IN THE FLOW

For ANDRÉ FU, travel isn't so much a means of inspiration as it is a way to detach from everyday life to approach his work from fresh perspectives.

- AARON DE SILVA

When you think of luxury hotels or high-end restaurants in the region, there's a high chance that Hong Kong-based architect and interior designer Andre Fu has had a hand in its design. A visionary and globetrotter, Fu is renowned for his ability to transcend boundaries. The spaces he crafts speak a universal language of beauty, yet whisper tales of far-flung locales.

In Singapore, Fu is best known for his work in the Fullerton Bay Hotel, Andaz Singapore and the refresh of Capella Singapore in 2021, alongside the F&B venues in those properties. On his home turf, it was The Upper House that catapulted him to fame in 2009. He has since lent his signature touch of "relaxed luxury" to Kerry Hotel, K11 Artus and St Regis Hong Kong.

"What has been interesting in my career is that I got to be involved in a lot of hospitality projects," he shares over a Zoom call. "It's a way for me to communicate my feelings for a city or destination. Once I've created that property, people who are travelling into the city and staying in that particular property are seeing the city through my eyes."

Fu says that the most rewarding aspect of working on hospitality projects is getting to understand a culture from firsthand experience, and then distilling the essence of that culture into his designs. This he achieves through his interactions with local teams on the ground, such as craftsmen, artisans and graphic designers.