As you pull up to the entrance of Raffles Sentosa and alight from your vehicle, you might be tempted to don a pair of yellow-tinted sunglasses — if only to recreate the notorious filter that saturates The White Lotus season three.

Of course, this isn’t the Four Seasons and you aren’t in Koh Samui. But there are parallels with the arrival experience, which is designed to instil calm, invoke a sense of anticipation, and serve as a reminder to leave your worldly cares behind. It is an escapist fantasy, for sure.

The design was orchestrated by Canadian designers George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg. They have been in the business for 45 years and, therefore, know a thing or two about design, especially when it comes to high-end hospitality, luxury retail and the homes you will see on Selling Sunset.

If you have ever visited the Louis Vuitton Canton Road store in Hong Kong or Bergdorf Goodman in New York or stayed in Bangkok’s Park Hyatt, then you will be familiar with the Yabu Pushelberg aesthetic. The firm’s signature style is best described as understated opulence: Think tall vertical lines, rounded silhouettes and metallic finishes.

Overt ornamentation is stripped away. Instead of high-gloss drama, the design duo prefers matte sophistication, using a material palette composed of brushed metal, hand-finished stone and soft textiles. Their spaces radiate elegance in a way that feels on-point, tactile and deeply considered.

On Sentosa, the pair oversaw every aspect of design in the 100,000 sq m resort, from master planning and architecture to interiors and art advisory. Luxury hospitality, they say, is shifting towards privacy, personalisation and finding a deeper connection with a place.

“The journey was planned as a series of unfolding scenes,” the pair explains in an email. “When you drive in, the road surface changes from pavement to crushed granite, signalling you’re leaving the city behind. The Arrival Building, reminiscent of classic Raffles design, sets the tone with its arches and dancing patterns of light.

“From there, footpaths meander through dense greenery, leading you to villas, dining spaces, and hidden nooks … It’s all about guiding guests through ever-changing landscapes and moods, ensuring that at every step, there’s a feeling of wonder.”

Shifting perspectives

Once upon a time, tropical resorts were grandiose affairs, influenced by European interpretations of tropical living. They were replete with ornate lobbies, muscular wooden furnishings and formal landscaping. Just think of the original Raffles Singapore, which in its earliest days faced the South China Sea.

The new, all-villa Raffles Sentosa has gone back to the beach, as it were: Paths lead guests straight to Tanjong Beach. This time, the approach leans towards low-key luxury, less about overt opulence and more about the luxury of space, harmonising with the environment and creating experiences that feel both indulgent and authentic.

Homage was paid to the original edifice, nonetheless. “We focused on capturing the emotions the original hotel evokes — grandeur, layered elegance, and a welcoming spirit — without replicating its colonial details,” the design duo shares.

“Instead, we reinterpreted key architectural elements to honour its legacy in a contemporary way. The arches, for example, pay homage to the classic façade of Raffles Singapore but are adapted with patterned screens and soft amber lighting.”

The experience, they say, is not just about moving through spaces but about the shifting atmosphere — how light, scale and materiality guide guests through changing moods. Each of the 62 villas is equipped with a private pool and outdoor terrace. These range from an entry-level, one-bedroom 211 sq m villa to the four-bedroom 650 sq m Royal Villa.

Meandering through the resort grounds, there’s a carefully orchestrated rhythm, which might be imperceptible to all but the most discerning of guests. “Each space is intentionally composed to feel distinct yet connected, offering a rhythm of openness and enclosure, energy and stillness,” the pair says.

A rich, natural material palette ties the resort to its surroundings. The designers used travertine throughout because of its timeless quality and ability to develop character with age. Warm wood tones add depth and contrast, while textured surfaces, from hand-painted murals to subtly veined stone, heighten the sensory experience.

“We treated each villa as its own sanctuary, individually oriented to maximise privacy and frame unique vantage points,” say Yabu and Pushelberg, adding that each was “designed for indoor-outdoor living”.

Travertine flooring carries from exterior to interior, dissolving the boundary between the two. Large windows and carefully positioned walls reflect the surrounding greenery into each room, reinforcing a sense of immersion. The duo says the art and furnishings are “rooted in tradition — rattan, spindle armchairs, and elegant fabrics — yet composed in a modern way.”

Private pools make swimming and lounging outdoors feel like a natural extension of the living space. Even the vegetation is thoughtfully curated to frame views and filter light, allowing the jungle’s textures and colours to become part of the design.

Local artistry is also woven into the resort’s identity. Yabu Pushelberg worked with local artists to create custom pieces, from calligraphic artwork in the bedroom by Ryan Loi to murals by Andre Wee, inspired by historical botanical illustrations and Sentosa’s bounty of flora and fauna.

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