Art Deco is a broad term for various developments in visual arts, design, and architecture during the interwar period. Influenced by aircraft, ships and racing cars, the style uses a lot of portholes as well as a mix of straight and curved lines. In colonial Singapore, the Art Deco style captured the commercial vibrancy and cosmopolitan modernity of Singapore as a major port city. Today, you can still see Art Deco influences in many parts of Singapore, from tall commercial buildings to pre-war structures in older neighbourhoods. Here are five surviving examples of Art Deco buildings in Singapore!
1. The Cathay Building
Now a hangout spot for moviegoers and students from the surrounding art schools, The Cathay Building was completed in 1941. Since its opening, it has been a distinct landmark in Singapore with many firsts – including the first skyscraper, the first air-conditioned cinema and the first cinema to screen Western films in Singapore. Today, only its iconic facade remains as a designated national monument, with the rest replaced by a modern glass structure.
2. Maxwell Chambers
This art-deco building built in 1933 was formerly known as White House and was used by the Singapore Customs and Excise (now Singapore Customs). During the Japanese Occupation, it became a place of refuge for expat officers and their families who had escaped from Malaya, as well as Australian soldiers who were attacked by Japanese troops. Today it is an integrated alternative dispute resolution (ADR) complex, housing at least 11 international institutions and 20 disputes chambers and practices from 11 countries.
3. 36 - 38 Armenian Street
These two clusters of four-storey Art Deco shophouses were built between the 1930s and 1940s. Its most famous occupants, the Mayfair City Hotel opened in 1950s and became a popular hotel with travellers in the 1960s. It stopped operating until the late 2000s before it was converted into lodging for foreign workers. However, a lack of maintenance meant the building was in a state of deterioration. It was painstakingly refurbished, repaired and brought back to its former glory, now serving as a chic, interlinked space for office and private gallery uses.
4. Fullerton Waterboat House
The Fullerton Waterboat House, originally known as the Water House, is a historic water supply house formerly used to supply fresh water to incoming ships in Singapore. It was later taken over in 1960 by the Port of Singapore Authority and continued to supply fresh water to incoming vessels until 1990. Following its renovation in 2003, she has evolved into a classy dining venue that offers breathtaking views of the artful Esplanade Bridge and Marina Bay.
5. Asia Insurance Building
Standing at 18 floors, the Asia Insurance Building overtook The Cathay Building as the tallest building in Singapore when it was completed in 1954. The Asia Insurance Building was designed in a luxurious Art Deco style, it was meant to reflect the financial stability of the Asia Insurance Company. Bought over by the Ascott Group in 2006, the building has since been redeveloped into a block of luxury serviced apartments.