A TIMELESS LANDMARK AT THE CROSSROADS OF HISTORY
TIMELESS DESIGN: A Q&A WITH COLIN SEAH Colin: A contemporary take on black-and-white colonial houses. Warm, textured finishes outside; inviting, home-like touches inside. Q: The lobby and F&B space feel very intentional. Colin: Arched forms, warm terracotta tones, curated furniture, botanical layers—each detail adds personality and softness. Q: How does branding flow into the design? Colin: It’s one story—time, heritage, modern lifestyle. Every detail speaks the brand narrative. Q: Where does this sit within MOD’s body of work? Colin: It’s deeply contextual. Engaging with local history and culture makes it meaningful. Q: What do you want people to feel? Colin: Calm and connected. Not sterile or corporate—just beautiful, thoughtful, and memorable
Colin Seah, Founder and Director of Design at Ministry of Design (MOD), is known for crafting spaces that blur the lines between heritage, innovation, and emotional resonance. MOD were the perfect partners for the Civic District rejuvenation project, sharing aligned values and a mission to honour the past while reimagining it for contemporary living. In this quick-fire Q&A he shares insights into the transformation of Stamford Court into the newly reimagined Stamford Place. Q: What inspired MOD’s redesign of Stamford Place? Colin: The rich colonial history. We wanted to honour that while creating a relaxed, boutique vibe. Q: The clock tower is iconic. How did it shape your design? Colin: It became our muse. The idea of horology inspired the geometry, materials, and rhythm throughout. Q: How did you bring in the boutique, residential feel?
At the corner of Stamford Road and Hill Street, Stamford Place (formerly Stamford Court, est. 1996) stands a four-storey landmark in Singapore’s Civic District. Where the iconic clock tower does more than mark time—it anchors the neighbourhood, echoing traditional town square timekeepers and tying the present to a rich colonial past. Once home to Eu Court, a 1920s Art Deco apartment built by rubber tycoon Eu Tong Sen, the site retains its heritage spirit despite Eu Court’s 1992 demolition. Nearby, the legacy of Sir Stamford Raffles lives on through landmarks and institutions tied to Singapore’s founding story. Surrounded by grand colonial architecture like Raffles Hotel—designed by Alfred John Bidwell, creator of Singapore’s “black-and-white” houses—the area reflects timeless elegance. Today, the clock tower remains a beacon, inviting all to pause and reflect in a city that never stops evolving.
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