The “New Asia” style of hospitality finds one of its most rarefied expressions in the New Majestic Hotel, located in the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown. An open-concept period-inspired lobby shows the imaginative possibilities of this marriage of old and new, or “heritage chic”, as the hotel calls its particular design savvy, which also takes into account its period furniture dating from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Individually designed rooms, 30 in all, continue the mix of vintage and designer furniture, customized baths, and can include private gardens and six-meter ceilings in attic-style suites. Five rooms have also been personalized by some of Singapore’s most influential talents from cinema, theatre and fashion. Every detail from bedding (the New Majestic calls it a “bedscape”) to bathroom (freestanding copper tubs) has been re-imagined. Some rooms feature floor to ceiling mirrors; others feature aquarium-themed transparent bathrooms. Back downstairs, The Majestic Restaurant is a sleek reinterpretation of one of Singapore’s favorite Chinese dining rooms and serves modern Cantonese cuisine.

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This sky high house plan by Japanese architecture firm Kimihiko Okada certainly raises the standard of modern living! Designed as a series of platforms with a central interior courtyard, this raised house plan in Hiroshima boasts a distant view of the Inland Sea and Miyajima, and definitely has one up on its neighbors in terms of its height and, in our opinion, design. The home’s levels encircle the central garden below, lined with glass walls on both sides. As you make your way through the subtly spiraling floor plan of the stilt house, this modern home is an experience of light and views, ending with a walk-out to the rooftop deck.

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The Apartment is a creative agency that specializes in design for all facets of life, from branding, marketing, architecture, interior, product and graphic design. Looking at this interior transformation, you can see that the ideas put in motion come from somewhere deep, somewhere where the grand scheme is equally important as the details. It is therefore no surprise that a multi-disciplinary creative agency was behind this conversion. It’s nice to see the conservation of some of the original elements, like the brick wall, in contrast with brand new modern components, like that fireplace. There’s this modern, mid-century, vintage, industrial, oriental, classical mix going on, that you would think hard to pull off without looking confusing but the feeling in this loft is still very unified. The Apartment was able to capture the harmony and let it colorfully shine throughout.

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After four years of renovations, the 19th century neoclassic private mansion of the House of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin located in Reims (France), has been entirely restored Рfrom the fa̤ade which was severely damaged in the first World War, to the updated interior design. The renovation work has involved many different talents, ranging from professionals who specialize in historic preservation to artists and renowned designers such as Mathieu Lehanneur, Pablo Reinoso, Fredrikson Stallard and the Campana Brothers.

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This modern take on a log cabin interior design by Geometrix Design will have you calling all your friends trying to arrange a winter weekend getaway. The juxtaposition of modern and rustic is expertly put together creating a comfortable modern home with an impressive feel. The home has a basically neutral scheme with some splashes of color and some shiny details. The wooden logs provide nice texture and pattern and up the coziness factor. A pair of red arm chairs, the minimal staircase, the use of mirrors, marble and shiny metals are a few examples of how contrast is attained for a unique and modern interior vibe.

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This black and white house design proves that opposites attract – a dark, dramatic exterior and clean, bright interior, boasting an irregular flow. Originally built in the 1960s, XTEN Architecture redesigned this Los Angeles, California hillside that sits on a ridge in the Hollywood Hills. A protected natural ravine to the east and Beachwood Canyon to the west and south. The slope house plan consists of a series of interconnected terraces that open the indoors to the views through floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass walls. The cool, clean and contemporary style home’s exterior matches its minimalist interiors. The rooftop deck is the perfect place to soak up some sun in perfect privacy.

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This Mexican modern architecture designed by Central De Arquitectura makes the most of its lush surroundings and offers interiors with a contemporary style. This concrete and glass house puts living on three levels – a trio of low-profile volumes stacked one atop the other. The semi-sunken lower level features walk-outs that flood them with natural light, eliminating the buried feeling typical to basements. The upper two levels are stacked in an L-shape, with a floor-to-ceiling glass wall of the house overlooking the private courtyard. The main floor features the public living spaces including the kitchen dining area, living room with a walk-out to an outdoor entertaining area. Upstairs, private areas include the bedrooms, bathrooms, dressing areas, a living area and study.

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Austrian architecture firm Kleboth Lindinger Partners created a circular home floor plan in Vandans, Austria that will have your head spinning… literally! The timber house hints at traditional barns, blending beautifully with its pastoral surroundings. The wood, glass and steel home – the wood/glass volume enclosed in a timber frame – although boasting a rustic house style from the exterior, is modern luxury inside, through and through. The circular ground floor plan puts the owners’ daily essentials (the kitchen, living room, dining area, bedroom and bathroom) on a single open-concept level, while a terrace, gallery, porch, sauna and laboratory are housed on the upper and lower levels, respectively. Interiors are finished with rich wood and illuminated in natural light streaming in through the glass walls. A large, wind-sheltered terrace crowns the upper deck of this unusual home.

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The Residence Zanzibar which was designed by leading global design firm HBA / Hirsch Bedner Associates. The all-villa resort is located on a remote corner of the island of Zanzibar and is the first project on the African continent for HBA’s Singapore office.

All pieces of furniture at The Residence Zanzibar are a mix of cultures reflecting the various influences in Zanzibar’s history. For example, the four poster bed in the villas are reminiscent of British style and is flanked by two nightstands inspired by Indian forms and materials such as beaten metal. In the bathroom, the vanity counter was custom designed to integrate simplified Swahili patterns while the wall sconces were drawn from traditional Omani motifs.

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The Wright House designed by Elmo Swart Architects, really stands apart for its innovative yet earthy style. The modern extension to a traditional thatched-roof house in Durban, South Africa echoes the existing home’s shape with a curved roof and walls, and ushers you into the outdoors without ever leaving the comfort of home. The sun-soaked, glass-enclosed living area is contemporary in contrast to the traditional original. The addition to this three-bedroom home adds a bedroom, two studies, an entertainment/living area and an art gallery. The gently curving ceiling and walls, and the floor-to-ceiling glass wall create a cave-like look with a forest home. Beneath the addition, a convenient yet concealed parking pad is a great feature.

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