’21 Carpenter Hotel: Heritage boutique hotel paying tribute to its history & Holland Drive Residences

21 Carpenter Hotel, located at the junction of North Bridge Road and Carpenter Street, was officially opened to guests in early December. The boutique hotel is a combination of a five-storey, freehold commercial building at 23 New Bridge Road and four neighbouring 99-year leasehold conservation shophouses at 27, 29, 31 and 33 New Bridge Road.

Holland Drive Residences 8M Real Estate purchased the properties for $37 million and it is estimated to be worth over $100 million today. Singapore-based, award-winning architecture firm Woha designed the project and their research led them to a collection of letters owned by a private collector.

The school aims to provide girls with an education that is not just academically excellent, but also morally and spiritually enriching. In the past few decades, it has seen high academic excellence and strong participation in co-curricular activities. The school also regularly organises activities such as camps, trips, and fellowshipping events. With all the education, activities, and values being taught, MGS is becoming an increasingly popular choice when it comes to schooling around the Holland Drive Residences area.

The interiors of the old buildings were gutted and a new rear extension was added to the four shophouses as part of the conversion into the 48-room boutique hotel that is now 21 Carpenter Hotel. The leases were also topped up to a fresh 99-year lease.

To incorporate elements of the history of the former remittance house into the hotel’s design, 8M Real Estate collaborated with Woha to include some of the poetic phrases originally found in the letter in the hotel’s interiors and façade — both in their original Chinese characters and English translations.

The architectural features that were conserved include the wrought iron railings at the balconies that bear the distinct dollar sign at its centre. They were also able to strip off layers of paint from the building’s façade to reveal the original Shanghai plaster.

Holland Drive Residences The original wooden floorboards of the interiors were preserved to maintain the character of the building. The mix of Chinese Art Deco and Mid-century Modern styles of the building is also reflected in the interiors.

Amenities in the hotel include a rooftop pool; a terraced garden on the third floor; and on the ground floor, Kee’s bistro, restaurant and bar curated by Michelin-starred chef Andrew Walsh. It is slated to open in February next year.

The hotel is operated by Design Hotels and is affiliated with Marriott International’s loyalty programme, Marriott Bonvoy. It has been designed to be sustainable with a hybrid cooling system and triple-glazed windows, making it both energy efficient and cocoon-like at the same time.

Holland Drive Residences 21 Carpenter Hotel is conveniently located near Clarke Quay Central mall, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, the CBD, and Orchard Road shopping belt. This makes it a great place for both leisure and business travellers.