Ed Ng and Terence Ngan from Hong Kong-based AB Concept + Interior Design were the artistic force behind the W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak. They have recently won The International Hotel & Property Awards by UK-based design et al magazine, in the category of “hotels over 200 rooms”. Hazel Ho talks to them about global standards in luxury.
WHAT’S MOST SPECIAL ABOUT W RETREAT & SPA BALI – SEMINYAK?
Terence: The three-bedroom villa.
Ed: Yes, the three-bedroom villa adopts a very modern approach. People usually think that a Bali hotel should use a lot of wood or volcanic stone and we didn’t. We didn’t do this just to be different we did it as were trying to reinterpret the concept of “indoor” and “outdoor”.
HOW DO YOU MAKE A HOTEL FEEL LIKE HOME AWAY FROM HOME?
E: The style. We work with a lot of hotel groups that are luxury brands. The problem is they try very hard to tell you they are luxury – in the way that they present a lot of things just to impress you.
T: Just to show off.
E: Yes, they are just showing off. Most of the time, when we design we focus on comfort. We think on the basis of practicality first, and aesthetics come after that. Terence received training in architecture, so he is concerned more with the proportions, while I focus more on look and feel, the atmosphere. Of course both of these factors are vital. Thus, the hotels that we design are both appealing and practical. You won’t feel that the bedroom or bathroom is oversized.
WHAT ITEMS DO YOU NEVER LEAVE ON A TRIP WITHOUT?
E: iPhone. It is way too important. When I want to visit a restaurant, instead of asking the concierge turn left or right, I would rather use my iPhone to check and walk like a local. And when you are in Paris, for example, you will have to translate…
T: Yes, iPhone, for sure.
DO YOU MIX WORK WITH LEISURE WHEN TRAVELLING?
E: It depends. Shopping and eating make me happy. If I am visiting some cultural destinations, such as New York or London, I will visit museums and go to musicals.
T: Museums are top of my list.
E: If Terence and I have a free weekend, we try to go to art galleries. We love spending time appreciating local artists’ work. This is very important.
WHICH CITY INSPIRES YOU MOST?
E: Paris, for sure. All you need to do in Paris is relax, walk on the street, have fun, sit down at a café and look at the people. And if you walk around, you will just come across so many museums and art galleries everywhere you go. Not many cities can offer you such a great combination of shopping and art.
T: It has to be Paris for me as well.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE – AND HATE – ABOUT TRAVEL?
E: I hate packing so much. I get pissed off every time when I pack. It is so stressful because I don’t want to miss anything, especially those electronic gadgets. Why can’t things be easier? Why can’t things be more universal? The European Union just introduced the micro USB but they should have done it since day one. These kinds of trivial matters make me so stressed; for example, I have to make sure my pocket square matches my shoes and socks. I have to run through the whole trip in my mind when I pack. What I love about travel is I keep discovering new things. Design is all about inspiration. We have to be inspired so we need to find inspiration all around us.
T: Same as Ed…but I have less gadgets.
