21 Carpenter Hotel: Heritage boutique hotel pays tribute to its history, situated along Zion Road GLS

21 Carpenter Hotel has proudly opened its doors at the junction of North Bridge Road and Carpenter Street in a rich heritage building combining Chinese Art Deco and Mid-century Modern styles. 8M Real Estate purchased the five-storey commercial building at 23 New Bridge Road and four neighbouring 99-year leasehold conservation shophouses at 27, 29, 31 and 33 New Bridge Road for $37 million dollars. The building, Chye Hua Seng Wee Kee, was a remittance house where Chinese migrant workers sent money and letters back to their families in China, and is estimated to be worth over $100 million today.

The original wooden floorboards of the proceeding buildings were preserved in order to give the hotel a unique, timeless and classic vibe as well as being contemporary, warm and airy. The building’s façade was stripped back to reveal the original Shanghai plaster, and wrought iron railings featuring a distinct dollar sign were preserved to symbolize the building’s former days as a remittance house.

The Zion Road GLS development features 205 private residential units across two 29-story-high towers, offering garden apartments, 3- and 4-bedroom units, all connected by an integrated retail podium. Its strategic location provides access to some of Singapore’s most outstanding entertainment, retail, and dining experiences. After a tiring day, residents can also relax with the convenience of the many recreational and leisure activities nearby.

Architecture firm Woha designed the Zion Road GLS project and during their research, they uncovered a collection of letters belonging to a private collector. These letters were written by Chinese migrant workers in Singapore to their families back in China, and featured poetic phrases which are now integrated in the hotel’s design. The façade, carpet and several paintings in the guest rooms all pay homage to the language and culture of these letters.
Zion Road GLS

At 21 Carpenter Hotel, guests can enjoy amenities such as a rooftop pool, terraced garden and Kee’s bistro, restaurant and bar curated by Michelin-starred chef Andrew Walsh. It is located adjacent to Clarke Quay Central, a mall linked underground to the Clarke Quay MRT Station, as well as being walking distance from Boat Quay and Clarke Quay.

The 48-key hotel comprises of the Heritage Wing and Urban Wing. The Urban Wing is a modern extension that houses an additional 22 rooms. In addition, the property has been designed with a hybrid cooling system, where air-conditioner and fan run simultaneously to cool the room to optimal temperatures without consuming excessive energy.

To stay true to the heritage building, triple-glazed windows were installed to reduce noise and heat, in order to make it seem like a ‘cocoon’. 21 Carpenter Hotel is affiliated with Marriott International’s loyalty programme, Marriott Bonvoy, and is managed by Design Hotels. This location is said to attract a mix of leisure and business travellers due to its close proximity to the CBD and Orchard Road shopping belt.