CHINATOWN'S PATINA PAIR

Located on South Bridge Road, a vital artery that once linked Singapore’s thriving commercial center with its cultural enclaves, 202 and 204 South Bridge Road are located in a rich site of heritage. This site was formerly occupied by The Commercial Press that was established in 1916 as the Beijing TCP’s Singapore branch (商務印書館（新）有限公司/商務印書館（新加坡）有限公司), an institution that played a pivotal role in disseminating Chinese literature and ideas during a transformative period in Singapore's history. Later, the building became known as The Southbridge Hotel as it witnessed the city’s evolution from its colonial trading roots to a modern metropolis. Its past reflects the convergence of Eastern cultural traditions and Western Art Deco architectural influences and is significant to Singapore's urban fabric.

Taking inspiration from this legacy, our design for 202 and 204 South Bridge Road seeks to celebrate cultural heritage in a contemporary spatial language. The exterior will feature traditional Chinese text rendered in the classic style found on original Art Deco facades, paying homage to its past as The Commercial Press. Inside, the design language is driven by a spatial reinterpretation of the Chinese lattice window—a motif that is reimagined as a dynamic, three-dimensional elements that inform the flooring pattern, ceiling features, and particularly the main entrance facade at the 5-foot way. A distinctive design language that translates across the three floors. This is further accompanied by a curated selection of granites sourced from Beijing and Shandong—such as Shandong Yellow Rust Granite in varied textures that express depth and character. We aspire to add a layer of spatial sensibility that speaks to the building’s historical significance while embracing modernity, materiality and a thoughtful spatial design.