Storied Grounds

Turning old into gold, leading hotel brands are giving heritage buildings luxe new interiors.

- Koh Yuen Lin

Majestic facades with intricate detailing, handsome columns and delicate cornices; hardwood floors gleaming with a patina acquired over time. There is much about the extravagant buildings constructed by empires that make them perfectly suited for being turned into grand hotels, and Singapore – once the crown jewel in the East for the British Empire – is fertile with options for ambitious hoteliers.

Think The Fullerton Hotel, converted from the former General Post Office, and Capella Singapore, which integrates modern construction with colonial military buildings. Whether it is pre-war conservation shophouses or former military barracks, heritage hotels are often not just stylish retreats, but also a canvas for history when the storied interiors are refurbished to surpass their former glory.