Resorts World Sentosa
Sentosa, Singapore
OWNER: Resorts World Sentosa, a division of Genting Group
PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT: Michael Graves & Associates, Inc.: Patrick Burke, Principal-in-Charge & Lead Designer; with Michael Graves, Collaborating Designer
OTHER DESIGNERS: DP Architects, Associate Architect
CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR: Several
PROJECT COST: US$4.32 billion
Opened in February as the first gaming property in Singapore, Resorts World Sentosa is more of a resort city unto itself than a casino-hotel.
Sitting across the harbor from downtown Singapore on Sentosa Island, the 3.5 million-square-foot integrated resort includes six hotels, a casino, a spa, a 1,600-seat theater, outdoor performance venues, retail, food and beverage outlets, a convention center, a marina, a marina life park and the Maritime Xperiential Museum. On the adjacent property on the island are a Universal Studio Theme Park and the Equarius Hotel and Water Park. There is also a nature preserve atop a hill covered in lush tropical foliage, with walkways throughout, its top crest guarded by the “Merlion,” a sculptured mythical mermaid/lion creature—guests can climb through its interior.
In all, the 121-acre property is mind-boggling, and the master plan was the complete show of Michael Graves & Associates architects, and its Michael Graves Design Group division. MGA completed a master plan for the gargantuan complex, and designed all the interiors for the casino and four of the six hotels (all but the Equarius and a Hard Rock hotel on the property).
The Resorts World Sentosa property is essentially the Michael Graves firm’s masterpiece, calling on every strength of a diversely talented staff. “Sentosa brings together so many parts of our practice,” says MGA founder and principal Michael Graves. “It draws on the deep skill-set of my partners, and our talented staff, and it’s allowed us to demonstrate our architectural values on a larger canvas than ever before.”
At the core of Resorts World Sentosa are the casino and adjacent Crockfords Tower hotel, a luxury all-suite, 120-room facility that offers a contemporary take on early 20th century design. Deep, rich colors blend with inlaid wood details that recall luxury ocean liners of the period. The casino itself follows this same design, alternating between luxurious dark gaming areas and common bar areas with high ceilings and atriums.
Paired with Crockfords Tower is Hotel Michael, named for Graves and stamped with the firm founder’s vision throughout, from artwork painted personally by Graves in the hotel rooms to details as intricate as the signage in the property, done in a typeface created by the architect.
Perhaps the greatest achievement in this property is how the diverse elements are woven together with walkways, paths and even a sky tram to whisk guests from one experience to the other. There is an overall welcoming, fun aspect to the property that invites guests to roam between areas that are vastly different, yet have a common thread of the signature Graves design.
“I see Resorts World Sentosa as the fullest expression yet of the MGA design ethic,” says Principal-in-Charge Patrick Burke. “The emphasis is on people, and on creating environments that connect with them on a cultural as well as an emotional level.”
