Writer: Serene Tng | Photographer: Chee Boon Pin
– AHA Jury Citation
Located in the bustling Little India Historic District is a little haven in The Great Madras, a boutique hotel. The Art Deco building was originally built as Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) flats in the 1940s and became a no-frills budget hotel, before being lovingly restored by FARM into a 34-room hostel and hotel.
Richly embellished with geometric shapes and colourful patterns, the hotel is both welcoming with its open concept lobby and intriguing with its many wonderful nooks and corners. Entering the hotel feels like a great escape into another world, into the past and into our own imagination. Peter Sim from FARM Architects lets us into the hotel and shares the inspiration and efforts behind the restoration.
The brief given to us was to create a different kind of hotel, one that is easily accessible and affordable for different types of guests, and yet have a good design. We were inspired by the building itself and the lively energy in Little India. We were also inspired by the Art Deco building and introduced elements of the style throughout. It was also about creating spaces where stories can be told and moments can be experienced through the various spaces and corners.
The lobby space is one of the key highlights of the building. We wanted to create an open and tropical living room space that has no doors to encourage a seamless flow between the hotel and the street. In a way, it becomes a new focal point for people to gather and contribute to the buzz in the neighbourhood.
The open lobby space.
From creating quirky neon signs to producing a custom made wallpaper that captures Singapore’s history and down to choosing the type of clock and books on display, every small detail plays a part in the experience. Washing machines were deliberately located in the lobby to encourage interaction between guests while doing their laundry.
We turned some of the original architectural features of the building into new opportunities, such as creating a distinctive circular opening in the party-wall between the new pool and sun-deck and using the spiral staircases as a spatial and visual link between floors.
The distinctive opening at the pool.
When restoring a historic building, you always have to be ready for surprises and be amenable and flexible to make changes along the way. We also want to make it a point to draw inspiration from our local architecture and design to allow people to discover the past and yet be able to experience new elements.
Why develop such a boutique hotel? We wanted to create a space which would allow people from all walks of life to experience a stay at The Great Madras. We didn’t want to price ourselves as an exclusive getaway but an inclusive getaway. By doing so, we will encourage more people to walk through our doors, and people create vibrancy.
What do you love most about The Great Madras? As a person who likes openness and natural light, The Great Madras has plenty of that in its own unique way. The best place for me within the hotel would be the communal lobby. Given the openness, it has the ability to invite anyone to explore.
How are people experiencing the space? If a guest who has experienced a stay and has ventured beyond the hotel to the surrounding area, a guest would have had a complete experience of the area, that’s what’s important. There are others who look at the space and design, and it reminds them about Singapore’s yesteryears and there is a nostalgic charm to it.
"The efforts taken to marry the rich history of the company with the physical restoration adaptive reuse has given a new dimension to this industrial heritage building." – AHA Jury Citation
On another side of town lies another kind of neighbourhood landmark in the MacPherson-Tai Seng area. Those familiar with the neighbourhood remember walking past the Khong Guan Building or stopping to buy biscuits. It stood out for its distinctive edge at the junction of two roads – MacTaggart and Burn. In its heyday, the three-storey building was the tallest in the area. Constructed in 1952 and given conservation status in 2005, the building was owned by biscuit kings Chew Choo Han and Chew Choo Keng, co-founders of home-grown biscuit company Khong Guan. Taking nearly two years to complete the restoration works, Ar. Adrian Lai, director, META Architecture, feels that the restoration is important in providing a legacy for the Chew family and in celebrating an iconic local brand. We take a stroll around the building with Adrian.
Architect Adrian Lai standing at the familiar entrance to the building with the distinctive red star.
This star is very special as it took some detective work to find out if its distinctive three-dimensional relief was part of the original building and once we established that, we restored it to its earlier form. The Khong Guan founders wanted a star on the building as a symbol of the Singapore spirit.
We were very careful to ensure that the new extension to the building did not overwhelm the old one nor mimic it but rather, drew inspiration from its scale and form. As part of the design, we created stacks of building blocks that aligned to the two roads where the building is located along. This re-emphasises its position as a major landmark and provides a sense of continuity between the old and new.
We created air wells and a staircase between the third and fourth storeys to connect the old building and new extension, creatively a sensitive co-existence between the old and new. The decision to have the headquarters office occupy the top storey within the conserved building which is then linked via an internal staircase to the fourth storey of the new extension, has meaningfully connected the past to the future.
This old gate used to be located on the third floor where the living quarters were for the Chew family who stopped living there since 1970. During the restoration works, the gate was discovered. It was brought down and retained, contributing to the charm of the building.
An old gate brought down from the third storey.
While the building may look humble and understated, such post-war building is equally as important as other historical buildings in being an integral part of our heritage. It is a way to remember our past, the origins of our local brands and serves as a form of a time capsule. I am inspired by the owners who were unfazed by challenges during the restoration process as they were focused on ensuring that the building was well designed, occupied meaningfully and one that continues to engage with the neighbourhood.
Tell us about your work at Khong Guan. I joined Khong Guan Flour Milling Limited at Tanjong Rhu Road in 1964 as a machine attendant. In 1992, Khong Guan Flour Milling moved into 2 Mactaggart Road, now the Khong Guan Building. Thereafter, my job involved logistics and sales, till now.
What are your memories of the building? The 3 metal gates at the ground floor. The sharpest corner of the building was once a retail shop for biscuits. And the smaller door facing Mactaggart Road was the former staircase to the main building.
How do you feel about the building being a part of our heritage? I feel very proud of it. When I meet someone who knows me, they would approach me smiling and say, “Uncle, the building is very nice!” I would say, “Yeah, it’s nice. The interior is even nicer.”
Find out more about the Architectural Heritage Awards.