The Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya masterfully mixes art and design to curate an exquisite experience for guests.
Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya
Photo by Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya doc and Octavio Baldacchino
The Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya, which opened in 2014, offers guests five-star service and accommodation, thanks in large part to its general manager, Christiane Wasfy, who takes care of the property for Swiss-Belhotel International, the world- renowned luxury hotel management firm.
"While Surabaya has many 15-to-20 year old properties, this is entirely different, with a more modern feel and a boutique feel that's friendlier and brighter," Wasfy says. The luxuriousness of the Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya stems from a focus on design as well as art thatÕs unique for Swiss-Belhotel International as well as Ciputra, according to the Austrian-born Wasfy.
Let's take a closer look.
While easy access to the Ciputra World Mall has attracted guests from nearby Malang and other cities; the art on display at the hotel has been a particular draw for younger clientele, particularly those from Japan. "Pak Ciputra loves art," Wasfy says, describing the hotel's owner as one of the biggest collectors of the works of Hendra Gunawan, the late Indonesian master whose paintings have recently sold for career highs at auction in Hong Kong.
Hendra's creations, in exquisite reproduction, are ubiquitous in the hotel's public spaces, along the works of the Swedish-born, Bali-based artist Richard Winkler. There are also Botero-inspired cherubic figures greet guests at the concierge desk, in the elevators, and most commandingly in the hotel's eighth-floor lobby, where two immense (and obese) ballerinas dance in effigy.
The vast marble-floored space, which has floor-to-ceiling windows that curve to one side, offers an excellent stage for the sculptures. Reception, meanwhile, is backed by almost one hundred chrome lamps. At night, the space glows in the amber light of an immense, undulating chandelier. Wasfy says that while perhaps first perceived as strange, the statues and The Lobby itself have quickly become a favourite of local guests when taking selfies.
Opposite is The Lounge, which, according to Wasfy, has become a favoured hangout of the city's sophisticates and artists. Fashionistas have also gotten into the game, recently enjoying a preview of Max Mara's latest collection as models paraded through the space. Through a trellis and open entryway from the lobby, The Lounge, which is oval-shaped, has a central island flanked by comfortable chairs where a daily afternoon tea is offered. Opposite the entryway, a full bar displays a selection of wine and spirits on racks that reach meters high and stands against a mirrored backdrop for a suggestion of glitz.
Elegance, here, has been imparted through design: Shallow booths, just large enough for two chairs a low table, are demarcated by plush curtains and near-invisible partitions running to the high ceiling. Mirrors reflect the views from the floor-to-ceiling windows opposite, where more booths await.
During the day, sunlight and the city views dominate. At night, the plushness of the decor balances with the inky blackness outside for an intimate feeling. The hotel offers another opportunity to indulge in opulent design in The Gallery, on the seventh floor. The all-day dining restaurant takes its moniker from the many reproductions of the works of Hendra Gunawan displayed throughout that attract almost as many selfies as does The Gallery's city views.
Divided into two, The Gallery features one room oriented on an immense reproduction of the master's "Kalkai Waru", or the Dry Leaf Tree. Curving along the wall, velvet-cushioned booths of delicate lavender give a sense of privacy in a pubic space. A large central island offers a selection of Western and Indonesian cuisine-and is capped by an oval ring above, depicting, in explosive colour, several more paintings by the master.
Opposite is a second dining room, separated by an immense velvet curtain, with windows overlooking Surabaya that are deliciously bathed in morning sunlight. There's also a view of another immense reproduction: Hendra Gunawan's "Ikan Mas II", or Gold Fish II.
Nearby is the stunning men's musholla. Sedate and minimalist, the prayer features a floor, walls and ceiling of brown-and-white marble that are accented by prayer rugs - as well as by a simple, crystal chandelier providing illumination. Of course, the centrepiece experience for any hotel guest is in their room. At the Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya, design has been deployed to maximise a sense of space, light and luxury, while the curve of the building imparts an open, organic feel to these spaces.
In the suites and Grand Deluxe rooms, bathrooms are demarcated by glass walls and doors. As a result, the spaces are flooded with light. Another benefit is that the panoramic view of the city and East Java is extended. Deliciously, a freestanding bathtub sits before floor-to-ceiling windows. It offers a romantic opportunity for a sunset or moonlight bath, while sipping a glass of wine and watching Surabaya unfold before you.
Curvaceous trim on square columns in white divides the entry space from the sleeping area, while the walls are adorned with exquisite reproductions of the cherubic ballerina paintings of Winkler that span the length of the bed.
Other elements such as a 47"-flat-screen television, an extensive pillow menu, in-room bar and Bluetooth speaker only accentuate the spirit of luxury thatÕs been fostered by a well-designed space.
One final treat awaits atop the hotel, on its 22nd floor: An open-air deck that features the city's first infinity pool, fronted by rattan beach chairs. Adjacent is a small, fully equipped fitness centre offering machines oriented toward floor-to-ceiling windows.
Some, however, are less athletically inclined and might be happy to wait until evening to immerse themselves in the infinity pool or its accompanying Jacuzzis. As the lights of the metropolis come on, the Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya offers guests one last chance to indulge in luxury and a dazzling view - by design.
Project Data
Project Name
Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya
Company Name
PT. Ciputra Sukses Mitra Hotel
Gross Floor Area
20,883 sqm
Number of Rooms
212
Room Sizes
30 sqm (deluxe room)
33 sqm (Superior deluxe room)
35.5, 37 and 42 sqm (Grand deluxe room)
63 to 66.5 sqm (Suites)
Master Plan
DP architect
Architecture Consultant
Airmas Asri
Interior Design Consultant
Jonas and Budi Associates (JBA)
Lighting Consultant
MAW Lighting
Main Contractor
Waringin Megah
Signage Consultant
PT. Bentuk
MEP Consultant
Metakom Pranata
Structure Consultant
CV. Benjamin Gideon and Associates
Commissioned Artists
Hendra Gunawan and Richard Winkler
Started Construction
April 2012
Completed
October 2014
Hotel Ciputra World Surabaya
Jl. Mayjen. Sungkono 87-89
Surabaya 60224
T +62 31 5120 1000
F +62 31 5120 1005
E rsvcws@swiss-belhotel.com
infocws@swiss-belhotel.com