On Singapore’s historic Coleman Street, Grand Park City Hall is a landmarked building firmly rooted in its past with an eye toward the future, much like the cosmopolitan region itself. For Singapore-based Park Hotel Group’s CEO Allen Law, it was the perfect location for the flagship property of his luxury brand. To revamp the grande dame, he called on Singapore’s RSP Architects Planners & Engineers to oversee the exterior renovations and local Studio HBA to helm the interiors of the 343-key property.

“There are beautiful landmark buildings in the area, like the Central Fire Station and Old Hill Street Police Station,” says Studio HBA founding partner Rahul Shankhwalker. “We wanted to create a hotel experience that builds a bridge of curiosity between the guests and the area. It needs to generate enough curiosity to make people want to explore further.”

From a typical Singapore street scene printed on collateral such as silk scarves and backdrops on the wall of elevators to enamel Tiffin containers used to serve candy and biscuits, details of the Lion City’s culture come alive.

“There is an eclectic mix of art here,” Shankhwalker continues. In the lobby, for instance, a series of pieces printed on aluminum combine fashion and architecture with the neighborhood. “Because of its texture, people feel compelled to touch it,” he says.

Further, an outdoor gym and swimming pool offer views of Fort Canning Park’s greenery. Here, oversized metal birdcages are decorative motifs used as pergolas at the corners of the pool and cap the al fresco area of the club floor.

In contrast, guestrooms feature wooden ceiling fans, herringbone hardwood flooring, and Peranakan patterned tiles in bathrooms for a contemporary Asian experience. Lacquered boxes in bright hues of purple and teal act as storage for tea or toiletries, while vintage trunks have been transformed into bedside tables. Behind each bed, black and white photography depict a local architectural relic, immersing guests in their location.

“For hotels to be able to create visual memories, they needs to become a medium for people to tell stories,” Shankhwalker says. That’s how he wants people to remember Grand Park City Hall. “It’s like going into someone’s home and feeling their warmth and hospitality.”