An ornate Neoclassical structure built in 1927 featured a narrow, four-storey, open-air atrium around which offices were organised; in 1993 the atrium was covered over and filled with elevators, two stairwells, and storage areas. The current project was begun in 2010 under the auspices of Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority which stipulated that the original building be restored and also permitted the erection of a new five-storey addition at the rear of the atrium to accommodate additional hotel rooms and facilities. Today the boutique hotel comprises 134 rooms and suites in both buildings; the ground floor and atrium of the old building serve as the reception and lobby areas, and the roof of the extension is a lushly landscaped public area.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture