A heritage restoration that is a balance of old and new

The mural on the side of the club features the faces of the club’s late members and Chinese revolutionary figure Sun Yat Sen. Photos: ST

For a decade, the 112-year-old Goh Loo Club at 72 Club Street in Singapore, once a hotbed of activity, stood in disrepair among the hip bars and restaurants in the area.

In a bid to stay relevant and attract younger members, members who took over in 2012 decided to revitalise the club, which was formed as a gathering place for the local Chinese community. Many of Singapore’s founding fathers, such as Dr Lim Boon Keng, who was also a writer, and prominent businessman, and philanthropist Lee Kong Chian were members.