KOHLER Experience Center Singapore

Located in Singapore’s downtown district and housed in a three-storey conservation shophouse on Peck Seah Street, the Experience Center is an interactive showcase for Kohler’s bathroom and spa products housed under one roof. The space is deliberately revealed as a series of five semi-open ‘display suites’, each designed with a distinctive theme (fashion, hi-tech, family, classic and black).

The entrance of the centre is anchored by a gallery space that showcases the brand’s history, interactive digital media walls, glass display cases with original castings, and special pieces re-imagined as jewellery. Light timber-panelled walls with black metal trims, plush carpeting and open ceilings give the interiors an airy yet refined atmosphere. The remaining public spaces include a live kitchen, consultation areas and flexible seating arrangements that can be adapted to suit various functions, such as meetings, events and exhibitions.

To pay homage to the architecture of the place, a key element in LTW’s design philosophy, the design team integrated features such as laser-cut batik panels and Peranakan-inspired flooring tiles.

Furniture items were handpicked from Restoration Hardware, an American interior décor brand known for their contemporary furniture,
fixtures and accessories inspired by the rustic craftsmanship period. “We felt these items were a perfect complement to the 19th century American home aesthetic that alludes to Kohler’s beginnings as a company, as well as the historic nature of the building this Experience Center is located,” says LTW partner Teo Su Seam.

The design team created different environments for each bathroom suite to showcase Kohler’s sanitary products in a quirky way by allowing the construction of the suites to be completed in a ‘pop-up’ manner; these spaces have the flexibility to be updated as often as required.

The second level of the Experience Center features an open-plan layout to showcase Kohler’s Sustainability and Konnect products. Two
contrasting colours and textures have been used at opposite ends of the space—red to symbolise creativity; and blue to represent the mutual collaboration with sister brands, Jacob Delafon and Kallista.

Dedicated to the newest Kohler products, the third floor of the centre invites visitors to experience the range in an intimate and cosy setting.

“This was both an immersive and intensive process for us. Using a theatrical approach, we wanted to tell a story about each collection that is dramatic and multifaceted,” adds Teo. “From getting to know the wide range of high-quality products from Kohler’s various lines to delivering the end result in a very compressed schedule, our team was very excited to work on such a unique interior project.”

PROJECT DATA
Project Name: KOHLER Experience Center Singapore
Location: 52/56 Peck Seah Street, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore
Completion Date: June 2017
Project Site Area: 1,116.88 square metres
Gross Floor Area: 739.85 square metres
Building Height: 3 storeys; 13.29 metres
Client: Kohler Co
Interior Design Firm: LTW Designworks Pte Ltd
Principal Designer: Teo Su Seam
Lighting Consultant: LTW Designworks Pte Ltd
Interior Fit-Out Contractor: Huading & Zinta
Images: LTW Designworks Pte Ltd