A four-block district in Singapore's China Square, the city's original port area, is now under redevelopment. The adaptive re-use project will include historic shop houses that were originally built in the 1800s to early 1900s. China Square is under redevelopment by Singapore-based Unicorn Square Ltd. and Straits Eastern Square Pte. Ltd., and was designed by the Los Angeles office of Baltimore based RTKL. The project is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2002.
Upon completion, China Square will feature a pedestrian-oriented urban environment. The project is located off the open-air Nankin Mall and will offer residents live-work lofts, retail shops, entertainment and new offices that will be arranged around a new city square and connected by a series of pathways. A four-level atrium in the speculative office building is designed to accommodate a mix of specialty, lifestyle and entertainment-oriented retail. The project will also offer multimedia entertainment features, specialty retail, restaurants, a multiplex cinema as well as a 24-lane bowling alley.