Yue Hwa Building, Art Deco structure in Chinatown, Singapore
Yue Hwa Building is a six-story structure at the intersection of Eu Tong Sen Street and Upper Cross Street, featuring horizontal lines and angular arches typical of Art Deco design. The building now functions as a department store offering traditional Chinese medicines, antiques, textiles, and decorative items across multiple floors.
The building was constructed in 1927 by architects Swan and Maclaren and was originally known as Nam Tin Building. It housed the Great Southern Hotel, which was the first Chinese-owned hotel in the city to feature an elevator, marking an important advancement at the time.
The building served as a gathering place where Chinese travelers and performers met in its restaurants and nightclubs. Today it remains a center for the community, now focused on selling traditional Chinese goods and cultural items.
The building is easily accessible, located at a recognizable street corner in Chinatown where visitors can reach it on foot. Multiple floors are open to browse at your own pace, making it simple to explore different sections depending on your interests without any special requirements.
The building underwent a major renovation in 1994 that added modern features like an interior waterfall and stained glass skylight while preserving the original Art Deco exterior. This combination of historic appearance and contemporary additions makes it an interesting example of how older structures can be updated for present-day use.
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