HOTEL PENAGA IN THE HEART OF A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE MALAYSIA

HOTEL PENAGA, in the heart of Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia, is in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Owners, Hijjas Kasturi, a well-known Malaysian architect, and his environmentalist wife Angela, converted a cluster of 15 pre-war terraces and shophouses, facing Hutton Lane, Transfer Road and Clark Street, into a boutique hotel that maintains the character of the heritage zone while meeting the highest modern expectations.

Hotel Penaga gets its name from Tanjong Penaga, meaning the cape where the penaga trees grow. This was the original Malay name for the first settlement on Penang Island, where GeorgeTown stands today.

It is not unusual for Malay places to be named for the plants that were found there. Penaga trees (Calophyllum inophyllum) grow on the seashore, produce excellent wood and have traditional medicinal qualities. While there are no penaga trees left in GeorgeTown, the name is an echo of the original place that we thought worth commemorating, and we have planted some penaga trees in our hotel garden.

Spending the afternoon inspecting Penaga boutique Hotel and Eastern & Oriental Hotel with such gorgeous views!—
JAN SHIM (@janshim) May 22, 2011

VISIT MY FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF HERITAGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL PENAGA

The first thing I noticed soon after I got out of the van was this pair of rather ancient brass door knobs that accent the wooden doors at the entrance. I never asked about its origin.

Located in the heart of GeorgeTown, Hotel Penang is wholly owned by internationally renowned architech Hijjas Kasturi. This hotel is a hotel with its own heritage charm with finest modern hotel expectations.

One of the rooms we inspected, the Deluxe Rooms available with and without balcony. The moody ambiance a result of the afternoon sun streaming through the nostalgic window panes.

The ‘antique’ Chinese furniture pieces in the hotel are actually contemporary reconstructions made in Zhongshan from remnants of old furniture. Their old Asian cottage aesthetic fits the age and ambience of our buildings and makes each room unique. The kitchen equipment, spa baths, LED lights, table lamps, modern furniture and the many wood carvings and wedding beds were sourced from Guangdong, giving Hotel Penaga a Chinese ambience. In Indonesia, too, we found many furnishings that suited us perfectly, like the white glass pendant lights, contemporary but reminiscent of the old Dutch style; the Venetian mirrors; and the modern stained glass that we used to create feature windows, mixing the art deco style of Frank Lloyd Wright with a Chinese aesthetic. 

The Hutton Room features reconstructed Chinese antique furniture, beautiful beds, restored timber floors, Jacuzzi baths and separate showers, and individual art works from emerging or established artists.

One of the most frequented areas of interest of any hotel inspection is how wonderful their bathrooms are and the one at home isn't. Here, Jacuzzi poweredbaths and separate walk-in shower facilities in all rooms.

The Cinnamon Restaurant offers fusion Cuisine, Tanglung Bar and Library Lounge featuring Asian inspired and traditional Tapas. A generous buffet breakfast included in all tariffs, and all-day dining from the fusion menu that includes a few local classics.

The restoration and redevelopment of Hotel Penaga has used recycled materials wherever possible. The roof tiles have been salvaged from demolished buildings in Penang. The timber for structures and floors has been sourced from demolished colonial period buildings throughout the Peninsula. The reconstructed ‘antique’ furniture is from southern China where bits and pieces of old pieces are refabricated. Elsewhere new materials are generally handmade, like the encaustic cement patterned floor tiles from Vietnam and Indonesia, where they still use 80 year old presses and techniques. Carpets are either handmade bamboo mats from east Malaysia, patchwork kilims from Turkey, patchwork cow skin from China or sisal from India.  

This photo illustrates the hotel's neighbourly pre-war terraces and shophouses. Built above ground, the lap pool is long enough for a workout, or just a cooling dip, and features a spa corner for extra muscle relaxing.

Penaga Spa is inspired by the healing qualities of the indigenous plant of the Malay Peninsula. Years of research have unearthed the many benefits of the penaga tree, which contribute to the hotel’s holistic approach of well-being. The Penaga Spa feature sancient remedies and treatments to rejuvenate the the body, calm the mind and uplift the spirit.

Penaga Spa features 3 double treatment rooms where guests can relax after a hard day's exploring and eating (pretty much like how we're feeling after an exhausting few days before this).

Spa features an in-house hair salon for a quick restorative session, manicure and pedicure, or a longer facial treatment. Either choice, I'm pretty sure it's invigorating and relaxing. Perhaps too relaxing I'll have second thoughts about proceeding with the remaining of our day's itinerary.

Penaga Spa's hallmark of botanical ingredients, infused with repairing vitamins and antioxidants, replenishing minerals and nourishing essential oils.

The Tanglung Bar on Hutton is the place to go for a refreshing drink or a unique cocktail.

VISIT MY FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF HERITAGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL PENAGA

Although we live outside Kuala Lumpur, we have long been fascinated by the architectural and cultural history of GeorgeTown. In 2008, we bought three rows of pre-war Art Deco double-storey terraces in GeorgeTown, and decided to convert them into the sort of hotel in which we would like to stay while exploring the delights of this city. By the time we bought them, many of the terraces had been left vacant and all had fallen into disrepair. A thorough renovation, respecting our twin interests of architecture and environmentalism, was needed to convert the site into a viable, beautiful and comfortable hotel. — Hijjas Kasturi and Angela.

I posted 25 photos on Facebook in the album "HOTEL PENAGA, GEORGETOWN, PENANG" fb.me/HCfiSPTQ—
JAN SHIM (@janshim) August 19, 2011

After Hotel Penaga, we headed to The Eastern & Oriental Hotel for high tea and second hotel inspection.

BOUTIQUE HOTEL WANDERLUST IN LITTLE INDIA SINGAPORE

wanderlust (noun) \ˈwän-dər-ˌləst\ – an irresistibly strong desire or an impulse to travel far away and explore different places.

Wanderlust is a left-field and totally experimental boutique hotel set to draw madcap voyagers and curious travellers to its doorstep. Located in Little India – a bustling cultural enclave where Indian immigrants once settled, and the building was originally an old school built it 1920s. With four thematic levels of 29 rooms by award winning Singapore design agencies, each group was given full creative freedom. — Wanderlust

[ Official Wanderlust website | Facebook ]
MORE IMAGES FROM MY TWO-NIGHTS STAY AT WANDERLUST HOTEL

An after hours photo of the Wanderlust facade after spending an entire day at the Marina Bay Sands.

Industrial element theme at the lobby designed by ASYLUM with an interesting mix of furniture & texture.

August 7, 2010 4-IN-WANDERLUST
The Straits Times – Life! – Boutique hotelier Loh Lik Peng gave Chinatown a hip designer touch when he opened 1929 in 2003 and New Majestic Hotel in 2006. Now, he is hoping to do the same to Little India, Wanderlust (below), in Dickson Road. There are 29 rooms in the four-story building, which was previously Hong Wen School and later the Buddhist Welfare Association. But no fewer than four design firms got involved in its design.

Upon checking in, hotel guests get a copy of the Wanderlust Itinerary booklet that contains useful information about the hotel and recommended travel hotspots in Singapore.

Level 2 – Eccentricity by :phunk Studio
Colours everything from the walls to the neon lights and the rainbow corridor leads to a outdoor deck with a customised mosaic-tiled jacuzzi.

This was my room — one of 10 rooms on Level 2 are ‘capsule-like’ and playfully rendered in different hues. Incidentally "Pantone Cyan" is name of a song by "Why?" The mattress is soft perhaps too soft for my liking due to a nagging back discomfort. Room size is just nice if you're traveling alone or with a partner.

In each room there's an LCD TV, a Philips iPod and iPhone docking entertainment system and for lovers of coffee, there's a Nespresso Essenza coffeemaker!

As soon you open the door, you'll see how the shower and toilet have been neatly integrated into the two glass capsules and there's still room for a wardrobe and a wash basin. Studio apartment redefined.

The shower area is plenty big for one person (comfortably accommodates two), shower options include hand-held shower head (see Facebook album) or an amazing rain shower (see pic). Shower gels and shampoo made by KIEHL'S just in case it matters. The bed is elevated a notch to give you a sense of personal space.

Level 3 – Is it just Black and White by DP Architects
Walk across the black corridor and enter into the contrasting white rooms to discover Origami and Pop-Art works.

There are 8 rooms on Level 3 that are inspired by paper, a mixture of Origami and Pop-Art.

The coloured "strips" are active lights, cycles between blue, red, purple colour from memory.

A view of the FLOWER room with a different bathroom design than PANTONE.

This mono themed room is called DIRECTIONLESS.

Level 4 – Creature Comforts by fFurious
Get cosy with friendly monsters in each room that presents a different vibe and be assured of a fantasy-filled experience.

Checked out of Wanderlust with a heavy heart especially after having just toured the other rooms. OTW to check in Fort Canning Hotel #fb—
JAN SHIM (@janshim) March 26, 2011

Lobby Level – Industrial Glam by Asylum
A juxtaposition of the surrounding’s setting and contemporary design.

Having French at Little India might sound like a dodgy idea, but not if it’s at Cocotte. If you’ve found Wanderlust, you won’t miss Cocotte (pronounced koh-kote). This intimate restaurant uses Le Creuset cookware to present some of their tasty traditional French fare (and perhaps up the ante on French authenticity). But fear not, the fare presented to us was hearty, honest and as colourful as the pots they were served in. — Luann Alphonso | August Man, Sept 2010

[ Official Restaurant Cocotte website | Facebook | Press Release | Reviews ]
MORE IMAGES FROM MY BREAKFAST MORNINGS AT COCOTTE RESTAURANT

This boutique hotel deserves a two thumbs-up from me but I had to hold my Powershot G11 for this self-portrait against this Little India themed wallpaper. So yeah, TWO THUMBS-UP for WANDERLUST!