About Golden Mile Complex
Golden Mile Complex is the stepped, terraced Brutalist landmark at 5001 Beach Road in District 7. It was developed by Singapura Developments, an affiliate of builder Woh Hup, on a site won in the government's 1969 sale of sites, and designed by Design Partnership (today's DP Architects). The building officially opened in January 1972 and the whole project was completed in 1973, at a cost of about $18 million. It was first called Woh Hup Complex.
The 16-storey building was conceived as a "vertical city": a shopping podium, offices and sea-facing apartments in one structure, making it one of Singapore's earliest mixed-use developments. In later decades it became known as "Little Thailand" for its Thai eateries, supermarkets and remittance shops, and as a terminal for coaches to Malaysia and Thailand.
Current status
After collective sale attempts in 2006, 2009 and 2018-19 did not succeed, the building was gazetted for conservation in October 2021 and sold in May 2022 for $700 million to a consortium led by Perennial Holdings, with Sino Land and Far East Organization. Tenants moved out by May 2023. The original building is now closed and being restored as "The Golden Mile", with strata offices, medical suites and shops, alongside a new residential tower, Aurea, which has its own listing on Estate.sg. Completion is expected around 2028 to 2029.
Interesting facts
It is the first large modern strata-titled building in Singapore to be conserved.
All 64 apartments were sold within about a month of the January 1970 launch, and shop lots started from $16,500, according to the National Library's BiblioAsia.
In 2006 a Nominated MP called it a "vertical slum", yet it placed third in a 2008 Straits Times poll of landmarks worth preserving.
The original land lease was 99 years from 1969; the redevelopment carries a fresh 99-year lease from November 2024.
Nearby
Nicoll Highway MRT (Circle Line) is about five minutes' walk, with Lavender MRT (East-West Line) around ten minutes away. Golden Mile Tower, home to The Projector cinema, is next door. Across Beach Road is Golden Mile Food Centre, with the Army Market upstairs. Kampong Gelam, Sultan Mosque and Haji Lane are roughly ten minutes on foot, and Kallang Riverside Park and the Kallang Basin waterfront are a short walk east.
Key facts
Address: 5001 Beach Road, Singapore 199588
District: 7 (Bugis, Golden Mile, Middle Road)
Property type: Retail, office and apartments (original building)
Completed: 1973 (officially opened January 1972)
Developer: Singapura Developments (Woh Hup affiliate)
Architect: Design Partnership (now DP Architects)
Storeys: 16
Site area: about 1.3 hectares
Status: Conserved in 2021; closed for restoration and redevelopment
MCST: 0446