ELEMENT KUALA LUMPUR BY WESTIN
Sustainability Meets Art
BY HIRANMAYII AWLI MOHANAN
In the heart of the city, within a stone’s throw away from KLCC, is the soaring 900-feet hotel — Element Kuala Lumpur by Westin. Boasting an eco-conscious stance with a GBI (Green Building Index) certification, the hotel welcomes guests for short or long stays with eco-friendly lodgings. As you further saunter through the hotel, you’ll realise that Element Kuala Lumpur is very much influenced by art and one can see it as a trope throughout the hotel.
The Green Motive
Green design principles are incorporated into every aspect of the building, from the rooms to the architecture, including zigzag steel beams for collecting rainwater, indoor CO2 monitors for controlling air quality, and large UV-filtered window panels to cut back on the need for artificial lighting during the day. However, Element KL’s installation of NSF-certified filtered water taps in each room to do away with the need for plastic water bottles may be their most noteworthy endeavour. Their indoor saline pool is amazing not just for the use of less chemicals, but for your hair and skin too. In the bathroom, the shampoos and body lotions are made with organic and premium plant-based ingredients for you (and the earth) to rejuvenate naturally.
Art Trope
Art adds beauty to the impressive building ubiquitously. You will be welcomed with an enchanting light installation by Venezuelan artist Claudia Bueno at the lobby’s ceiling, where florals and corals are floating and dancing as their colours change like a chameleon. Besides that, at the hotel’s saline pool, you will be swimming above a tiled artwork by Yusof Ghani, which you will see in the reflection of the ceiling mirrors as you float on your back in the waters. Each floor also features paintings from Ilham art gallery, turning hallways into a display of artworks. Art enthusiasts can also flock to this art gallery located within the same building.
Our Stay
We checked into a one-bedroom suite that is spacious and bathed in a generous amount of sunlight, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows that purvey views of the beautiful KL skyline. The living area is fitted with a kitchenette that comes equipped with an energy-efficient induction stove, fridge and dishwasher – perfect for extended stays. One can expect to unwind completely in the tub of its glossy marbled bathroom. After a hot bath, jump into their signature heavenly bed, which is exactly what it is, as we snoozed the night away instantly in the fluffy whites. In the morning, the ample sunlight that shone into the room was the ideal wake-up call. We then proceeded to the fully-equipped, 24-hour gym, followed by playing tourist on a bike with Element Kuala Lumpur’s Bike for Borrow Programme. Evenings were by far our favourite part of the stay, as we watched the sun dip behind the city’s skyscrapers.
Trace Restaurant & Bar
Trace is the hotel’s primary restaurant, where breakfast sees a delectable spread with wholesome granolas and fruits and freshly squeezed juices and smoothies, and a view of the Petronas Twin Towers. For lodgers who have more calories to spare, their freshly baked assorted pastries with a sip of coffee will start your day right. For the truly Malaysians, the selection of Asian food like nasi lemak, steamed dim sum or clear noodle soup cooked on the spot will satiate you. At night, treat yourself to a feast at the Flavours at 40 Dinner Buffet, where wholesome, flavourful local and Western dishes await. Hop from the BBQ and grill stations to the round trays of western and eastern selections. Something special awaits during the month of September at Trace with the Malaysia-lah High Tea — an ode to Malaysia Day through local savouries and sweets that would appease everyone.
Address: Ilham Tower, 8, Jalan Binjai, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603 2771 3388