Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta might not have been on the radar of Luxurious Magazine in the past, but with its extraordinary Homage to Indonesian History and its new Modern Design, it is now
The international collaboration between architect César Pelli, interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud and landscape architect Bill Bensley has delivered a sublime, modern design masterpiece in the dynamic, fast-paced metropolis of Jakarta.
Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta has opened at an all-new location, a centrepiece 20-story tower situated within the award-winning Capital Place development in the heart of Jakarta’s commerce, entertainment and financial district. The international collaboration between architect César Pelli, interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud and landscape architect Bill Bensley has delivered a sublime, modern design masterpiece in the dynamic, fast-paced metropolis of Jakarta.
The light-filled modern building containing Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta represents a new landmark of contemporary architecture by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. The development is inspired by the Indonesian principles of transparency, connecting interior and exterior and figuratively representing the waves flowing around the Indonesian archipelago. Large, light-filled spaces and a focus on design detail create an ultramodern, fabulously chic environment for the new Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta.
The interior spaces of the Hotel have been curated by renowned New York-based interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud. A member of the Interior Design Hall of Fame, Champalimaud has created a journey of discovery as guests venture from restaurants and bars, to the library, society salons and drawing rooms, creating something in between a museum and a modern theatre experience in each of the venues, and maintaining a delicate balance of history and momentousness, coupled with modernity, celebration and surprise.
Within the Hotel’s highly urban environment, internationally acclaimed landscape architect Bill Bensley has created lush, thoughtful outdoor spaces that seamlessly integrate with the opulent interiors and are destined to be forever talked about. Bensley’s philosophy is never to do the expected, never repeat and to never form an identifiable modus operandi or style. Each project creates a tone and experiments with new languages of form. The fifth-floor hosts the outdoor swimming pool and pool bar, both a visual surprise featuring 19th century French Art Deco architectural details. Rich paving and pool tiling, hanging daybeds, intricate trellis seating areas, bespoke pool chaises, carved stone fire torches and deco bronze sculptures feature, while bold textured plants including date palms, large leaf alocasias and fragrant frangipanis complement the audacious architectural elements.
Interiors by Alexandra Champalimaud
It is Champalimaud’s remarkable interiors that truly define Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta as a paragon of opulent hotel luxury design. Fusing modern Indonesian artwork, murals of old Batavia, French classical lines, hand painted gold leaf ceilings in various different shades, decorative brass doors, glittering Eastern European chandeliers and traditional Javanese stonework and sculptures, Champalimaud manages to make each venue dramatically distinct, while combining them to make a modern spectacle of Indonesian social life, a powerful backdrop and stage for the well-connected, fashionable and powerful to see and be seen.
“I like to design spaces that are well proportioned, beautifully detailed, layered, open and fluid,” said Alexandra Champalimaud. “I design with longevity in mind and forbid repetition; every work needs to be originally inspired as each job has its own message and personality. For Four Seasons Jakarta, we want guests to be enveloped by the spirit of the space at first arrival. We did this by creating an entrance of amazing scale, enormous height and elegance, while also making the space contemporary, fresh and young. Throughout the Hotel, we used a sophisticated palette and a lot of our details were inspired by both Asian and European cultures.”
Champalimaud was inspired by Jakarta’s long-established position on the global stage, and by its commercial trading history and the influence of many cultures on its character, in particular, Indonesia’s Dutch colonial period. First impressions are key, with guests enveloped by the spirit of the space upon arrival, being inspired and awed as they walk into the impressive entrance that, importantly, retains a sense of the contemporary – a fitting allegory for the modernistic face of Indonesia’s effervescent capital. With its grand staircase featuring hand-tufted custom carpet and lit by a magnificent crystal chandelier, a classical European aesthetic is reflected in the colour palettes, materials and finishes, fine furnishings and sophisticated lighting.
Art Collection – Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta presents throughout its public and private spaces a carefully-curated collection of artworks by contemporary and historic artists, creating a sense of being enveloped into the cultural heart of Indonesia; of place, history and momentousness. The collection is a historical journey through the rich fabric of Jakarta, with the first level paying homage to the very early days of the city, themed Indonesia – The Spice Island, Sunda Kelapa and Welcome to Batavia. Moving to the second floor, guests progress to the golden age of Dutch colonialism with artworks collated as Batavian Heritage before the fifth floor introduces Indonesia’s Finest.
This important work depicts the evolution of Indonesia into a great, unified country. In 1945, Jakarta became the capital of the new Indonesia, unifying thousands of ethnic groups and levels 6–19 are a tribute to the cultural panoply of the city as Jakarta – City of Diversity, with Javanese culture portrayed in the corridors, Betawi pieces in the guest suites, East and West Indonesian works in the Luxury Suite and Balinese influences in the Presidential Suite. Finally, guests arrive at the top, where level 20 is dedicated to Jakarta – The Urban City, with modern, contemporary works. Alongside the historical pieces throughout the Hotel are artworks inspired by Champalimaud’s French Deco interiors and standalone works that specifically complement the space they serve.
The Suites – The 125 guest suites are a play on the introduction of international culture to Jakarta, such as the Dutch in the 17th century. The suites capture the reciprocal nature of Asian/European cultures influencing each other. A mix of 18th, 19th and early 20th century furnishings, including “His” and “Hers” chairs, a chagraine coffee table and a sophisticated, gentle colour palette, play upon the colonial spirit of Jakarta but retain the embellishments of modern society. The delicate, elegant chinoiserie wallpaper featured on the panels within the suites in a palette of muted lilacs, cream and grey is calming, subtle yet uplifting, while original Indonesian artworks and lavishly appointed, Italian marble bathrooms give the suites the unmistakeable feeling of serene opulence.
Champalimaud’s refined design details and rich furnishings are punctuated with discreet, at-one’s–fingertips technologies and thoughtful considerations for which Four Seasons is known, including well-placed task lighting and a personal refreshment bar. The lavishly appointed 19th floor Presidential Suite, coming towards the end of 2016, will instantly have the most discerning of guests enraptured by its pure sense of scale and elegance. Champalimaud’s design is elegantly based upon neoclassical proportions, details and tones; the laying of patterns and colour are remarkably graceful and of unparalleled quality, from the superb furnishings to the subtle pink-hued gold leafing of the ceiling. From the stunning terrace that frames the city views to the grand interior spaces, every detail is considered and thoughtful in terms of the layout, the design and the curated bespoke furniture.
Palm Court – Given the circular nature of the building’s exterior and the space bathed in generous light in Palm Court, Champalimaud wanted to create a very strong space that would be both monumentally graceful and seductive, all at once. The skeleton of the structure involved columns, to which was added wings that grew outwards and forward, creating an opportunity for a central focus. Hanging from the 13-metre (43 foot) cupola ceiling, the custom-made Lasvit chandelier captivates. Inspired by the Bismarck palm tree that abounds locally, the chandelier – hand-made in the Czech Republic – is composed of 14 segments, each a constellation of 352 to 432 unique fanning crystals creates a feeling of splendour and affluence – a centrepiece that truly captures the entirety of the space. The outdoor dining terrace, designed in concert with Bensley, features natural timber trellis seating surrounded by richly decorated black andesite walls. The dining terraces overlook a beautiful lawn and Bismarck palm garden that includes five massive tapering timber lounge pavilions, providing a unique dining and drinking space overlooking a fire pit.
Nautilus Bar – The dominant design features of Nautilus Bar are the stunning art mural, depicting Jakarta’s old Sunda Kelapa trading port and its impressive backlit wall displaying varies bottles while the undulating carpet design continues the nautical theme, depicting the surrounding oceans and seas. The seating is comfortable and offers a variety of experiences. Hidden away banquets built into the extensive wall panelling are quiet, allowing for “shaded moments” where two people can sit and have a discreet discussion of importance. In contrast, the large lounge chairs situated in the middle of the space and crowned by the high ceilings, with dramatic millwork, allow for a more social experience. The masculine, classic design with a stunning mural, imposing bar, coffered ceilings, shaded banquets and social seating combine to make it a charismatic space that’s refined, bold and mysteriously magnetic.
La Patisserie – The design of chocolatier La Patisserie is very intimate, glamorous and feminine, an elegant, robin’s egg blue salon with the feel of an upmarket jewellery store. A place to meet and chat, have tea, coffee and a sweet indulgence while shopping for beautiful gift wrapped presents for a friend. The most important design element for the salon is the symmetrical floor design of a star in black and white. The walls float upwards from the eye-catching floor to a very high scale and the light flows in through the windows, highlighting the beautiful contrast between the bold floors, the dainty, blue coloured walls and the gold leaf ceiling.
The Spa – For The Spa, Champalimaud has created a fresh, clean but extremely seductive and elegant space for guests to fully indulge in. The whimsical nature of the entrance itself is reminiscent of a lotus flower, the jewelled lounge chairs in which guests wait are feminine and strong. The Spa is a clean and modern space. Guests of The Spa expect a pristine environment and soft, gentle experiences – this is a place where one tries to relax. This space has a contemporary Indonesian focus, largely due to the finishes used, that focuses the attention on the holistic experience.
The Library – The library, is a place where stories are told. The seating is comfortable with hidden away banquets where two people can sit and have a discussion of importance without being detected. There are large lounge chairs in the middle of the space crowned with high ceilings featuring gorgeous, hand-painted gold leaf tiles in an intricate pattern as a homage to traditional Indonesian design, and a defining presence of contrasting millwork. Booths are literally built in the panelling, for more quiet and shaded moments. Privacy is also obtained by selected lighting and the ability to set moods in different areas.
The Salons – At the top of the grand main staircase are “His” and “Hers” salons. These spaces speak to the graceful historical culture of Jakarta and Indonesia, where women and men’s differing habits and preferences are honoured. The men have a masculine and traditional “withdrawing room” to meet, discuss business and feel at ease, featuring more dramatic stepped ceiling mouldings and exotic wood veneers on the walls. The more feminine “Hers” salon opposite features subtle mouldings and upholstered panelling in warm light tones and is a place for women to comfortably enjoy more traditionally female pursuits. The flexible spaces form a yin to each other’s yang and are sensitively designed to encapsulate the charm and grace of Indonesian culture.
Alto – This fall, Alto Restaurant and Bar will open on the 18th floor. Upon reaching the restaurant, guests immediately step into a space that feels fluid and sensuous. The bar situated to the right of the entrance gives guests a moment to savour their own private moment in a more intimate, moody space. As guests continue down the hallway, they come to the restaurant, which is extremely rich, layered and somewhat exotic. The room is enveloped with deep tones of red and soft tones of ochre, mixed beautifully with polished woods with chic booths for moments of privacy for two to six people. Both the restaurant and the bar look out onto a terrace, which has jaw-dropping views of the city, a sparkling vista that enhances the plenitude within. The vision was to create and design a truly experiential place – a glamorous destination to truly savour and enjoy.
The international collaboration between architect César Pelli, interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud and landscape architect Bill Bensley has delivered a sublime, modern design masterpiece in the dynamic, fast-paced metropolis of Jakarta.
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