Words by: Tanya Singh
Photo Credit: Thomas Ang (@thepeepingthomphotography)

 

Here’s a glimpse into our recently completed styling project for The Great Room’s South Bridge Road location.

 

 

Located in the heart of bustling Singapore's Chinatown district, The Great Room’s most recent location on South Bridge Road is a 4-storey shophouse, once home to Eu Yan Sang’s flagship store in Singapore. Working in collaboration with the Kulor Group, an interior design firm based in Singapore, we styled the co-working space breathing new life into its storied walls.

The styling narrative seamlessly weaves together the history of the building and the rich cultural heritage of the surrounding Chinatown area. In order to add meaning and snippets of the building’s history into the gentlemen’s club inspired interiors, we tastefully incorporated elements from traditional Chinese medicine and the culture that surrounds the landmark, blending them with contemporary touches to create a harmonious balance. From ceramic breezeblocks to antique drawer pulls, every detail was thoughtfully planned in order to tell the story of building, its tenants, and its neighbours.

 

 

Upon entering the space, guests are greeted by a striking ceramic installation by local artist, Gellyvieve, titled Herbs & Tin. The artwork narrates the history of the well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) brand, Eu Yan Sang, in the region. The installation recounts the use of herbs in TCM through the organic shapes depicting the relationship between the architecture and its history. Imprints of Ganoderma lingzhi (Lingzhi), Ophiocordyceps sinensis (cordyceps) and Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Shen) on the ceramic pieces represent a formal footprint of herbs that was once present in the space.

 

 

Another highlight on the first floor of the building, which serves as the concierge and main shared working space, is a large-scale mural by Singaporean urban sketcher, Stephanie Ng. The mural, partially drawn from life and partially adapted from archival photographs, reflects on the significant role the street has played in the development of the Chinese community in Singapore, with many Chinese immigrants settling in the area and establishing their businesses in beautiful shophouses like this building. Stephanie’s sketches also adorn the interiors of the elevators while decorative accents inspired by traditional Chinese blue and white ceramics with a contemporary twist punctuate the welcome lounge.

 

 

The entrance to the Drawing Room, a space for members to mingle and host events, flaunts a gallery wall constructing a visual timeline of the Chinatown area. The history of Chinatown in Singapore is a story of perseverance and adaptation. The ensemble of black and white archival photographs, sourced from the National Archives of Singapore and Eu Yan Sang, is an ode to the area in all its glory — from the hustle bustle of the streets to the activities within shophouses.

 

 

The main event space comes to life with the addition of contemporary Chinese ink art, vibrant cushions, and lush plants, all while keeping in line with the monotonal color palette. In order to bring in a little bit of architectural history, we also sourced ceramic breezeblocks to be incorporated as screen within the space.

The styling project signifies a remarkable achievement in seamlessly preserving history while embracing modernity for Vermillion. In a rapidly evolving digital age, where heritage can easily be overshadowed, this space stands as a living testament to the importance of cherishing our roots and celebrating our shared cultural narratives.