Raffles Place
South, Singapore
March 2013
South, Singapore
March 2013
In 1997, the 72 year old building, along with a piece of the waterfront was acquired, by Sino Land, the Hong Kong arm of the Far East Organisation, at a cost of S$110 million for development into a hotel. Architects 61, together with DP Consultants, was engaged to convert it into a 400-room luxury hotel with the hotel rooms designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates. Renovation works costing a total of S$400 million were carried out over three years on the building, with only minor alterations to the exterior as stipulated by URA conservation guidelines.
Interesting features found during work on the Fullerton Building include an old postal tunnel that led all the way out to the sea for postal boats to deliver and collect mail and the partially water-submerged raft foundation under the building that rendered it effectively floating.
The acquired waterfront parcel was developed into a two-storey commercial complex - One Fullerton - which is linked via a underground passageway to Fullerton Hotel. Works were completed on 08 December 2000 and the Fullerton Hotel was officially opened by PM Goh Chok Tong on 01 January 2001, after the Fullerton's New Year Eve party countdown.
A koi pond with well-fed koi fish in the basement to retain the water wealth...
Soothing earth tones and beech are used for the interior design.
On guest floors, passageways link the rooms from the bay view rooms to the courtyard and river view rooms...
On guest floors, passageways link the rooms from the bay view rooms to the courtyard and river view rooms...
View of the hotel from the passageways...
An antique dial phone is displayed at the lift lobby...
Majestic lionheads guard the entrance of the hotel at Fullerton Square...
Majestic lionheads guard the entrance of the hotel at Fullerton Square...
A bust of Ng Teng Fong was recently installed in the lobby of Fullerton Hotel. Singapore billionaire property tycoon Ng Teng Fong was the chairman of the Far East Organization. Fullerton Hotel is among
the over 700 malls, condominiums and hotels in Singapore and Hong Kong owned by the group...
the over 700 malls, condominiums and hotels in Singapore and Hong Kong owned by the group...
A skylight spanning 2/3 of the hotel lobby allows in natural light,
thereby improving energy conservation during daytime...
Which is much needed, given the energy consumption of the warm lighting
provided by the elegant but energy-intensive lamps...
Functional features are well-hidden into the hotel design...
A thoughtful gesture to provide lounge guests with racks at coffee tables
for their neckties, coats and briefcases...
for their neckties, coats and briefcases...
A koi pond with well-fed koi fish in the basement to retain the water wealth...
Welcoming cushions provided on well-maintained leather and velvet seats
encourage one to take a breather from the humid tropical weather outside...
encourage one to take a breather from the humid tropical weather outside...
Merlion Wayfarer's Fullerton Heritage Guided Tour Series
| "Lighthouse Dining" | "Restoration Works" | "The Salon" | "The Straits Room" | "Postcard Exhibition" |
| "Founding Of Modern Singapore" | "Commercial Square" | "Singapore River" | "Anderson & Cavenagh Bridges" |
| "Extravagant Architecture" | "Fullerton Lighthouse" | "Fullerton Square" | "General Post Office" | "Heritage Gallery" | | "Lighthouse Dining" | "Restoration Works" | "The Salon" | "The Straits Room" | "Postcard Exhibition" |
Sources
- "A peek into the Fullerton" by Koh, Boon Pin (06 June 2000). The Straits Times.
- "Fullerton Hotel" by Phyllis Wee (28 May 2001) . Singapore Infopedia, National Library Board.
- "Fullerton wins heritage award" by Sim, Arthur (19 July 2001). The Straits Times.
- "Singapore property tycoon Ng Teng Fong dies" by Hoe, Yeen Nie (02 February 2010). Singapore News, Channel News Asia. Retrieved from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1034717/1/.html (19 March 2013).
