Photos: Singapore Airlines' new SilverKris lounge at Sydney Airport
By David Flynn, December 17 2013
Singapore Airlines has revealed the new look of its SilverKris lounges, which will be rolled out at London, Hong Kong and Singapore's Terminal 3 this year as part of a A$90 million (US$80 million) make-over.
The new design concept debuted at Sydney Airport's T1 international terminal, where the SilverKris lounge re-opened this weekend.
The concept is 'home away from home' – an interesting theme, given the similar 'living room' flavour of Cathay Pacific's new The Bridge lounge at Hong Kong. Is this perhaps a new trend for airport lounges?
Photo tour: Inside Cathay Pacific's new The Bridge lounge at Hong Kong
Singapore-based architectural and interior design firm ONG&ONG has chosen to divide the SilverKris lounge into a greater number of distinct personal spaces "designed and modelled after elements of a home."
Shown above is the 'living room' in Sydney's SilverKris first class area, with luxe lounge furniture such as these high-backed wing chairs.
"Each space is thoughtfully designed to create the ambiance of home that is familiar and comforting, adding to the warm, authentic and personalised service that Singapore Airlines is well known for" explains Mr Tan Pee Teck, Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice President of Product & Services.
These spaces include the 'gallery' (above) and business class living room (below).
Special 'productivity pods' offer added privacy for working before your flight.
The pods in the first class lounge (above) and business class lounge (below) borrow subtle design elements from Singapore Airlines' new first class and business class seating.
It'll be interesting to see how travellers rate these against Cathay Pacific's Solus workstation pods, show below.
The dining area is reminiscent of a kitchen, albeit a well-stocked one.
For dining, a ‘taste of Singapore’ concept will be progressively introduced at all SilverKris Lounges, featuring iconic dishes from Singapore such as laksa and mee siam alongside meals from around the world.
There are also shower suites (shown below is one of the first class facilities) to freshen up before your flight.
A customised batik design screen in the welcome foyer of each SilverKris lounge provides an immediate and highly-recognisable nod to the airline's heritage
Singapore Airlines clearly hopes it will become one of many iconic elements in SilverKris lounges around the world.
Each lounge will also features tastefully selected art pieces, sourced from Singapore as well as the airport's home country.
Sydney's new SilverKris lounge retains separate areas for business class and first class travellers to cool their heels, plus a small annexe adjacent to the entry where passengers can grab a quick coffee or tea and some light nibbles, as well as enjoying a quieter and cosier space than the main lounge area.
There are showers if you need to freshen up before your flight, a buffet with hot and cold food, a range of comfortable seating and& views from both the business and first lounges over the tarmac towards Botany Bay.
Other SilverKris lounges on SQ's to-do list over the next five years include Adelaide, Bangkok, Brisbane, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Melbourne, New Delhi, Perth, San Francisco, Seoul and Taipei.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
09 May 2011
Total posts 294
Which photos come from the First section, and which come from the Business section?
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
That info coming, Chris, we only just got pics in.
25 Sep 2013
Total posts 1242
It'd be very handy indeed to separate the pictures of the first class section of the lounge from the business.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Jun 2013
Total posts 28
Looks amazing! Singapore's reminding us that it's still one of the top tier carriers (despite a LOT of competition from the Gulf).
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 645
hope SIA have enough 'western' dishes in its OZ lounges....seems QF are being chastized for not having enough 'western' dishes in its SIN lounge... please note that i have no qualms either way...just highlighting how hypocritical some people can be
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
I suspect it's because QF is supposedly a 'western' airline, but while QFi certainly has its glaring weaknesses, what I've seen of its catering is not one of them. They have good people picking out good food. Given their recent operations have basically been Europe, Asia and America, a mix of Western and Asian food makes sense.
Nevertheless, this is about SQ. This is a stunning lounge, and I hope it holds up to the test of a decade of people stomping through and clearing out the buffet. It looks fantastic, and I'm confident it'll be comfortable and generally be a great place to, as David says, "cool your heels".
It's not just another lounge. It emphasises SQ's style and brand, forming an integral and indispensible part of a great way to fly. This looks to be a winner.
02 May 2013
Total posts 7
Looks very nice. Slightly regretting choosing an SQ Sydney to Hong Kong via Brisbane flight now for January (but the late night departure time was so much more convenient). Can't wait to eventually check it out.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
22 Aug 2013
Total posts 171
Will this lounge be accessible for all those departing on *A flights if they hold Status or are flying Business or First?
ie: will I get in flying United Business
09 May 2011
Total posts 294
Yes. You'll be allowed into the Business Class section, unless you're flying First with SQ.
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 732
Is that the way it actually works or just the way it theoretically works? Singapore lounge dragons worldwide are known for not necessarily obeying Star Alliance rules.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
Can't the lounge attendants technically refuse entry if you are on another carrier normally using another lounge (in this case UA using the NZ lounge by default) if the lounge is close to capacity? No doubt that each and every business or First class flier or Star Gold will now try to enter the SQ lounge, as the NZ lounge is such a drap lounge. I don't think it will be very pleasant in the SQ lounge at peak times!
20 Oct 2013
Total posts 30
Very Fancy Lounge!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Apr 2013
Total posts 48
Can I access the lounge if I am Platinum with Virgin Australia but flying economy in Etihad to Abu Dhabi in 3 weeks time?
04 Nov 2010
Total posts 670
No, the lounge is only for passengers flying on Singapore Airlines or one of its Star Alliance partners. Etihad is not part of Star Alliance so you will have to use Etihad's current lounge which is the Air New Zealand Koru Club. However Etihad is building its own lounge in Sydney which will be open later this year, so maybe for your next trip you will be able to use that.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Looks good, for an outstation lounge, but obviously SYD QF F/J > SYD SQ and SIN SQ F/J > SIN QF
Overall taste of Singapore looks sort of similar to the buffets at the QF SIN lounge.
22 Apr 2012
Total posts 1
Went to this lounge last Sunday and was very impressed. Comparable, albeit on a smaller scale to the First Class Qantas Lounge.
Excellent service, as one comes to expect from SQ. Good hot options for breakfast and range of beverages. Plenty of seating which was sorely needed as against the predecessor.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
21 Dec 2013
Total posts 1
Visited the SQ lounge in Sydney last week and whilst it is very nice overall, I did not find the pods very appealing. Rather, I find the Cathay Solus pods to be outstanding for relaxing and working.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Oct 2012
Total posts 2
Even though this is a SQ lounge, it is still Sydney service. The receptionist asked us do you really want to come in? We were flying NZ to Christchurch, got into the lounge at 0830 and we are still waiting for the scramble eggs to arrive after an hour here. There's no fruit juice, glasses don't fit under the water dispenser and the list goes on. I hope NZ going to upgrade theirs soon.
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