KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—The Saujana Kuala Lumpur may have lost its status as an international airport hotel, but it is fast staking its position as the only city resort hotel in this country today.
The property was affected by the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s move to a new terminal in the district of Sepang in Selangor in 1998. It has since bounced back to regain its past glory.
The recent US$17-million renovation on The Club at The Saujana gave the hotel a much-needed boost. Reshaped by the experienced hands of world-renowned, award-winning interior designer Jaya Ibrahim of Jaya & Associates, The Club re-opened in September. It adopts a contemporary Asian concept in line with the signature style of Singapore-based General Hotel Management a luxury hotel management and development company..
The Club is one of three five-star properties located on 160 hectares of land belonging to a local owner, Peremba (Msia) Sdn Bhd. Along with The Saujana Kuala Lumpur and The Saujana Golf & Country Club, it is managed by GHM.
What sets The Club apart from The Saujana is the landscaping. Jaya redesigned the garden area to create two distinct settings to differentiate the properties. At The Club, he promoted his ‘living-in-the-tropics’ concept around the lush greenery that surrounds the area. Vast areas of green grass shadowed by tall trees are complemented by an existing water feature. In the evening, soft lights from the on-site restaurant and candles placed in two-feet-high holders bathe the building in a romantic glow.
“We do not want the garden too colorful,” said Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, general manager of The Saujana Kuala Lumpur and The Club at The Saujana. “Now there are lesser plants. The landscape is designed such that it is very minimalist.”
This concept also flows neatly into the interior of the hotel. The décor is tasteful, reflected by the many exclusive décor pieces brought from all over Asia. Using the existing architecture to create what he described as a “fresh look,” Jaya conjured a lifestyle that is rich in Asian flair and tastes, reflecting not only Malaysia’s rich culture but also Asia in general.
“The owners want the lobby to be formal but masculine, and so Jaya came up with this contemporary style that’s distinctively Asian, modern and contemporary,” Pichler said.
The new interior features Burmese teak in the rooms and lobby with dark wood furniture. Most of the furniture and fittings were designed by Jaya. Matching colors of whites, cream, beige and shades of browns and reds complement the rest of the settings, while stones, terrazzo, granite and slate are used extensively, especially in the bathrooms.
“The concept and design are unique to The Club, but the earth colors found throughout the property are borrowed from The Chedi and The Setai (two of Jaya’s other works),” Pichler said.
Those colors reflect another of Jaya’s award-winning traits: achieving harmony in designs through clever play of tone and hue.
One other significant feature of the resort is the roof tiles, their style borrowed from the traditional Malay homes of olden days. These have been retained, reflecting Jaya’s earnestness in conserving Malaysia’s culture through its architecture.
Jaya further creates the illusion of space by maximizing the use of sliding doors and arches with which to separate different areas in the resort. This design concept also can be seen in guestrooms. Every piece of décor was specially selected for its unique qualities, such as linen from Ireland and decorative pieces from Italy and Southeast Asia. These items can also be purchased at the newly built boutique located next to the hotel’s driveway.
“The Club’s winning point is actually a combination of things,” Pichler said. “It is the little things that make the difference. The most important thing that Jaya stressed on was not imposing on guests’ space by flooding them with too many colors and distracting their visual enjoyment.
“He wants guests to walk into a room and feel comfortable instantly,” Pichler added.
“Before, we were considered outdated, but now people will want to be here and experience what we can give.”
Most guests at The Club are business travelers. Leisure guests on stopover from GHM’s other properties in Malaysia are those who frequent the two 18-hole championship golf courses at the Saujana Golf & Country Club. But with the upgrading of The Club, Pichler has targeted travelers from new segments including Australia, the Middle East, Europe, Russia and Southeast Asia (Jakarta, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila and Hong Kong).
“We are giving The Club a year to see its growth and expansion before we decide on further development of the area. We plan to be the finest hotel in Asia,” he said.