Asia Insurance Building
Encyclopedia
The former Asia Insurance Building is a high-rise building
formerly for commercial
use, located on Finlayson Green near Raffles Place
, in Singapore
's Downtown Core
. The Asia Insurance Building was also known as the A.I. Building, but was renamed to Ascott Raffles Place after the Ascott Group (a division of CapitaLand
) completed its redevelopment of the building into a serviced apartment
residence
in November 2008.
in 1924. After the relocation, the site was then occupied by the South British Insurance Company before the building was demolish
ed to make way for the current Asia Insurance Building.
Completed in 1954, the foundation stone for the Asia Insurance Building was laid by Commissioner-General Malcolm MacDonald
on 19 June 1953. It was officially opened on 10 December 1955. With 20 storeys and at 87 metres tall, the Asia Insurance Building was the tallest building in Southeast Asia
upon its completion in 1954. In Singapore, it was the first structure to exceed the Cathay Building
's claim for the tallest building in the 1950s. However, with the development of the central business district where the building is sited, the Asia Insurance Building has since been dwarfed by the surrounding skyscraper
s.
The Asia Insurance Building was named after its former namesake occupant, Asia Insurance, which is a Singaporean company incorporated on 11 July 1923.
serviced residence owner-operator, acquired the Asia Insurance Building for S$109.5 million. The building was restored
, and converted to serviced apartments for business travel
lers. The new Ascott Raffles Place will be a 146-unit serviced apartment residence that opened in November 2008. It is Ascott Group's only real property
under its luxury-premium
"Ascott" name in Singapore, with rates at S$500 to S$600 a night.
s, Ng Keng Siang. Ng was a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
, and designed the Art Deco building after the prevailing Modern Movement. He also exhibited a strong liking for eclectic
architectural styles. Ng had also designed the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
on Hill Street
, and Ngee Ann Building which has made way for Ngee Ann City
on Orchard Road
.
The building has a L-shaped façade
with rows of window
s, and a concrete
crown
on its top. In 1955, to celebrate the coronation
of Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
, a colossal banner
was put up on the building's façade, and light
s were decked out on the crown.
Other distinctive architectural features include a brass
mail chute
where mail could be dropped at a high point and collected at a central depository, a mosaic
staircase with timber
railing
, a black granite
five foot way
around the perimeter
of the building, and two Nero Portaro black granite Colonnade
s at the front. All these features, including the building façade and crown, will be conserve
d at a cost of S$60 million with the development of Ascott Raffles Place. Hospitality
design firm
Hirsch Bedner Associates is designing the interior of the suite
s.
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
formerly for commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
use, located on Finlayson Green near Raffles Place
Raffles Place
Raffles Place is a geographical location in Singapore, south of the mouth of the Singapore River. Located in the Downtown Core and the Central Area, it features some of the tallest buildings and landmarks of the country.-History:...
, in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
's Downtown Core
Downtown Core
The Downtown Core is a 266-hectare urban planning area in the south of the city-state of Singapore. The Downtown Core surrounds the mouth of the Singapore River and southeastern portion of its watershed, and is part of the Central Area, Singapore's central business district...
. The Asia Insurance Building was also known as the A.I. Building, but was renamed to Ascott Raffles Place after the Ascott Group (a division of CapitaLand
CapitaLand
CapitaLand Limited is the result of a merger in the year 2000 of then DBS Land and Pidemco Land. It is one of Asia's largest real estate companies. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, the company's core businesses are real estate development, hospitality and real estate financial services...
) completed its redevelopment of the building into a serviced apartment
Serviced apartment
A serviced apartment is a type of furnished apartment available for short-term or long-term stays, which provides amenities for daily use. Serviced apartments can be less expensive than equivalent hotel rooms...
residence
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
in November 2008.
Early history
Prior to the construction of the Asia Insurance Building, the site was occupied by the Union Insurance of Canton. The company moved to its own building on Collyer QuayCollyer Quay
Collyer Quay is a road in Downtown Core, Singapore that starts after Fullerton Road and ends at the junction of Raffles Quay, Finlayson Green and Marina Boulevard...
in 1924. After the relocation, the site was then occupied by the South British Insurance Company before the building was demolish
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
ed to make way for the current Asia Insurance Building.
Completed in 1954, the foundation stone for the Asia Insurance Building was laid by Commissioner-General Malcolm MacDonald
Malcolm MacDonald
Malcolm John MacDonald OM, PC was a British politician and diplomat.-Background:MacDonald was the son of Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and Margaret MacDonald. Like his father he was born in Lossiemouth, Moray...
on 19 June 1953. It was officially opened on 10 December 1955. With 20 storeys and at 87 metres tall, the Asia Insurance Building was the tallest building in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
upon its completion in 1954. In Singapore, it was the first structure to exceed the Cathay Building
Cathay Building
The Cathay Building was opened in 1939 by Dato Loke Wan Tho as the headquarters for the British Malaya Broadcasting Corporation...
's claim for the tallest building in the 1950s. However, with the development of the central business district where the building is sited, the Asia Insurance Building has since been dwarfed by the surrounding skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
s.
The Asia Insurance Building was named after its former namesake occupant, Asia Insurance, which is a Singaporean company incorporated on 11 July 1923.
Acquisition
In July 2006, the Ascott Group, an internationalInternational
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
serviced residence owner-operator, acquired the Asia Insurance Building for S$109.5 million. The building was restored
Building restoration
Building restoration describes a particular treatment approach and philosophy within the field of architectural conservation. According the U.S...
, and converted to serviced apartments for business travel
Business travel
Business travel is the practice of people traveling for purposes related to their work. It is on the rise especially with foreign business markets opening up...
lers. The new Ascott Raffles Place will be a 146-unit serviced apartment residence that opened in November 2008. It is Ascott Group's only real property
Real property
In English Common Law, real property, real estate, realty, or immovable property is any subset of land that has been legally defined and the improvements to it made by human efforts: any buildings, machinery, wells, dams, ponds, mines, canals, roads, various property rights, and so forth...
under its luxury-premium
Premium segment
In marketing and advertising, premium refers to a segment of a company's brands or products that carries tangible or imaginary surplus value in the upper mid- to high price range. The targeted high income customer group is also frequently referred to as "premium". Premium brands are designed to...
"Ascott" name in Singapore, with rates at S$500 to S$600 a night.
Architecture
The former Asia Insurance Building was designed by one of Singapore's pioneer architectArchitect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s, Ng Keng Siang. Ng was a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, and designed the Art Deco building after the prevailing Modern Movement. He also exhibited a strong liking for eclectic
Eclecticism
Eclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories in particular cases.It can sometimes seem inelegant or...
architectural styles. Ng had also designed the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a business chamber in Singapore.-History:Established in 1906 as the General Chinese Trade Affairs Association, the SCCCI's original purpose was to look after the interests of the Chinese business community, but it has expanded its scope...
on Hill Street
Hill Street
Hill Street is a street in the downtown of Singapore starting from Eu Tong Sen Street and ending at Stamford Road, where the road becomes Victoria Street...
, and Ngee Ann Building which has made way for Ngee Ann City
Ngee Ann City
Ngee Ann City is a shopping and commercial centre located on Orchard Road, Singapore. The S$520 million building was officially opened on 21 September 1993 by then Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong. Many Singaporeans refer to Ngee Ann City as "Taka", a slang-abbreviation of the anchor tenant's name,...
on Orchard Road
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is a road in Singapore that is the retail and entertainment hub of the city-state. It is regularly frequented by the local population as well as being a major tourist attraction...
.
The building has a L-shaped façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
with rows of window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
s, and a concrete
Concrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
crown
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
on its top. In 1955, to celebrate the coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of Queen
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, a colossal banner
Banner
A banner is a flag or other piece of cloth bearing a symbol, logo, slogan or other message. Banner-making is an ancient craft.The word derives from late Latin bandum, a cloth out of which a flag is made...
was put up on the building's façade, and light
Light fixture
A light fixture, light fitting, or luminaire is an electrical device used to create artificial light and/or illumination, by use of an electric lamp...
s were decked out on the crown.
Other distinctive architectural features include a brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
mail chute
Mail chute
A mail chute is a largely defunct letter collection device used in early multi-story office buildings, hotels, apartment buildings and other high rise structures. Letters were dropped from the upper stories and collected at a central depository by the postal service...
where mail could be dropped at a high point and collected at a central depository, a mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
staircase with timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
railing
Handrail
A handrail is a rail that is designed to be grasped by the hand so as to provide stability or support. Handrails are commonly used while ascending or descending stairways and escalators in order to prevent injurious falls. Other applications include bathroom handrails—which help to prevent falls on...
, a black granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
five foot way
Five foot way
Five foot ways are pedestrian walkways indented into the ground floor of a building from the road, so that the overhanging upper floors can provide a cover to shield pedestrians from the sun and rain. This feature can be found in many shophouses all over the world, and also in some office...
around the perimeter
Perimeter
A perimeter is a path that surrounds an area. The word comes from the Greek peri and meter . The term may be used either for the path or its length - it can be thought of as the length of the outline of a shape. The perimeter of a circular area is called circumference.- Practical uses :Calculating...
of the building, and two Nero Portaro black granite Colonnade
Colonnade
In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building....
s at the front. All these features, including the building façade and crown, will be conserve
Architectural conservation
Architectural conservation describes the process through which the material, historical, and design integrity of mankind's built heritage are prolonged through carefully planned interventions. The individual engaged in this pursuit is known as an architectural conservator...
d at a cost of S$60 million with the development of Ascott Raffles Place. Hospitality
Hospitality
Hospitality is the relationship between guest and host, or the act or practice of being hospitable. Specifically, this includes the reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers, resorts, membership clubs, conventions, attractions, special events, and other services for travelers...
design firm
Design firm
A design firm is an organization that designs any of a variety of things, in one or more of the design fields, such as graphic design, web design, architecture, engineering, interior design, or industrial design....
Hirsch Bedner Associates is designing the interior of the suite
Suite
In music, a suite is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral pieces normally performed in a concert setting rather than as accompaniment; they may be extracts from an opera, ballet , or incidental music to a play or film , or they may be entirely original movements .In the...
s.