Adventures at sea

A speakeasy lounge evokes Joseph Conrad’s high seas novel Set of Six – porthole-like windows, a 'Call for champagne' button and an Instagrammable vibe were all part of the Hot Design Folks vision

Detail of the main bar: behind the bottle-filled

Detail of banquette seating and furniture in the

Detail view of the round wall mirrors adding

Detail of the DJ booth, marble table design,

View of the private room banquette, mirrors and

The reception space with a black marble reception

View of the powder rooms and vanity area.

Designed by Evgeniya Lazareva, Hot Design Folks

From the interior design studio:

Project brief

Working with Head Chef and drinks consultant Proof & Company, we were tasked to create a speakeasy-esque lounge concept with a strong focus on gastronomic experiences, pairing unique crafted cocktails with elevated finger food.

The space needed to cater for live DJs and music performances, and create a layered guest experience by offering different entertainment areas with unique drinks and music programs.

Seletti monkey lamps and Cole & Sons wallcoverings, personal favourites of the owner, had to be featured in the interior.

The owner also requested for an engaging instagrammable spot to build the brand's presence and appeal to millennials.

Project description

Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s Set of Six book, the lounge captures the writer's sailing days alongside Captain Craig – the same captain who gave the name to the street where the lounge is situated.

Playful decorations, found antiques, plantation shutters and bespoke furniture convey 1880s colonial era aesthetics.

Spice jars and an apothecary cabinet dominate the front room that disguises the entrance to the lounge.

Behind a concealed door, a private room offers cocktails and champagne with a 'Call For Champagne' button.

Circular mirrors hint at porthole windows; detailing of woodwork and the curved bar are a nod to the vessel's architecture.

Three-tiered shelves near the ceiling call to mind the hull laden with valuable cargo of spice and gunpowder.

The lounge's centre sports an antique map of Indochina reproduced from a 17th century original.

Feature juxtaposed mirrors create a play of reflections, while infinity ceiling mirrors spice up the design.

The concept fuses together Singapore’s cultural heritage and historical facts, as well as references to the celebrated literature work.

From decor and lighting to branding and menu, all elements derive from a single storyline of 'adventures at sea'.

The result is a wholesome, balanced concept and a unique guest experience.

Project challenges

Set of Six took over an existing F&B outlet, and one of the challenges was to minimise waste and ensure a more sustainable takeover of the space.

Working through the 2020 lockdown, we also juggled shortage of supplies and factory closures that resulted in delays and issues with product and material availability.

Lastly, in view of new safe distancing regulations, we needed to rethink the seating layout to suit the latest requirements.

Design response

In order to minimise wastage, we re-used all existing kitchen equipment, the existing air conditioning system, and some key sanitaryware pieces.

The existing bar was salvaged and repurposed to create the feature three-tier shelves, becoming one of the signature elements of the design.

We also equipped the project with energy efficient LED light fixtures.

To avoid delays and ensure timely completion, we had to look for alternative suppliers for several elements.

Originally specified in Indonesia, terrazzo and furniture suppliers were changed to Vietnamese.

Soon after the change, however, Vietnam's supply chain was also disrupted, so these items were finally sourced in China and locally in Singapore.

To tackle safe distancing regulations, we reshuffled the layout to propose an alternative that retains the cozy, sultry atmosphere of the space while ensuring the safety of the patrons and satisfying all the latest regulatory measures.