Local design studios FARM and Nice Projects join forces to work on the New Bahru conversion which was once a school building first built in 1969. The new changes are defined as a 'modern tropical' change in terms of its architectural theme. The New Bahru space is now a shopping and dining location. It houses various wellness and culture spaces, restaurants, and shops.
The director of FARM, Nan Chyuan Tiah shares with Dezeen, "To share some context, the project is based in an existing 1969 school building with modern tropical architectural features, located in Singapore's cosmopolitan River Valley neighbourhood. By 2013, the old school building was repurposed for temporary commercial uses, such as offices and F&B, to better serve the needs of that time."
Image Credit: Finbar Fallon
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Adaptive Reuse of Educational Buildings
- Transforming old school buildings into lifestyle hubs highlights a shift towards maximizing the potential of existing structures.
- Modern Tropical Architectural Design
- The adoption of a 'modern tropical' theme for converted spaces showcases a blend of contemporary aesthetics with regional characteristics.
- Integration of Wellness and Cultural Spaces
- Combining wellness and cultural activities within commercial hubs reflects an increasing demand for holistic lifestyle destinations.
- Rise of Mixed-use Developments in Urban Areas
- Converting educational buildings into mixed-use developments exemplifies the trend of creating multifunctional urban spaces.
- Community-centric Commercial Spaces
- Redesigning former institutional buildings into community-oriented commercial hubs signifies a move towards community-focused urban planning.
Sectors Adopting This
- Real Estate Development
- The push for converting old educational buildings touches on innovative real estate development strategies aimed at urban revitalization.
- Architecture and Design
- Modern tropical designs in architectural projects indicate a growing interest in region-specific aesthetic solutions.
- Retail and Hospitality
- Repurposing school buildings into shopping and dining destinations points toward expanding opportunities in the retail and hospitality sectors.
- Urban Planning and Development
- The creation of mixed-use lifestyle hubs from former school buildings showcases emerging trends in urban planning and development approaches.
- Wellness and Lifestyle
- Integrating wellness spaces into commercial hubs highlights an evolving industry focused on comprehensive lifestyle solutions.
