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Artful Escapes

Artful Escapes: Soori Penang

On Penang Island, a 15-suite hotel in UNESCO-listed George Town is an adventurous homecoming for design lovers

By Chadner Navarro
Narrow alley between traditional buildings with potted trees lining the walkway under a clear blue sky.
Soori Penang. Photo: Courtesy of Soori Penang

The rich culture, food scene, and white-sand beaches are enough to draw adventurous travelers to Penang Island, Malaysia, but the opening of Soori Penang, a design-forward, 15-suite hotel in UNESCO-listed George Town, makes the journey even more enticing.

Modern bedroom with a rattan headboard, sleek hanging light, wooden side table, and soft bedding.
Guest suite. Photo: Soori Penang
Modern minimalist interior with a small indoor water feature, two stone lion sculptures, and wooden paneling.
Soori Penang. Photo: Courtesy of Soori Penang

SCDA Architects founder Soo K. Chan transformed a section of the 19th-century kongsi, or Chinese clan compound, where he grew up, into a property where spacious, mostly black-and-white, one-bedroom suites are decorated with smooth wood surfaces, marble tables, low-lying sofas, and privacy screens.

Elegant, dimly lit restaurant interior with modern decor, wooden chairs, round tables, and candles providing a warm ambiance.
Soori Penang. Photo: Courtesy of Soori Penang

“I want to share the experience of living in a historic shophouse through a personal lens,” says Chan, “shaped by memory as much as by architecture.”

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Summer Issue in the section “Artful Escapes.” Subscribe to the magazine.