Project Type: Design & Build
Client: PAZ Holdings
Located on the corner of Jalan Pemancha in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, the Brunei Hotel is a historic landmark, being the country’s first hotel established in 1957.
The hotel’s interior design and planning was entrusted to Luxe Development and LX Architects in 2020.
YELO, the hotel’s revived restaurant and café, aims to offer a modern and nostalgic atmosphere to its patrons. It achieves this by creating a contrast in its narrative, juxtaposing old and new, neutral and bold elements in a balanced dialogue.
The entrance of YELO is a prominent, bright, and hovering yellow volume that creates an impactful and functionally versatile space for displays and events. The restaurant layout was reimagined to impart a more open, energetic character, and retro touches were added to infuse vibrancy and nostalgia. Terrazzo stone tabletops with colorful detailing and mismatched informal seating, along with glossy small-format tiles cladding the existing columns, reflect a lively and animated effect on their surfaces, reminiscent of the past.
In conclusion, the revived Brunei Hotel’s YELO restaurant and café successfully integrates modern and nostalgic elements to create a bright, fun and communal space. Its design highlights the vibrant and retro character of the city in a new, refreshed perspective.
Photographer: Fabian Ong
