Recognised as one of the most exquisite boutique hotel in Singapore, the Sultan Hotel located in the old Malay district, has been awarded the Architectural Heritage Award from the Singapore Urban Redevelopment Authority.
SINGAPORE- Late last week saw the attribution of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Architectural Heritage Award to five restoration projects in Singapore, paying tribute to the preservation of history in the City State. Among the five projects is the Sultan Hotel, an exquisite boutique property located in two traditional shophouses built in the early years of the 20th century. The property is located in Kampong Glam, in the heart of the city, near to Bugis Street and Singapore’s Sultan Mosque, a landmark of the metropolis with its distinctive golden dome and Moorish architecture.
Kampong Glam was the area allocated to Sultan Hussein Shah in 1823 and became then the neighbourhood mostly to Malay and Arab communities, who made a living selling foodstuff and merchandises.In 1989, Kampong Glam was declared a conservation area in 1989.
Faithfully preserved, The Sultan retains many beautiful architectural features such as tall columns, wide arcs, and beautiful full-length shuttered windows – all these exulting an old Singapore charm. The URA award pays tribute to the transformation of ten outstanding specimens of ornate Late to Art Deco-style buildings, built between 1900 and 1940s. Architects merged them into an exquisite boutique hotel with vintage charm for its 64 rooms. Great attention has been paid to details with the restoration of even the reinstatement of pillars, columns, arches and intricate mouldings in the interior spaces.
The project team paid also homage to history by showcasing an old metal sign plate bearing the emblem of a Malay printing press company, Harmy, that used to occupy the building. This reminder of Kampong Glam’s and the building’s past as a centre for the gathering, printing and dissemination of new ideas in the region’s Malay publishing world, has been given a new shine as it hangs in the lobby of the hotel for modern day visitors.
The URA also looked at improved environment of the district thanks to the hotel’s presence. Corridors and access passages to guest rooms are naturally ventilated and both environmentally and handicapped-friendly. The project has also resuscitated the back alleys of the development. Nice landscape design and atmospheric lighting enhance the friendly and interactive spaces for the hotel and neighbourhood. More than breathing life back into the heritage buildings, The Sultan hotel project has revived an interesting corner within the unique Kampong Glam Historic District for the entire neighbourhood to enjoy.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
