Cassia at Capella Singapore by André Fu: Contemporary Chinoiserie for Dining
A contemporary setting for Chinese cuisine
Cassia is a restaurant within Capella Singapore that André Fu Studio conceived as an alternative to conventional expectations of Chinese fine dining. The project draws on the hotel's setting and on cultural memories associated with Singapore's historic trading connections. Rather than translate those references into a literal period room, Fu developed an atmosphere of layered texture, visual richness and contemporary hospitality.
Arrival as a sequence of discovery
Guests approach the first-floor dining room through a carefully orchestrated transition, beginning with a dramatic double-height staircase. Water features contribute to the sense of movement and add an acoustic quality to the arrival. This sequence makes entering the restaurant a gradual experience rather than an abrupt change from corridor to dining table.
Art becomes part of the architecture
A suspended ceiling sculpture by Japanese artist Sawada introduces an expressive focal point along the journey. Its presence underscores the idea that art can shape the spatial experience rather than serve merely as decoration. The composition contributes to the restaurant's sense of ceremony while creating a contemporary counterpart to its historic references.
Rethinking the appearance of chinoiserie
The studio references chinoiserie, a historical language of motifs and Western interpretations of Chinese art, but it reframes those associations through modern materials and sensuous atmosphere. The result aims for a dining environment with its own identity instead of a recreation of a particular era. Fu's method puts emphasis on carefully controlled contrasts and the feeling of occupying a special place.
A different kind of dining furniture
The main dining room includes an unconventional selection of lounge-inspired furnishings. This choice makes comfort and lingering central to the restaurant's identity. It also gives Chinese fine dining a less rigid social character, encouraging the room to support varied forms of conversation and gathering.
Privacy and the island setting
Separate dining areas and a terrace provide different experiences within the same hospitality programme. The relationship between enclosed rooms and the broader Capella Singapore setting gives guests choices between intimacy and a more open atmosphere. These differences contribute to the restaurant's sense of discovery.
Design as a framework for hospitality
Cassia's central achievement is its combination of spatial drama and practical comfort. A sculptural arrival makes an impression, but the interiors remain oriented toward the dining experience. By balancing art, furnishing and historical reference, André Fu gives the restaurant a distinctive atmosphere that remains connected to Singapore's larger cultural story.
Project information and image credits
Project: Cassia, Capella Singapore, Sentosa Island, Singapore. Interiors: André Fu Studio. Project year: 2010. The official gallery documents the restaurant and terrace, and the project narrative identifies a double-height arrival staircase with water, a suspended ceiling sculpture by Japanese artist Sawada and varied lounge-style furniture in the main dining room. Four photos are held in the Wix draft; image-specific photographers and publication rights require confirmation.
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