Lo & Behold Group, a leading hospitality group in Singapore, has announced plans to revitalise the former Nan Chiau High School site, located on 46 Kim Yam Road within Singapore’s River Valley neighbourhood, in a joint venture with construction industry player Sunray Group Holdings.
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The Lo & Behold Group is behind hospitality concepts such as Odette, a three Michelin-starred fine dining establishment, and the Warehouse Hotel, an intimate boutique hotel. The new revitalisation project, a lifestyle development “housing some of Singapore’s most exceptional creative businesses” scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2024, is among its most ambitious ventures yet.
Said Teng Wen Wee, founder and managing partner of Lo & Behold Group: “It’s amazing how, all around the world, interesting architecture and creative businesses can come together to create vibrant neighbourhoods we’ve come to love. Where you can spend a day meandering around, discovering something meaningful. We’ve had our eye on the former Nan Chiau High School for years. The site, with its beautiful architectural bones not only offers the opportunity to celebrate the amazing entrepreneurs here, but to tell a compelling Singapore story of creative progress.”
Having served as a headquarters for volunteer soldiers during the Japanese occupation, 46 Kim Yam Road is steeped in history. Spanning 20,156 square metres, the development will be designed to showcase businesses in various sectors, including food and beverage, retail, wellness, entertainment, education, arts and culture, as well as an 86-key serviced apartment concept.
Highlighting the individuality of each concept, Lo & Behold’s curation of the development’s tenants “rejects the cookie-cutter approach” in order to bring a unique experience as an alternative to traditional retail malls.
The former Nan Chiau High School retains its original brutalist architecture and features such as grand staircases, hidden gardens, and secret corridors. Lo & Behold’s placemaking and design-centric approach will involve experts including FARM for architecture, This Humid House for landscaping, and Playpoint for the playground, all under the leadership of Jesline Goh, the development’s new managing director, and with guidance from Sacha Leong of Nice Projects.
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While Lo & Behold Group says it remains in discussion with potential partners for the development, a number of brands have committed to joining the stable of around 50 local and international businesses setting up shop within 46 Kim Yam Road, including:
- Artichoke, a mezze and karak chai bar by local culinary icon Bjorn Shen
- The Coconut Club, a Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Singaporean restaurant
- Morning, a specialty coffee capsule machine and marketplace
- FIN Crafted Goods, a creative upcycling studio
- Beyond The Vines, a multidisciplinary design studio based in Singapore whose bold yet simple designs have garnered fans across the globe
- Rye, a homegrown fashion label by Bessie Ye
- Sojao, a local lifestyle brand focused on ethically made and certified organic cotton bedding and other home goods
- Ginlee, a contemporary womenswear label
- OM, Ong Shunmugam’s third store in Singapore