Since it opened in March 2006, The New Majestic Hotel has collected international accolades for its unique design. Its owner Loh Lik Peng commissioned Colin Seah and Ministry of Design (MOD), “who breathed life into the old building with intelligence and fun” and the result: “a stimulating brew of local culture, design and the arts that pries apart the moulds of convention.”

“I wanted it to be a reflection of our times – at least from a particular point of view, that of the contemporary global nomad. I guess I was designing for people like myself. Another factor was the historic site, both physical and cultural”, says Colin Seah.

“What was interesting is that the client never resorted to tear sheets (or what some people call ‘mood boards’) to discuss the essence of the project. It was never so much an = issue of aesthetics but more a commentary or reflection of what I saw around me.”

“I love working on hospitality projects. It’s the strange ‘no man’s land’ between the permanence of a homestead and a moment of fleeting entertainment like a play or restaurant experience. This hybrid quality can be dominated neither by functional or banal requirements nor pure decoration or aesthetics – instead, both play a role. This is what I exploited in the New Majestic Hotel, making functional things, entertaining, and rendering something banal, spectacular”

Dr Erwin Viray of the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore says, “All the works of Colin Seah and MOD define Colin Seah and MOD: it is the attitude of exploration that defines the body of work and that sets it apart from many others.” Intimations of this attitude were revealed from an early age when, at the age of 3, Colin would arrange the family’s array of slippers in descending order of size, or colour-sort his Lego bricks, with which he spent hours on end. Significantly, he also designed spaceships and space bases, ultimate symbols of exploration and every year, he would request for another Lego set for Christmas or his birthday.

The spirit of exploration is the essence in MOD’s mission statement and mantra: To Question, Disturb and Redefine. Colin says, “This keeps me going. Curious and courageous clients keep me going!”

“We must be careful not to merely pander to the demands of the clients but to raise the level of inquiry and discourse. The design community needs to be more critical of itself, not just with standards of output, but also with the genesis of ideas. Sophisticated ideas stand a better chance of being developed into sophisticated products or experiences.”

In addition to maintaining a busy practice, Colin finds time to teach at the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore. This keen desire to impart knowledge to others stems from his own love for learning, instilled by his teachers at University of Arizona. He continues to maintain a balance in the different areas of his life.

“One of my first few memories was during an internship at Rem Koolhaas’ practice, Office of Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam. We were designing places, which were about Life, Density, Multilayered Activity. Ironically, we had no life outside the office. It was work, work, work, At the end, I was parched and drained. I vowed that if I were to continue being an architect, I would constantly expose myself to Life’s many experiences and live! These days, I love observing the things around me, especially people and how they behave and interact with others and the spaces around them. Travel is also a high priority for my wife and myself.”