Hotel Mono

Hotel Mono is a striking new landmark in the historic Chinatown area in Singapore, the result of an extensive refurbishment of six conservation shophouses by local design firm Spacedge Designs. Once a rundown budget hotel, the independent hotel now radiates with an assertive design language applied consistently from its facade to its interiors. The hotel's design was conceptualised to appeal to young social-media-savvy travellers who place a high value on design in their choice of accommodations, and this proposition is backed by affordable room prices. Faced with poor site conditions, as well as budget constraints, the design firm used simple low-cost materials to create high design value. Examples include the old-school mosaic used in the bathrooms, which is also a nod to the history of the buildings; and the 38mm-thick black metal bar which serves as lighting point, clothes rack, and post-modern sculpture in all rooms.