We hear the clinking of glass against metal. Soft voices hang in the air. Yet the seductive knowledge of private affairs remains tucked away — in the secluded corridors of one godown turned riverside solace: The Warehouse Hotel.

Time mysteriously slips away once you are within — like the memory fog of witnesses to a crime.

But as if to clad itself in a liminal space forever: an old time charm usually reserved for the shadows makes its way into the contemporary pleasures of a hospitable frontier. It is in this boutique hotel: that memorialized heritage belongs with the strength of modernity, and unyieldingly so.

As comrades in the fields of design, and collective collaborators for their most recent room furnishing — The Warehouse Robe — we were much enamoured with the hotel’s understated design that upon a second inspection, seems to take centre stage in the luxurious reimagination of the old warehouse.

So we dealt in our fair share of debauchery; seeking answers to the dark glamour of it all.

The interrogation of Tarun Kalra, timekeeper and General Manager of The Warehouse Hotel, below.

The Warehouse Hotel’s General Manager, Tarun Kalra.

The Warehouse Hotel seems to mark itself in its clandestine glory days. How have you converted this enigmatic charm into the indulgence of the hotel experience?

Renovated from an iconic 1895 warehouse – known in Asia as a ‘godown ’ – the building is situated along an infamous trade route that connected Asia and the Straits of Malacca. In the early 20th century, the premises were recognised as a hotbed of activity for secret societies, business deals and underground spirit distilling.

Today, whilst much of that history has disappeared, The Warehouse Hotel has been meticulously restored as a modern 37-room independent hotel. We worked with homegrown agency, Asylum, to bring this to life, developing a stylish and enigmatic space to marry a bygone era with modern-day Singapore, providing an industrial yet welcoming feel.

Exposed brick walls line both sides of the entrance as an appreciation of the building’s heritage. Custom lights are inspired by the pulleys found in godowns and line the double-volume ceilings, defining the ambience of the lobby lounge, while the elevator, intentionally clad with metal grilles, harks back to Singapore’s developing days.

The entire culinary portfolio – including our restaurant Po and in-room dining – is a loving revival of the flavours of yesteryear and refined interpretations of local favourites, while the Lobby Bar’s signature cocktails pay homage to the three distinct eras of the hotel’s past. In each room, a pleasant surprise of ‘Minibars of Vices’ awaits, specially curated around three categories of ‘Gluttony’ including handcrafted salted egg yolk potato chips and Vietnamese dark chocolate, ‘Lust’ for naughty treats, and ‘Vanity’ for local beauty elixirs.

We notice you’re very intentional with what goes into your hotel room space. What goes into this curation process of inputting various elements into your rooms?

The Warehouse Hotel endeavours to tell the story of Singapore’s new makers, creators and do-ers, brought to life through its thoughtful collaborations. Beyond the property alone, we recognise that the service we provide can serve as a platform to share these local experiences revolving around heritage and culture. These are the people and products we admire greatly, that we wish for the rest of the world to see.

Inviting a deeper foray into what Singapore is made of that no guidebook will tell you about, our rooms have been fitted with luxurious essentials created and curated by industry experts, from commissioned Mud Rock ceramic mugs, to building-inspired throws from Matter Prints, to complete your stay with authentic experiences that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

As we’re adapting to the various shifts of the current pandemic, what would you consider to be The Warehouse Hotel’s unique appeal to the local market?

In a bid to escape the humdrum of life and cure cabin fever, guests look to The Warehouse Hotel for momentary respite. Looking at our lush interior and minimalistic charm, no one would have guessed that these same walls once bore witness to activities of vice and debauchery in the early days of Singapore.

As with our site's history, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to a night with us.

We invite guests to be inspired by unusual showcase pieces discovered throughout the hotel, relish a refined take on local fare at Po, imbibe in our cocktails inspired by our site’s history at The Lobby Bar, and lose themselves in the tranquility found along the banks of the Singapore River. Sometimes luxury is discovered in the path less travelled.

In less than 10 words….share what you hope your guests will remember from their stay with The Warehouse Hotel?

An icon steeped in local heritage, redesigned for modern luxury.