In Macau, a tropical paradise beckons—only it is cast in a scintillating mirage of gold. It is no simple feat that lush, pleasant greens have been so flawlessly integrated into the luxurious extravagance of Galaxy Macau, and yet the Capella at Galaxy Macau achieves it in spades.
For starters, the integrated resort that is Galaxy Macau is in itself a wonder world. One that combines addresses that sit at the pinnacle of grandeur, all seamlessly connected to one another. Not just physically, but also in its astute service—a butler from The Ritz Carlton might bring you right to the doors of your new home at Capella, for example, ensuring the handover is faultless. Yet just as the guest experience shifts ever so slightly, the design language is rewritten too.
Stepping into the Capella at Galaxy Macau is a curious experience, one that slowly reveals exactly how this ‘gilded jungle’ has been thoughtfully conceived to wield art, remarkable design and top-notch service to its advantage. The former two, no doubt a result of the extraordinary collaborative work between interior design studio Moinard Bétaille’s founding duo, Bruno Moinard and Claire Bétaille. Together, tasked to envision a ‘residential sanctuary’ that incites pause, even in the cacophonic, glamourous buzz that underscores Macau.
No doubt this is gleaned immediately upon one’s first steps into this palatial tower. There is the Living Room, the Capella’s warm welcome and initial greeting extended to all guests; a respite that shrouds you from the world, protecting you in an encasement shaped like palm leaves. Or perhaps you would come across the forest canopy and spellbinding LED light installation on the ground floor first, one combined with an ambient soundscape that follows the time of day and how it would sound in the jungle. The sculptural forms that surround it are nature’s best—rocks forged in the ground, animals grazing, fireflies glowing.
What you most certainly wouldn’t miss would be the exquisite artwork that pepper nearly every possible surface, one beautifully achieved by Hong Kong artist Laura Cheung, of artisanal homeware brand Lala Curio. Her art also sets the backdrop in each of the residence’s bedroom suites; her green, wildlife-ridden tapestries, and the embellished textures that come with it. Her brilliant art sets the precedent too; throughout the entirety of the stately address, Moinard and Bétaille made sure to work with craftsmen and artists from the region.
Then, there are the shapes of water. Flowing, rippling all through the Capella at Galaxy Macau. Its sounds, the rivets of droplets, the way the walls curve around one another. Yet another important facet of its make—one Bruno Moinard himself was on site to offer his wisdom on: “You’ll find that water is present all throughout the property, a testament to Macau’s roots as a seaport.” Again, the hum of Macanese life whisks through.
To discover all there is to know about the ingenious design that has gone into the Capella and Galaxy Macau? Vogue Singapore speaks to the revered designer Moinard himself, who brings us deep into the trove of his realised imagination.
When you were first approached to work on Capella at Galaxy Macau, what were you thinking and what was your starting approach?
I first met some of the representatives from Galaxy Macau and then three months later, they came back to say, “We’ve met every other architect in France, and we only want to work with you.” I don’t know why.
I’ve done work with Cartier and Hermès before, and I think overall, a space is very important. How it melds with the atmosphere, the lighting. But really, I think most importantly, it’s about listening to what my client wants. It’s important to figure out what their starting point is, and it’s what makes the eventual development possible.
Understandably, it’s because you’re brilliant. Tell me more about the jungle theme of the hotel’s design and what makes it stand out amongst other luxury properties here?
For the jungle theme, it’s like the water that nourishes Macau. It’s really different for a hotel here, with a completely new imagination. The idea is also to invoke an element of surprise amongst guests.
When you first arrive on the ground floor, you’re surrounded by nature on the screen. You step in, and you’re leaving the craziness and noise of the city and casino behind. The jungle screen moves so slowly and naturally, it evokes that slowness and sense of calm, like you’re in a different space.
And from the water on the ground floor too, there’s the ‘Tree of Life’, and I’d like to say that it gives life to the rest of the hotel as well. It was very important to leverage simplicity, because all the other hotels are incredibly glamorous and OTT, so instead it was about infusing calmness and simplicity.
What aspects of Macau influenced the design of the hotel?
A lot of the details are Macanese inspired. Macau has a very strong tradition of artisans, particularly iron workers. It’s something that emerged because of colonialism, during Portuguese’s rule of Macau.
Ironwork is beginning to fade away in Macau, as Macau becomes increasingly known for its casinos. But there’s still a strong memory of the port’s artisanal and traditional craftwork, especially ironwork, and it’s something we wanted to utilise and honour in the property, so we worked with about 20 artisans from Macau.
There’s also Macau’s propensity towards creating spectacle and amping up on the theatrics. We did that through elements that have never really been done in Macau before, like the outdoor pool on the terrace in the bigger suites.
You mentioned working with the artisans, so we have to talk about the work with Laura Cheung. How did that collaboration come about?
There were a lot of online conversations with the clients; Galaxy Macau has a team dedicated to thinking about the artists they want to work with. So with the jungle theme in mind, they did already have an idea of the artists whom they wanted to work with for this property, and brought Laura on board. Everything happened very quickly and there was a constant exchange of ideas happening.
Like the silk finishing on the walls of her art, that was Laura’s idea and it worked. Here, I might be the conductor of an orchestra, but I need to work with everyone’s best strengths and their ideas. Only then, can the music piece come together harmoniously, through conversation and constant communication.
Gold is such a focal element of Galaxy Macau, but there’s often a connotation that gold can be old or gaudy. How did you infuse the material in a way that felt contemporary still?
Yes well, firstly I’ll say that artists everywhere can influence the way the world can view things. When we first got the project, we were excited to work with Capella, it’s such a globally recognised group. And to bring it into the Galaxy Macau, we had to bridge the two.
Galaxy Macau is drenched in gold. There was no way to escape it, so instead we decided to celebrate it. Through the elements within and with all the artisanal craft, we translated it into something more sophisticated and elegant.
With the use of rarified fabrics, we infused gold subtly, in small washes or just a light gloss of it. Take the bedside tables for example, when you turn the light on—it’s like a moment of gold. It’s something I learned when I was working on something for the Dorchester Collection in Rome. The CEO told me about how he travels so much, that the first thing he wants when he wakes is being able to turn a light on and understand that he is in Rome. And that was a great lesson for me. Similarly, when you wake in the Capella, you’re reminded you’re in the Galaxy Macau because of that moment of gold.
Lastly, do you have a personal favourite space in the Capella at Galaxy Macau?
There are so many beautiful spaces but if I had to pick one, it would be the whiskey bar, Pony & Plume. I adore the shadow and the light and I love the mountain of whiskey at the back of the bar. A whiskey bar is intimate and curated, so it also had to be about creating something rarified.
