and adapted, Macalister Mansion consists of 6 entities in total: 5 F&Bs and a hotel. Each of the 6 entities can be enjoyed as part of the overall experience but are branded as distinct rooms or spaces that are typically found in a mansion – Dining room, Den, Bagan Bar, Living room, Lawn and Eight rooms.

The name Macalister Mansion honours Penang’s British Governor Colonel Norman Macalister and you will find numerous references to this historic figure captured in a host of specially commissioned installation art pieces throughout the grounds and spaces.

Macalister Mansion has recently made the design cut to join Design Hotels™ (headquartered in Germany), and is currently the only Design Hotel in Malaysia (soon on

).

Design Process

Designed and branded as a lifestyle oriented ‘residence’, Macalister Mansion consisting of 5 F&B entities and 8 hotel rooms, has been conceived as a single holistic vision by Ministry of Design based in Singapore.

Led by Design Director Colin Seah, the design differentiates itself from the local boutique hotel scene by its intimate scale, contemporary design and attention to details – design ranging from art curation to uniforms, branding to interior design and everything else in between. Set against the backdrop of a conserved mansion, the heritage spaces have been carefully adapted and key features conserved and infused with contemporary design, striking a good balance between the nostalgia of the past and a vision of relevance for the future.

When Colin was first approached by the client Dato’ Sean to conceive of a lifestyle- based offering which would enliven the hotel and dining scene in Penang, it was readily agreed that the new offering in the restored colonial mansion would stem from a holistic vision, with the 5 F&Bs and 8 hotel rooms forming a holistic brand with a distinctive positioning.

The design process spanned an 8 month period from February to September 2011, with Colin and Dato’ Sean working collaboratively to produce a design for a set of 6 distinct entities offering sophistication in a singular package.

In the 12 months of construction that followed, there were multiple meetings held to discuss the major infrastructural work required to restore a colonial mansion, e.g. retaining and reinforcing original columns, staircases and archways, removing plaster to reveal the original brick walls and wall cornices, and repairing and soundproofing original windows for contemporary hospitality use. As an extension of the grounds, Colin and his team also designed an event lawn where large-scaled parties can be hosted. Beside the lawn is a mosaic lap pool with a feature sunken ‘swim-up’ pool bar at one end. Guests of the hotel also enjoy additional gym and computer lounge & library.

Masterplan, Architectural & Landscape Design

The entire design exercise began with the design of the arrival experience – prioritizing the guest experience and a dramatic sense of arrival. The generous grounds fronting the historic mansion were divided into a long ceremonial driveway, carpark, lawn, pool & pool bar and outdoors dining seating.

When viewed along the main road (Macalister Road), the Macalister Mansion logo floats above the green hedge and original wrought iron gate, with the elegant mansion in the distance. Entering the hedge-lined driveway, guests are welcomed by an oversized 2.5m high fractal bust of Norman Macalister. Arrival at the reception area is under a turquoise scalloped canopy and through a pair of restored ornate wooden double-leaf doorway.

The reception is central to the rest of the Macalister mansion experience and is linked to 3F&Bs (the Dining Room, the Den & Bagan Bar) and to the 8 hotel rooms above. The Living Room has its own distinct entry on the southwest side of the building with a pathway connecting it to the Lawn’s pool and pool bar.

An interesting pool feature is an area sectioned for lounging in waist deep water, while the other area is provided for lap swimming. The pool lounge area is also adjacent to the pool bar, and has 2 sunken white mesh sofas. A white canon and series of cannonballs on display by the pool is a tongue-in-cheek reference to a legend surrounding Norman Macalister’s days of governing – apparently he incentivized local islanders to aid in the clearing of a piece of forested coastal land by shooting gold coins into the forest. Tall hedges rim the pool and driveway whilst willow trees add shade and colour to the alfresco dining areas at the Living room entry.

▼（左）主入口（右上）铜制反射面接待吧台，投影仪投出抽象的拼贴画，加上灯光设计，共同组成富有电子感的场景。酒店制服的样式高雅，色彩是沉稳的灰色。楼梯就隐藏在吧台后面。

Main Entry + Uniforms

The entry features the building’s original ornately designed doorway, where one views a reflective copper reception bar, with video art by Mansoor Ramli – a visually enthralling collage of abstracted Penang scenes accompanied by an indie electronic soundtrack.

All the art was co-curated by Colin and Sean, featuring a selection of Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian artists who were commissioned to create artwork based on the theme of Macalister and the local Penang post-colonial condition.

The entry interiors showcase part of the conservation effort, e.g. the reveal of the original brick walls and preservation of the cornices. The original brick walls at the reception will also serve as temporary exhibition surfaces for local artists.

The design team reconfigured the existing stair to be concealed within a horseshoe shaped wall behind the reception bar, allowing the reception to remain visually focused, with the video art and the reception bar taking center stage. The stair was reinforced structurally and leads to Eight Rooms above.

Colin and his team also art-directed the uniforms of the hotel staff, with a modern shift dress for the receptionist and a smart grey suit for the maitre d’ and waitresses. Collar and tie pins with the ‘mm’ logo add a highlight to the smart and minimalist uniforms. Comfort and practical concerns were paramount in the selection of material.

▼餐厅前身是一个庭院。光线从柔软的织物天花中溢出。

The Dining Room + Menus

The Dining room is conceived as the formal dining space of the hotel. Essentially a converted courtyard with a permanent marquee over it, the room glows with soft ambient light in the day through the marquee’s white fabric. The white and blue variety of chairs, coupled with the fairytale-like pastel animals and central white tree, add a touch of whimsicality to the dining space. The Dining room’s main hall is supplemented by a smaller dining hall, 2 private dining rooms, a display wine fridge and bar. The Dining room also opens out to an internal sky lit courtyard as an extension of the main dining hall.

Colin and his team also designed the sub brand logos and menus for all Macalister Mansion’s F&Bs. The design for each F&B logo was inspired by the simplicity of the MM logo as well as an element from each particular space, e.g. a pair of cutlery for the Dining Room, a lampshade for the Living Room and a mirror for the 8 rooms.

▼（左）餐厅白色，蓝色的椅子，房屋中间童话般的白树和动物，都让用餐环境充满浪漫的遐想。（右）客厅一角。

▼客厅保留了原来的窗花还有地上红色与白色的瓷砖。绿色的植物和俏皮的灯具，还有各种质地的有趣椅子都与原有的装饰相得益彰。这里温馨舒适，适合4—8人聚餐。墙上的装饰是2D绘画，局部有3D的凸起。

The Living Room

Retaining the original filigree window grilles and decorative red and white tiles of the colonial mansion, the Living room is designed to be an inviting and casual dining option. Hanging green plants and playful pendent lights complement the beautiful window grilles. Seating is made up of a variety of delightful chairs and couches in different colours and textures, grouped around tables of 4 – 8 persons. The Living room also has a red felt pool table in an adjoining room, which can be converted into a private dining venue. Artwork ranges from tongue-in-cheek 2D depictions of furniture

or artefacts painted onto the walls beside actual 3D ones. The Living room is open all days of the week, and serves a selection of classic Penang dishes with a modern twist.

▼雪茄室和威士忌吧。马赛克地砖，皮质座椅。

The Den

An intimately scaled whisky and cigar bar, the Den features a central leather circular banquette seat, contemporary chandelier lighting and striking graphic mosaics. The Den serves mostly single malts and specialty imported cigars and is a great destination to unwind or have a drink before dinner.

▼（左）雪茄室和威士忌吧（右上）雪茄室和威士忌吧。（右下）酒吧，酒吧有着十分亮眼的黑色和红色折线地板图案。这里装饰着古董书和艺术品。有现场音乐表演舞台和两个半私人区域。

▼酒吧的半私人区域

Bagan Bar

Bagan Bar at Macalister Mansion is a reincarnation of the highly popular original Bagan Bar opened by the client some years ago. The striking diagonal red and black floor pattern serves as an intentional counterpoint to some of the more beautiful historic architectural details of the building – an ornate archway dividing Bagan bar into 2 halves and 2 striking columns framing a bay window nook. Another key spatial feature is the dynamic copper clad bar and lighting sculpture above it. Began Bar also provides a stage for live music and 2 semi private areas for a more intimate setting. Busts and portraits of former colonial governors line the mantle piece above the fireplace together with antique books and artefacts.

宾馆的8个面积45—60不等的房间都是独一无二，专门定制的。房间里采光充足，风格简约。地面是实木地板，墙壁色调主要是白色和灰色。其中一些客房保留原有的结构，因此里面有旋转楼梯，观景台，阳台。浴室里都有银白色的花纹。所有的洗浴用具都是定制的。客房里的各种配置也都是大品牌。

Eight Rooms + artwork

Being situated in a colonial mansion means that all Eight rooms are bespoke, unique and generously sized. Ranging from 45 – 60 sqm in size, featuring 3.5m high ceilings, all eight rooms are bathed in glowing light, decked with solid timber flooring and finished with a soothing white and grey palette for the walls, wainscot and curtains. Furniture pieces, carpets and artworks are unique to each room and have been selected based on the room proportions, layout and lighting. Outside the entryway to each room is a bespoke acrylic mirror. The mirrors incorporate the room number as part of its design and the traditional “do not disturb” or “please make room” signage appear as back lit LED text on the mirror when activated from within the room.

Original elements like a galvanized spiral stair leading to a viewing tower, a balcony overlooking the pool and wooden trusses are retained and celebrated. Rooms 3, 7 and 8 celebrate these original trusses of the building, highlighting it in its original wood grain, against the white ceiling cove design.

Bathrooms are dressed in filigree inspired silver and white mosaic, with circular mirrors suspended from the ceiling to intentionally set them away from the walls. Washbasins are freestanding and custom-designed timber stands house the bathroom toiletries from leading beauty brand H2O. The rooms come well appointed with Bang & Olufsen i-pod docking sound systems, Nespresso coffee machines, full minibars, safes, weighing scales, and large screen televisions. Quirky ornaments from Italian maker Seletti and coffee table books about fashion and art add a sense of personalised welcome.

Branding & collateral

Colin and team also designed these elements for the hotel: 1 main logo, letterhead, envelope, namecard, 6 entity logos, menu, coasters, mineral water label, collar pin.

PROJECT CREDITS

Lead Designer Ministry of Design: Colin Seah, Kevin Leong, Angie Ng, Charissa Ho, Ron Sim, Anita

Shewchuk, Tulsi Grover, Aliza Suarez, Joshua Chong, Joanne

Pang, Joyce Low

Photography Edward Hendricks (Images may be printed, courtesy of Ministry of

Design)

Owner TheMacalister Berhad

Main Contractor LDE Aluminium Industries Sdn Bhd

C&S JNK Consultant Sdn Bhd

M&E A.G. Konsult Sdn Bhd

Submissions Architect East Design Architect Sdn Bhd

Address 228 Jalan Macalister, Georgetown, 10400 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang,

Malaysia

Built in GFA 1700 sqm

Land area 4700 sqm

Facilities 8 Rooms, Living Room, Dining Room, Den, Bagan Bar, Reception, Pool,

Gym, Driveway and Parking

Construction duration 12 months

Opening November 2012

Floor area,

Public Areas (sqm) Reception – 80sqm; Bagan Bar – 190sqm; Dining Room –

257sqm

The Den – 42sqm; Living Room (indoor) – 114sqm; Living Room

(al fresco) – 192.05sqm; The Lawn (outdoor event space) – 515sqm

Floor area, Rooms (sqm) GR 1 – 53sqm; GR 2 – 52sqm; GR 3 – 60sqm; GR 4 –

49sqm; GR 5 – 46sqm; GR 6 – 40sqm; GR 7 – 51sqm; GR 8 – 41sqm; Hotel Guest

Lounge – 33sqm

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