Link Hotel, Singapore's largest boutique hotel in Tiong Bahru

An expatriate friend once said this while having a glass of wine at T-Bone Steakhouse in Tiong Bahru: "This is one of the places in Singapore I feel like a foreigner. I love it."

It may sound like a strange thing to say - why on earth would anyone want to feel like a foreigner anywhere - but that is the intrinsic magic of travel. To feel like a foreigner, and yet to feel completely at ease, because the surroundings around you are comfortable, friendly and, most of all, real.

With globalisation, cities are tending to look and feel the same. Similar soaring architecture, the same brand names plastered over billboards and shopping malls, the same-looking cafes with a generic look and feel, similar restaurants and bars.

In Tiong Bahru, however, one does feel like one is transported back in time to a Singapore of old with its markets, shophouses, local "kopi tiams" (coffee shops) and, most of all, residents carrying on as they used to - sitting at coffee shops, having their beer and exchanging stories and playing chess on the sidewalk.

The T-Bone Steakhouse, for instance, sits right next to a Chinese temple so that as you sip your glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc, incense wafts past your nose.

It is in this largely undiscovered area of Tiong Bahru where Singapore's first hotel, converted from a public housing project, stands. And it is this location that gives the Link Hotel a unique, and strong, sense of place.

You know you are in Singapore when you stay at the Link.

Giving guests "a feel of Singapore"

And that was the original idea behind the Link Hotel. General Manager Mr George Chen said the idea behind the Link was to provide guests with a feel of Singapore, as well as a feel of home.

"We believe that the legacy of the two buildings of Link Hotel should live on. Being one of the oldest housing estates in Singapore, Tiong Bahru has a rich heritage of its own. The charm and cultural history of the two buildings of Link Hotel is part of this heritage."

(Pic) Executive deluxe room in Malay theme

Its rooms come with three different ethnic themes that represent the main cultural groups in Singapore, namely Chinese, Indian, and Malay, and to cater to guests who prefer more contemporary design, it has its modern rooms which focus on simple lines and sleek curves.

Said Mr Chen: "We feel that the cultural themes fit our location in the nostalgic estate of Tiong Bahru as guests will get to experience what it is like to stay in the local heartland. The neighbourhood is a great base to start exploring Singapore; from the delicious local fare at Tiong Bahru market, to the unique Art Deco design of the area. We are also in the midst of reopening the famous "Bird Arena" that is located beside our main block, Lotus block. We hope to invite bird lovers back to showcase their pet birds."

The two buildings of Link Hotel were built in the 1950s. Since pre-war times, the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT), the predecessor of Housing & Development Board (HDB), had started developing Tiong Bahru area as the first public housing estate of Singapore. The houses were built to resolve the issues of overcrowding and lack of sanitation in the city centre.

The former Block 53 before its conversion to Lotus Block

Said Mr Chen: "We were told that originally, the flats in Tiong Bahru were so expensive that only the wealthy were able to afford it."

The challenges of construction and conversion

The owning company, Macau-based Hang Huo Enterprise Group, took over the construction of the project from the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in 2005, and began operations at the main block on 14 July 2007. The other block, Orchid Block, began operations on 14 November 2007.

In the construction process, Mr Chen said the layouts of the old buildings have transformed drastically.

"For example, each staircase used to lead up to three flat units, without a corridor. Now, the staircases open to our 140m long corridor. Each original three-room flat was converted to four guestrooms; each four-room flat was converted to six guestrooms. The biggest change to the layout can be seen in the lobby. We removed the second, third and fourth floors to elongate the height of the lobby. This way, natural light can shine in to provide a sense of spaciousness and airiness."

The facades were preserved structurally. "During the construction period, we realised the first layer of paint for the buildings was red. We have retained this legacy of the buildings by painting part of our exteriors in red," said Mr Chen.

The age of the buildings - more than 50 years old - was a challenge. Said Mr Chen: "Some of the original material and design did not meet our current needs. After all, it is a conversion of a residential building to a commercial building. For instance, the construction standards 50 years ago are different from current standards. We also had to deal with the wear and tear of the older building material. One good example is the original louvers of the two blocks. We had to treat them for water seepage and parasites, and restore them one by one."

Another challenge was the structure of the buildings. "According to government regulations, we have to maintain the façade and structure of the two buildings, which we feel is an excellent move because the heritage of the building can be preserved. On our part, we have to put in extra effort into designing a comfortable space for our hotel guests, given these restrictions.

"A third restriction would be the fact that the MRT tunnel runs beneath our two blocks. The weight of the buildings cannot be too heavy or too light; otherwise, it may influence the tunnel. Therefore, there was a lot of coordination with SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit) and LTA (Land Transport Authority)."

It also took the company some time to arrange for the hoisting of the link bridge between the two blocks. "Besides being the first air-conditioned link bridge for a hotel, the length of the bridge is also quite long. We had to work closely with our engineers and other authorities to plan for this momentous bridge hoisting," said Mr Chen.

Design a key element in blending old and new

He added: "Being the first conversion of a former public housing to a boutique hotel, some of the policies and procedures for submissions of permits may also differ from the norm. We believe this is both a learning experience for us and for the various government bodies. For example, the commercial and residential requirements for ceiling height are different. There are hence many such issues to iron out before we can convert buildings previously used for residential purposes to fit our commercial purposes.

"All in all, design is an important aspect for the hotel in order for us to combine the old world charm of Tiong Bahru with the modern interior of Link Hotel so as to reach out to tourists and to become a prominent feature in Singapore's landscape."

Challenges notwithstanding, the hotel has been running occupancies of 78% since it opened, catering to guests from neighbouring countries in South-east Asia and Asia. Mr Chen said it is reaching out to America and Europe in the coming year "as our unique design theme is an attraction for these markets".

While growth continues with the hotel receiving positive feedback, Mr Chen sees challenges on the horizon. "Generally, the hospitality market has slowed down due to the declining US economy, weak US dollar, high oil prices, and inflationary issues.

"This likely means a reduced growth rate for the tourism and hospitality industry of Singapore. However, as a hotel in the boutique category, we observe the trend of guests who used to stay in five-star accommodation coming to stay with us due to the weaker US dollar."

Note: This article first appeared in P@SSPORT, the STB's industry newsletter.