This was an adaptive reuse project to transform shophouses along Robertson Quay into a youth hostel designed for a cultural immersion programme. The themes were freedom, experimentation and creativity, which translated the into an old-but-new design and reconfigurable spaces. The exterior and interior renovations aimed to make the building look fresh and distinct from what it used to be, while keeping many of the old aspects intact. The spatial configuration sought to develop a hostel with no fixed walls, and to create public spaces and facilities that are flexible and supportive for social interactions.
The existing warehouse structure posed a challenge as it has important elements like the trusses, exposed columns and beams. The task was to try to integrate the old and the new into a single space by incorporating curves into the rigid spatial form. The general material palette was restricted to white painted surfaces with a grey finish; and the flooring was made of cost-effective tiles, which can be procured easily in the local market.
PROJECT DATA
Student Name
Hoe Siang Wee
School
School of Design, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore
Programme
Diploma in Interior Architecture and Design
Supervisor
Derek Lo
Project Name
Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
Project Year
November 2018
Location
The Warehouse Hotel, 320 Havelock Road Robertson Quay, Singapore
Gross Floor Area
1,000 square metres
Building Height
2.7-3.4 metres
Number of Rooms
8
Images
School of Design, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore
