| Project: | Desker Shophouse Hotel |
| Location: | Singapore |
| Site area: | 575m² |
| Built-in Area: | 608m² |
| Status: | Completed 2021 |
| Scope of Work: | Architecture, Interior Design |
“Cultural heritage experience at the heart of Little India in Singapore.”
DESCRIPTION
Desker Shophouse hotel is a series of 6 conservation shophouses located at the cultural heart of Little India. The Little India precinct belongs to one of the four main Historic Districts in Singapore. Based on URA’s long-term planning intentions for these areas, their historic significance means they are one of the most protected and sought-after conservation properties in Singapore.
We are proud to be awarded the project in this distinct ethnic precinct. Recognised as a hub of the Indian community, the area has a rich variety of buildings, retail shops, eateries and backlanes. Streetscape is vivid and colourful and it is an area that is buzzing with activity throughout the year.
The design brief was to give the old and dilapidated hotel a new look and feel that would be fitting to its historic locale. At the same time, the owners were keen to bring back the crowd since it was a stone’s throw from the popular Mustafa shopping center. It also had a thriving eatery located at the 1st level of the hotel.
CONCEPT
Our vision was to encapsulate the identity of the location with an offering that would combine both the new and old worlds. The hotel would allow the occupants an experience that would be uniquely distinct for this area. The façade key elements of the full-height and double shuttered windows would remain while the interiors would be given a new lease of life.
The 2nd and attic level housed 24 rooms that were of different shapes and sizes. The timber flooring for the rooms and the corridors were had deteriorated over time. Hence, they were replaced with new timber flooring. The balustrades of the staircase were in good condition and they were restored them without replacement. Furniture and customized carpentry were brought in to give the rooms a feel of modern comfort and style. Contemporary lighting completes the final touches to give the interiors a look of modern simplicity within the traditional row of shophouses that resonate with its vibrant heritage streetscape.
