Spacedge Designs Tones Down Heritage Shophouses Renovation into a Black and White Minimalist Hotel

In Singapore, it is not unusual to see rows of heritage shophouses transformed into boutique hotels, be it for backpackers or luxury travellers. Most of these hotels, however, were renovated with the approach to restore or uplift the shophouses’ original exterior as well as the interior, resulting in the ubiquitous, predictable impression when staying at one of these properties.

©Hotel Mono

While many visitors enjoy this default experience of such a hotel type that is growing in number sporadically in Singapore, Spacedge Designs attempted a different design approach to a similar project typology. Branded as Hotel Mono, this row of renovated heritage shophouses stands with a striking division of black and white colour on its façade. Among its black coloured ground level fronts, one of the segments are enclosed by transparent glass panels that lead visitors to the bright reception area with colour scheme akin to the façade. Inside, the minimalist design of the lobby bears no resemblance to the interior of a Peranakan shophouse, just as intended by the designer.

©Hotel Mono

“Not wanting to pander to the clichés of nostalgia and tradition associated with Chinatown, I wanted to do something simple, yet different, that still communicates a Singapore identity.” The simplicity translates not only to the use of monochromatic palette, but also to the way the renovation was done with low budget materials and finishes, yet was able to produce a sophisticated look with minimalistic aesthetic.

©Hotel Mono

In renovating the existing building, the designer only retained some parts of the wooden floors in the hotel rooms which are then tinted black. Unnecessary details from previous renovations were replaced with simpler textures and surfaces that formulate the bold minimalist look of the hotel interior. On the lobby floor and hotel room’s toilet area, mosaic tiles are lied to give a subtle accent that transposes interior in many Singapore’s residential spaces decades ago.

©Hotel Mono

In each of the 46 guest rooms, black square metal bars were arched across the room three-dimensionally and functions to mount lighting or hang clothes. These bars are unique on each room and complement the sleek, uncluttered black coloured furnishing.

©Hotel Mono

Although refurbished to fully express contemporary aesthetic, the design of Hotel Mono still utilizes the original inner courtyards that were present in heritage shophouses. Moreover, the white coloured Peranakan window panels with the balustrades clearly mark how this building is indeed a result of a renovation work. Combined with the minimalist black and white look, the blend of new with a hint of old is what truly characterizes the innovative approach to the hotel design.