A stone’s throw away from The Exchange TRX, Jalan Kamuning has become quite the cultural hub. From Grumpy Bagels to Ping Min Hub, this street is now a trendy spot to hang out for locals and tourists alike.
Tucked between the residential homes-turned-restaurants and the looming towers nearby is Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur. A 15-storey concrete building covered with cascading plants, this building stands out for its unique blend of industrialism and biophilic architecture.
Opened in April 2024, Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur seeks to bring a “Garden Oasis” vibe found in its sister hotels in Singapore and Bali—which are low-rise properties—to the skies.
Lloyd’s Inn worked with FARM, a cross-disciplinary design practice in Singapore, to bring this vision to light.
Offering a touch of earth in the skies
A boutique hospitality brand from Singapore, Lloyd’s Inn is all about “raw nature” and bringing that indoors to create a contemporary nature oasis for modern travellers.
Including the KL location, each of their three hotels is conveniently located near modern cafes, shopping, and transport links. This aligns with their vision of being an abode in the city, while still being a space to escape and reconnect with oneself.
Abiding by this vision, the design philosophy at Lloyd’s Inn is rooted in finding beauty in rawness and imperfections.
From the exterior façade of lush greens to its interiors, Lloyd’s Inn KL embodies this philosophy.
This can also be observed in details such as the exposed, raw finishes of the walls and floors that run throughout the building and into the rooms, a feature that can be found in all of the brand’s properties.
FARM describes the approach as “minimalist and almost reductive,” in an attempt to “layer the multiple relationships between the city, hotel, nature, and the traveller.”
Lloyd’s Inn KL is the first high-rise property in the hospitality brand’s portfolio, though, which presents a challenge in itself. How can FARM translate the brand’s signature open concept, greenery, and outdoor showers into a high-rise building in such an urban environment?
“To retain the serenity brought about by the immediacy of nature —a defining characteristic of Lloyd’s Inn— the design returns to the ethos of the hotel: bringing greenery into the hospitality experience, while catering for a varied guest list with the understanding that every visitor’s needs are different.”
FARM
Bringing Bali into each room
Each of the 110 rooms in Lloyd’s Inn KL is designed to bring the outdoors indoors, as well as a slice of “Bali” within an urban city.
Ranging from 17sqm to 50sqm, the rooms here comprise different typologies, including lofts, suites, and rooms with their own private terrace.
We were able to enjoy the Sky Room during a 3D2N stay, which is a loft-styled accommodation. The first floor mainly comprises a small living area with a sofa and TV and the bathroom, while the loft above houses a King-sized bed as well as a work table.
Despite using a cool-toned monochromatic palette, the room was able to also establish a cosy, residential vibe.
Every room is lined with planter boxes, private verandas, or small balconies, offering guests a little garden oasis.
Curbside appeal aside, these natural spaces are practical, helping segment rooms and offer shading.
Importantly, they also aid in the retaining of Lloyd’s Inn’s signature outdoor showers and bathtubs. The plants create maximum privacy with minimal visual obstruction, allowing for an experience similar to that in Bali.
Such an open-concept shower experience is one that’s certainly hard to come by in a city hotel. Verdant leaves aside, guests can also pull down the blinds for extra privacy, though you’ll still be able to see the silhouette of the bright buildings nearby.
Beyond these serene vibes, the hotel also offers a touch of Malaysian nostalgia through features such as retro metal swings.
Honing in on individual guests
According to FARM, a focus on the individual guest is what informs the overall design of Lloyd’s KL.
“Lloyd’s KL is an exercise in the bottom-up approach to designing large structures. It understands that ultimately, the strongest impression in hospitality comes from the guest room,” they explained.
Bottom-up design refers to the approach of designing a solution based on existing work practices and activities. It involves understanding and incorporating the specific needs and constraints of the inhabitants.
For example, instead of creating a large garden, the tea decided to break it down into individual bits of the garden for individual guests to enjoy.
“By using interior design to determine the scale and logic of architecture, Lloyd’s KL commits to the belief that hospitality can be tailored to the individual without compromising the overall experience,” they concluded.
Creating community spaces
Of course, this focus on individuality doesn’t mean that there aren’t communal areas as well.
Shared spaces include a dipping pool (complete with a jacuzzi), a dining room comprising Opeum Bistro and The Team Room, and a co-working area called Social Pod, which also offers event and meeting spaces.
The hotel’s in-house F&B offering is Opeum Bistro KL, which seeks to highlight local delights created with fresh locally sourced ingredients. Up some stairs in the bistro lies The Tea Room. Together, the F&B zones of this hotel feature Japandi aesthetics that contrast against the more industrial lean found in the rest of the hotel.
At the wall next to the stairwell, there’s a 3-metre-high hand-painted wall mural titled “Stroll The Forest Trail” by Malaysian artists Geraldine and Vincent from The Ochre Home. Featuring a neutral themed mural of seeds and pods, it celebrates the understated beauty of botanical elements.
Blending city sensibilities with nature’s comfort
There’s no doubt that Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur is a boutique hotel that understands aesthetics.
But beyond visual appeal, it offers a glimpse into understated luxury through intimate space planning, thoughtful architecture, and curated furniture pieces.
There’s nothing more luxe than having a piece of the city to yourself, and that’s how Lloyd’s Inn makes you feel.
Learn more about Lloyd’s Inn Kuala Lumpur here.
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