Tucked into a verdant hillside on Sentosa Island, Raffles Sentosa Singapore emerges as a serene retreat where nature, narrative, and nostalgia quietly converge.
The all-villa property marks Yabu Pushelberg‘s inaugural collaboration with Raffles. The firm handled everything from the master planning and building design to interiors, landscaping, furniture, and art direction. The latter was executed in collaboration with Hanabi: Art and Artists.
Spanning 24 acres of tropical landscape, the resort features 62 private pool villas—ranging from one- to four-bedroom sanctuaries—that are each a study in quiet luxury, where travertine, warm wood, and soft textures mirror the island’s enveloping calm.
Where the journey begins
Inspired by the iconic façade of Raffles Singapore, the arrival building greets guests like a grand tropical mansion, where sunlight casts shifting patterns across screens by day and amber arches glow softly by night.
Inside, the Raffles Room, an open-air salon, sets the tone for pause and connection, while the hidden Chairman’s Room—wrapped in blue-green millwork and antique mirrors—offers an intimate, after-dark counterpart.
Immersed in the landscape
A network of footpaths, designed by P Landscape, gently leads guests through the terrain. From the elegant ballroom clad in French Oak with light-filtering glass, to the glass-encased Garden Room above, each venue balances grandeur with a deep connection to nature.
The pool deck unfolds with a 98-foot pool flanked by private cabanas and views of the treetops beyond.
Culinary experiences
The Empire Grill, an all-day dining destination, extends the resort’s narrative of discovery with hand-painted murals and a chef’s table anchored by a monumental onyx slab.
Nearby, Royal China and Iyasaka by Hashida anchor the resort’s culinary identity. By day, their dark-hued slatted forms fade into the landscape; by night, they glow lantern-like against the foliage.
The villas at Raffles Sentosa Singapore
The villas, each comprising a living and sleeping pavilion and a private pool, are crafted with travertine, wood, and mirrors that reflect the surrounding jungle. Meanwhile, curated art—including a whimsical mural by Andre Wee that draws inspiration from William Farquhar’s botanical illustrations—nods to Singapore’s layered natural and cultural history.
“Raffles Sentosa Singapore is the granddaughter of the original Raffles Singapore—she carries her grandmother’s DNA but embodies a modernity that is both gracious and entirely her own,” says Yabu Pushelberg founders George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg. “As our first resort project where we had the opportunity to shape every aspect of the design, this project represents the fullest expression of our studio’s multidisciplinary approach.”
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