Following the Four Seasons Resort in Langkawi, the five-star chain has opened a second hotel in Malaysia, set in the capital city’s major entertainment hub; the Golden Triangle.
Housed within a newly established mixed-use skyscraper building and 65 storeys above the busy streets of the Golden Triangle, Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur has a total of 209 guest rooms and suites, serviced apartments for those looking for an extended stay and Four Seasons Private Residences. The building itself is part of Kuala Lumpur City Centre, a 40-hectare complex peppered with upscale shopping and dining places and is next to the iconic Petronas Towers.
The architecture was handled by Malay design firm NRY Architects whilst the interior design was the work of Wilson Associates. In keeping with Four Season’s motto of understated luxury the overall interior design puts emphasis on balanced volumes, forms, textures and tones. Everything from wood motifs and flora-inspired sculpture to artworks by local artists and Malay-style geometric-patterned air-conditioning frills seems to highlight the country’s strong culture and heritage.
The different colour schemes found throughout the hotel are deep blue greens, reflecting the colours of forests and oceans, pomegranate pinks that represent hibiscus, shades of grey as well as a warm sunset colour palette. All 209 rooms which comprise of 198 guest rooms and 11 suites are installed with floor-to-ceiling windows, giving unobstructed views of the city. Each room is furnished with contemporary furniture and complete with a marble bathroom. The marble is said to have been sourced from China and Italy with every piece of stone carefully selected and dry-laid to preserve its natural character.
For the dining area, designer-architect duo Ed Ng and Terence Ngan of Hong Kong-based AB Concept were the masterminds behind three of the hotel’s eateries: Yun House, The Lounge and Bar Trigona.
The first one is the main dining area, the word 'yun' itself means park in Cantonese and indeed the place was inspired by legends of past Canton voyagers. A decadent courtyard-style reception is front and centre to welcome guests along with an onyx table and a pewter back panel that is adorned with patterns of plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo and chrysanthemum flowers. these flowers represent the four seasons, also known as Four Gentlemen in Chinese art. Moreover, pewter tea canisters are on display along the corridor.
The Lounge is located on the sixth floor of the hotel directly overlooking KLCC Park, which can be seen through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The main concept of this lounge according to Ng and Ngan was a colonial residence inhabited by a collector of antiques. However, they steered away from using dark woods and heavy fabrics that were typical of antique-filled rooms and instead wanted to create a space that reflected the panoramic views of the park so they used pastel fabrics, blond woods and ivory marble as well as soft greens and yellows combined with lacquered baluster tables and wicker-back chairs.
The last one, Bar Trigona, is a bit tricky to find. There’s a discrete entryway in The Lounge that leads to the bar. It’s a swanky and intimate place to hang out, the cocktail bar is painted in shades of imperial blue and teal and adorned with leather, glass and bronze; all of which are materials traditionally used in Malaysian crafts. Meanwhile, the use of shutters on surrounding columns is an ode to the western influence.
Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur offers more than just a place to stay and dine in, it also has a spa, a fitness centre and pool as well as a 1,821 sqm event space that can be used to host many different events such as weddings, private parties and meetings.