Bencoolen street, Singapore is now enlivened with the latest transformation of the three neighboring blocks, into Space Asia Hub marquee showroom. Imposing and very luxurious, it’s a statement on its own in the gazetted conservation area. The architecture is a mix of contemporary and heritage to create a subtle but powerful backdrop.
WOHA architects is a Singapore-based architecture practice founded by Wong Man Summ & Richard Hassel in 1994. They are widely known for their work in conceiving integrated architectural and urban solutions across South Asia. WOHA prides itself in creating sustainable and innovative interventions and has been clinical in the new urban landscape of Singapore. Space Asia Hub is one of their landmark projects under the umbrella of restoration. Completed in 2011, it is an exhibition hub for Space – a renowned Singapore furniture designer & retail company.
Singapore was one of the first Asian cities to adopt conservation strategies and receive global acclaim for its historic conservation efforts. The space sits in the arts and entertainment district of Singapore. Two existing heritage buildings have been restored, and a new glass structure has been added in between the two. Calibrated architecture interventions basis adaptive reuse of the existing buildings, WOHA has developed a contemporary and highly efficient 40,000 sq. ft. of space. The space design for the retailer commenced in May 2009; under strict local conservation bylaws, the concept aimed to embrace the idea of old charm meets new. Construction began in April 2010 and was completed by August 2011, with an overall project cost of fifty million Singaporean Dollars.
The clients were Space, a high-end multi-brand furniture retailer in the Asia-Pacific region. On outgrowing their old space in Millennia Walk Mall, they contacted WOHA for a new and more meaningful space. The new store will be like an experience rum exhibition space. It will house over 20 international brands, each showcasing its identity in one space.
The heritage buildings, standing out in white, were chosen as the site for the retailer, as against a mall to make the store stand out as an attractive destination store. The buildings were originally a villa and a shophouse. The villa was originally a karaoke bar with a kitchen and a spiral staircase. The shophouse, another pre-war architectural feat, had two double-storey units. However, the buildings have undergone many insensitive modifications and alterations.
For WOHA, the first step in the restoration process was to strip the place of the additions made into the original structures. Additions, like subdivisions and partitions, had to be torn down to restore the former glory of the structures. Intimate lofts, high-walled courtyards, and landscaped terraces are a few characteristic features that would not have otherwise been encountered in a regular mall-like space. The historical exteriors and facade of the villa and the shophouse were retained. The brick walls in the two buildings were maintained as exposed brickwork. Timber and metal trusses framing the large interiors spans of the buildings were kept, as well as the intricate woodwork, wooden flooring, and millwork. Holding the initial jack roof, these trusses enabled the interiors to function with high column-free volumes. The larger spans worked well with the furniture retailers’ space-intensive interior demands. Natural skylights came with the structure as fanlights flood the interiors with warm light, tying the design together seamlessly. The kitchen in the villa was restored to host engagements for the retailer’s design clients and important guests.
IT and automation design of the store are very sound too. B&O sound systems play music throughout the space and speciality food and scent services. All this is the backdrop for Mooy and B, Vitra, and many more. The range of furniture, home decor, and living essentials is amusive and aptly showcased through the heritage buildings and the new glass edifice.
In a way, the glass infill recreated the shophouse’s facade, however, with many more floors. The modern glass structure allows for a dialogue between the three buildings and allows the customer to appreciate the two buildings standing next to it. It worked in great harmony to combine the two heritage buildings on the corner plot of land. New staircases connect the three vertical levels and within the three structures. Landscaping gestures, like vertical gardens and greenery in the Courtyards and terraces, were added with great sensitivity to the lifecycle of the heritage buildings. A public space around the street-level heritage structures works like a plaza. The plaza is adorned with pebble wash patterns in local terracotta, evoking the sense of sarong textiles local to the region.
The space Asia hub project was a finalist in the World Architecture Festival. The Urban Redevelopment Authority, Government of Singapore, also lauded it. It is a great addition to urban Singapore’s art, architecture, design, and diverse environment. It blends into the city perfectly with its modern take on architecture with a historic charm.
References:
King, V. (2011) Space Asia Hub / WOHA, ArchDaily. ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/190691/space-asia-hub-woha .
Singapore’s Space Hub Asia unifies a historic Villa and a Shophouse … (no date). Available at: https://inhabitat.com/singapores-space-hub-asia-unifies-a-historic-villa-and-a-shophouse-with-a-modern-glass-block/ .
