Capri by Fraser, Penang: Lai Siew Hong Reimagines George Town’s Heritage Through Interior Design
The island's disappearing crafts, its communal spirit, and the forgotten story of Magazine Circus are celebrated through every detail.
Until the mid-20th century, Magazine Circus was once the meeting point of six major roads in George Town. More than just a roundabout, Magazine Circus was a vibrant gathering place, where artisans, hawkers, street performers, and craftsmen converged, bringing together people from all walks of life. Its central roundabout was cleared out in 1973 as part of the massive KOMTAR development project, and the area would eventually be surrounded by modern complexes like the 1st Avenue Mall, with its name largely forgotten by locals. However, one of the island’s newest addresses, Capri by Fraser, Penang, was conceived as a contemporary extension of George Town, where people can meet, interact, and experience the city together, ensuring the spirit of connection that defined Magazine Circus continues in a new form.
The hotel is housed in a newly constructed 22-storey tower fronted by a row of 10 preserved heritage shophouses facing Magazine Road. Two of the shophouses serve as a secondary lobby, with an ornate Peranakan-style façade distinguished by intricate floral detailing, colourful ceramic tiles, and elegant columns.
Soo Yi Xin, executive director of Curate Properties & Hotel Sdn Bhd, which owns and operates Capri by Fraser, Penang, shares, “By preserving this frontage, the heritage buildings act as a transitional space between the old and the new. As you walk from the heritage space, you get a glimpse into the past, then you move into the contemporary space, which creates a dramatic but harmonious contrast between the two. We believe that old and new buildings can co-exist harmoniously.”
It was this colourful and layered past that inspired one of Malaysia’s most prominent interior designers, Lai Siew Hong, to inform the design of its interiors. As the co-founder and chief executive designer of interior design firm Blu Water, Lai has led award-winning interior narratives for EQ Kuala Lumpur, The Edison George Town, and The Millen Penang, Autograph Collection. Lai was also past president of the Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID)’s REKA Conference.
“What makes Capri different from many of our previous projects in Penang is its focus on urban social living rather than heritage preservation alone. Instead of recreating the past, we wanted to reinterpret George Town’s communal spirit for today’s travellers. We explored the city’s history, architecture, and communal spirit to identify what makes it unique, then translated those qualities into a contemporary hospitality experience,” explains Lai.
Lai shares, “Many of the elements throughout the hotel’s 248 rooms and apartments have their roots in the arts and crafts of the area. A place is defined by the people and culture surrounding it, so reintegrating these traditions within the walls of the hotel is an important part of our identity.”
Among them was Penang’s last traditional Chinese lantern maker, Lee Ah Hock, whose shop stood along Magazine Road for over a century. Following his passing in 2014, his craft largely faded along with his memory. “We wanted to celebrate his heritage and preserve it in our own way at the same time.” His legacy has been recreated through custom-made contemporary lanterns in ombré tones, creating a striking overhead installation in the lobby. Mirroring the lanterns’ soft blush tones, the elevators evoke the poetic image of lanterns floating upwards, creating, as Lai says, “a sense of warmth and guidance throughout the guests’ journey.”
Additionally, fading crafts of George Town, like rattan weaving seen at Seang Hin Leong at Beach Street nearby, have been recreated through a colourful rattan screen in the living rooms of selected room categories. Other custom-made local elements include reimagined tiffin carriers that double as light fixtures while providing storage for cups. Another charming detail is the iconic Good Morning towels, tastefully recreated as room number signs. As guests lounge in the lobby, they might find themselves leaning on a cushion shaped like a batu Seremban, or five stones, a traditional Malaysian game. Meanwhile, tufted carpets reinterpret the intricate patterns of the Peranakan tiles seen along the five-foot ways of George Town. “It’s these little touches that spark curiosity. These details are easy to miss but, together, they quietly tell Penang’s story in a contemporary way,” says Lai.
Weaving Art Into The Hotel’s Fabric
The artwork in the hotel features work by six commissioned artists, including Penang-based sculptor Low Chee Peng. Low seeks to preserve the soul of the island in view of its rapid gentrification through his miniature shop lot models.
Hong Kong-based visual artist and designer Hung Man Po also created a site-specific visual lexicon that unfolds across the hotel’s 14 floors, guiding guests through layers of Penang’s cultural heritage with motifs such as trishaw wheels and the long-forgotten city tram.
Soo explains, “We worked with an art curator, Putticorp, to identify potential artists with unique styles that could provide their interpretation of Penang through their own lens, weaving the island’s flora and fauna, architecture, and culinary heritage into compelling works of art. Together, the collection reflects the many layers of Penang without relying on obvious or literal imagery.”
The Journey Continues
As the hotel is still in its soft opening phase, a dining establishment presenting Modern Malaysian cuisine housed within four of the heritage houses is in the works. Palm House Restaurant and Bar by Norm, anchored by the team behind Peninsula House, is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2026. “Through collaborations with local F&B partners, we invite guests to experience the island’s culinary scene as part of their stay, rather than limiting them to a traditional hotel dining experience,” explains Soo.
“Ultimately, I hope Capri by Fraser’s guests leave Penang with a deeper connection to the island’s history, its contemporary culture, and the community that continues to shape it. The way these elements coexist is what makes Penang so unique,” Lai reflects.
Lead image: Left to right: Lai Siew Hong, co-founder and chief executive designer of interior design firm Blu Water; Soo Yi Xin, executive director of Curate Properties & Hotel Sdn Bhd.
Image credit: Norlman Lo
Additional photos provided by Capri by Fraser
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