New Bahru Hall has been gently restored to revive the spirit of its original design, transforming the former school hall into a community pickleball space that also comes alive through seasonal programming, including live performances and cultural and artistic events. The project carefully balances preservation with adaptation, allowing the hall to accommodate new forms of gathering while remaining grounded in its past.

Originally designed in 1969 by James Ferrie & Partners, the hall is defined by a modernist expression articulated through architectural devices such as ventilation blocks and brise soleil, which mediate light and air within the space. These elements, together with key original features including deep stained teak panelling and ecru mosaic flooring, were sensitively restored and brought back into focus. Additions accumulated over time were selectively removed to recover openness and spatial clarity, while traces of wear were intentionally retained as subtle markers of memory and use.

With minimal intervention, the hall has been adapted into a flexible space for contemporary use, while preserving its modernist identity.

Photos by Jovian Lim, Chen Xiu Qi
Old school hall photos by Finbarr Fallon

Feature: Dezeen