Among the hodgepodge of architectural styles along Hill Street, the home of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) has a seminal presence due to its iconic architecture. The main entrance features elements of traditional Chinese architecture such as a hip roof covered with green glazed tiles, crimson columns, beams adorned with colourful graphics and a studded red door flanked by ceramic carvings of nine Chinese dragons on each side. The building behind is capped by similar components, albeit at a grander scale with a doubletiered pyramid roof, emphasised by a column of balconies rising up its mien.
In 1906, the elite of the Chinese business community established the SCCCI to promote trade and industry. The original home was a two-storey structure – the former mansion of Wee Ah Hood, a tycoon who made his fortune from gambier and pepper trading in the mid-1800s. In 1963, this was replaced by the current 10-storey building. Six years ago, SCDA Architects was tasked to rejuvenate the architecture and interior, which it completed in 2022.
“As the community of SCCCI members grows and as the Chamber’s role evolves and expands both locally and globally, a thorough renewal of the building represents the next step towards the Chamber’s future,” says architect and SCDA Architects’ founder Soo K. Chan. This would need a building symbolising “a ‘harmony of dualities’ – a synthesis of the old and the new, past and future”.
Denne historien er fra Issue 129-utgaven av d+a.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra Issue 129-utgaven av d+a.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Home Is Where The Heart Is
A vacation house is reimagined for a multi-generational family to gather for holidays in the bucolic setting of Yongjia in Zhejiang, China.
the natural balance
Inspired by the serene beauty of dewdrops, the Antao Collection by Villeroy & Boch transforms bathrooms into wellness sanctuaries, combining sustainability with timeless elegance.
inspiring creativity and exploration
The new Hafary House at Lavender reflects the brand’s vibrancy and innovation, as well as provide an inspiring and engaging space for customers.
balancing act: nature and humanity
In this inspiration-led series, we asked Jay Liu and Alex Liu, co-founders of Right Angle Studio, to dream up a unique interior concept using mainly items from Space Furniture.
rethinking, remaking, reframing
Aoki Akio, the founder of DESIGNART TOKYO discusses the importance and legacy of Tokyo's eminent art and design event, particularly for young creatives.
rebuilding communities
Shift2024, the much-anticipated conference returns with a stellar line-up of prolific architects making their mark in Asian urban design.
unparalleled italian craftsmanship
Filippo Arnaboldi, Chief Executive Officer of Frette, tells us how this luxury lifestyle Italian brand is moving forward with times yet not forgetting about its existing legacy.
where the mountain meets the sea
This bespoke hillside residence features modern design elements, natural touches, and panoramic ocean views.
tailored for the curious explorer
The new Alma House at the New Bahru enclave reflects the collaborative spirit of a school environment.
tranquil sanctuary
The recently launched Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto, designed by Kengo Kuma, fuses traditional Japanese architecture with modern elegance.