It’s always a challenge to restore a heritage building, and it can be a fine balance between preserving links to the past and embracing the future.
Singapore-based WOHA Architects gamely took on the challenge, being no stranger to ambitious and groundbreaking projects like Parkroyal Collection Pickering and Pan Pacific Orchard hotels.
The result is an impressive restoration that blends heritage and modernity.
21 Carpenter was formerly the location of Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee remittance house (the name still remains on the facade), hailed as the birthplace of banking in Singapore. Founded in 1936 by local philanthropist Lee Wee Nam and his brothers, it was here where many Singaporean immigrants would transfer money back to their loved ones overseas.
The hotel, which opened its doors early December, now sits across a historic four-storey conserved building and a contemporary five-storey extension. As one of the oldest shophouses in the area, special attention was given to conserving the original features of the building in line with the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s conservation guidelines.
The facade’s Shanghai plaster dates back to the 1930s, and on the building’s exterior, Chinese characters list cities and regions to which the remittances were sent.
Look carefully and you’ll see poetic details referencing the building’s history, with the aluminium art facade featuring excerpts from original remittance letters.
Another noteworthy element of 21 Carpenter is the careful reuse of the original 1930s Chengal wood in lobby floors, Heritage suites and the sculptural handrail along the hotel’s five-foot way.
Something old, something new
The lobby and rooms employ a warm and inviting palette with Asian design influences. The Heritage Wing comprises 26 rooms over the first four floors, while the top five levels, known as the Urban Wing, feature 22 contemporary, light-filled rooms. Every room has a full-sized window.
The hotel envelopes guests in the richness of Singapore’s burgeoning art and creative scene through an extensive collection curated by art and design consultancy The Artling. The lobby, for instance, wows with a stunning tapestry by Heman Chong, his first piece utilising this medium.
On Level 3, the Garden Terrace is a place for quiet connections and reflections, and can serve as a small event space for intimate gatherings. Head to the top floor for skyline views of Marina Bay and the Rooftop Infinity Pool & Lounge, with the first exposed stainless-steel pool in Singapore. A hand-drawn charcoal mural by Dawn Ang of Aeropalmics adorns the space.
Sustainability is very much the ethos of WOHA, so it has incorporated 22 photovoltaic panels on the hotel’s rooftop to supplement power needs, while a hybrid cooling system, combining ceiling fans with air conditioning, lowers electricity consumption. The aluminium art facade of the Urban extension also functions as a sunscreen, further reducing the need for active cooling. Single-use plastic waste is reduced by employing reusable water carafes and amenity dispensers.
Food-wise, Kee’s will open in early 2024. There is much to look forward to at this neo-bistro and bar headed by chef Andrew Walsh (of one-Michelin-starred Cure) who serves as culinary director. Expect European-inspired bistro fare with a selection of local classics.
21 Carpenter is at 21 Carpenter Street, Singapore 059984.
