22 May 1923
Started As A Hospital
The building was built in 1923 as the St Andrew’s Mission Hospital for women & children. Shuttered following a hit during an air raid in 1941, it re-opened in 1942 as the “Shimin Byoin” hospital during the Japanese occupation.
1946-1998
Continued Healthcare
Post-war, the building continued its healthcare mission as the Government Medical Store in 1946, the Maxwell Road Outpatient Dispensary from 1964, and an IOH Polyclinic in 1998.
2000s
CK Tang
At the turn of the century, the Singapore Land Authority added the building to its heritage building collection for commercial adaptation, with its last use as CK Tang’s Corporate Head Office in the 2010s.
July 2024
Transforming Into KADA
SLA awarded the master tenancy to Bethesda Medical Pte Ltd. Redeveloped by Kada Ventures Pte Ltd with the aim of blending heritage with modern lifestyle experiences, KADA today features a range of specialty coffee and teas, international cuisines, a full gym, health, fitness and art offerings and 18 co-living rooms.
Preserving architectural elements
British manufacturers Smith, Major, and Stevens built Singapore’s oldest electric lift. In refurbishing the lift, KADA retained the original carriage, overhauled and replaced the motor for a smoother ride. Visit Alani bakery to check out the original motor, a century-old relic.
The building center features a triangular atrium with a skylight, fondly termed as the “donut”. As part of honoring the building’s architecture, KADA retained the atrium’s natural light and ventilation with its overhead fans, adding some seating for visitors to bask in natural sunlight.
A heritage feature of the building include the distinctive timber louvred windows. The original timber windows were painstakingly restored with new hinges and hardware, and repainted in a lighter tone for a refreshed look. Sliding windows were added behind for sound insulation.
Original tiles discovered! The process of gutting out the interiors exposed original tiles from the last century. While aged and punctuated with holes in some places, the historical smooth white and blue tiles are a relic from an earlier era, donated by Haw Par to line the wards and other areas for sanitation purposes.
An open roof is a one of the distinctive features of modernist structure. During the old hospital days, children rode up the elevator to enjoy the sunlight on the roof. Today, the roof is transformed into alfresco dining spaces with ample greenery – a beautiful event space for that special celebration.
A parking lot in the old days. To create a community vibe and spaces for the public to gather, the parking lot has been turned into a lawn lined with carpet grass, outdoor dining areas, and an iconic red driveway (reminding one of a running track). Look out for sunrise and sunset fitness boot camps and special weekend activities.