"One of the best ways to introduce New Bahru is by explaining its name," begins Wee Teng Wen. Wee is the founder of The Lo & Behold Group, the hospitality company behind some of the most exciting brands in Singapore's cultural and culinary landscape today. Over the past two decades, the group has brought to life concepts that include Odette, Fico and The Warehouse Hotel. Still, when it comes to scale and ambition, nothing compares to New Bahru. Undoubtedly the group's biggest project to date, New Bahru transforms the former Nan Chiau High School into a creative cluster that places its focus entirely on local talent.
"Bahru is Malay for 'new' and 'new new' is a reference to how Singaporeans like to say the same word twice. For us, it signals a new community and a new path that we want to build for Singapore's creatives," Wee explains.
You won't find any large international franchises within these walls. Instead, a line-up of local businesses, ranging from dining and lifestyle to wellness and enrichment, showcases the strength and diversity of our creatives. Housed in a site indelibly tied to local culture, New Bahru is like nothing we've seen before in Singapore's retail landscape.
"New Bahru is a dream project for us," reflects Wee. "It's a combination of all the work we've done over the last 20 years. It will bring together some of the most talented creatives and entrepreneurs across the different fields of lifestyle in Singapore and it's what we feel is the first concept to be able to assemble this kind of talent in one place."
Ahead of its opening. Wee shares how New Bahru came to become what it is today, what visitors can look forward to and how he hopes it will help Singapore's creative scene grow.
How did this project come about?
Esta historia es de la edición Vogue Man Singapore - July/August 2024 de Vogue Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición Vogue Man Singapore - July/August 2024 de Vogue Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
In Its Own Way
It’s easy, low-stakes even, to praise a classically beautiful watch. How about trying to appreciate and understand timepieces with aesthetics that challenge?
Fashion's Fresh Slate
As we contend with some of the industry’s biggest shake-ups, fashion experts weigh in on their predictions for the new season.
LAU FEY
After winning her first Grammy, the songbird opens up about her Asian upbringing, body-doubling with her twin sister and how she sends her music through time.
Sasha
With a career spanning several decades, countless runway shows and the record as the longest-serving model for Prada, the Russian supermodel and artist is widely recognised as one of the defining faces of the 2000s. Today, fashion's ultimate muse returns to grace the cover of Vogue Singapore's September issue, channelling the best of '80s kitsch and maximalism amid a flurry of daring silhouettes, striking embellishments and exuberant neon hues.
An Actor PREPARES
Ahead of her new film 7he ustigators, Oscar-nominated actor Hong Chau sits down to talk about her preparation for the role, how her relationship with acting has evolved and what success means to her.
AS YOU LIKE IT
Slender new designs to the Tiffany & Co. Lock collection make it a breeze to style and wear. Vogue Singapore's editor-in-chief Desmond Lim takes the jewels for a spin on Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw, Christabel Chua and Lennard Yeong.
CHYPRE &CHIC
After 71 fragrances in the house's 187-year history, Hermès debuts its first chypre scent. Here's why Barenia, and the whopping 998 tests it took to birth it, matters to perfumer Christine Nagel.
DECORA PLAY
In our local fashion landscape, where style often veers towards the plain and conventional, embracing the kitsch and vibrant world of Decora fashion represents a courageous defiance of the norm. Natasha Aliya Dawson, a local Decora dresser, talks about her journey with this bold style.
On BEAT
H&M Studio's new autumn/winter 2024 collection is an ode to jazz musicians.
A NEW VISION
Daniel Lee's Burberry is at once a profound reflection of the past and a projection into the future. In a photo shoot capturing the essence of the new Burberry, Lee is joined by English supermodel Karen Elson and Thai actor Bright Vachirawit.