The Warehouse Hotel

In some cities, the prospect of a warehouse hotel would hardly raise an eyebrow. But Singapore’s godown warehouse buildings are a good deal more distinctive than your ordinary disused industrial space — and so Singapore’s Warehouse Hotel comes with a good deal more character than your everyday boutique hotel.

Of course, the fact that they had particularly rich raw materials to work with should take nothing away from the achievement of the architects, Zarch Collaboratives, who oversaw the meticulous restoration and conversion of these heritage buildings, or Asylum, the designers who transformed their interior spaces into the hotel you see today.

The rooms are pure modernity, adapted to their century-old shell; many are designed loft-style thanks to the pitched roofs of the original warehouses. Visually, they’re spare, almost minimal, muted in color but warmed by the rich textures and the heritage materials, including original windows and beams. And they come with all the modern-day luxury-boutique must-haves, from pillowtop mattresses and free wi-fi to Bang & Olufsen sound systems and Ashley & Co bath products.

But for all the charm of the guest rooms, the Warehouse Hotel wouldn’t be complete without its shared spaces. There’s a delightful rooftop pool, for one thing, and Po, the restaurant, is big news on Singapore’s dining scene, thanks to the fact that the Lo & Behold Group, the partnership behind the hotel, is also responsible for about a dozen of the city’s hippest restaurants and bars. So far their hospitality debut is a winner as well.