Cathay Building

Cathay Building was a landmark commercial and entertainment property at 2 Handy Road in Singapore's Museum Planning Area. Opened in 1939 by Loke Wan Tho, it was developed as the headquarters of the British Malaya Broadcasting Corporation and became closely associated with the Cathay Organisation's cinema, hospitality, and leisure businesses. Designed by British architect Frank W. Brewer, the building was Singapore's first skyscraper and, at approximately 83.5 metres including its water tower, was described as the tallest building in Southeast Asia at the time of completion. The first section opened on 3 October 1939 with a 1,300-seat Cathay Cinema, a restaurant, and a dance hall. The cinema's air-conditioning was a major technological and social novelty: it was the first air-conditioned cinema and public building in Singapore, allowing patrons to watch films in an unusually comfortable environment. A residential block was completed for occupancy on 1 July 1940, bringing the building to 11 storeys rather than the 16-storey height sometimes associated with early plans. The property included a roof garden, residential accommodation, a penthouse, and supporting hospitality facilities. During the Second World War, the building was requisitioned and its uses changed repeatedly. Before Singapore's fall, parts of it housed British broadcasting and wartime administrative functions. During the Japanese occupation, it was used by Japanese broadcasting and propaganda departments and by the broadcast department of the Indian National Army's Provisional Government of Free India. On 21 October 1943, Subhas Chandra Bose announced the formation of that provisional government at the building. Japanese film director Yasujirō Ozu also lived there during part of the occupation. After Japan's surrender, Cathay Building served as the headquarters of Admiral Lord Mountbatten in his role as Supreme Allied Commander of the South East Asia Command. Following the war, the property returned to entertainment and hospitality. The cinema resumed operations and became an early venue for American and British films in Singapore. Cathay Restaurant reopened in 1948, and the building was relaunched as Cathay Hotel in 1954 with 60 rooms, later expanding to 170 rooms. The hotel closed in 1970, after which much of the building was converted into offices. A new facade by STS Leong was installed in 1978, substantially obscuring the original appearance. Cathay's entertainment role continued through the 1980s and 1990s. Singapore's first Orange Julius outlet opened at the building in 1982. An adjacent extension opened in 1990 with The Picturehouse, an early Singapore arthouse cinema. The original large cinema auditorium was also subdivided into two smaller halls. In 1999, Cathay announced a S$100 million redevelopment plan for the complex. The historic building and The Picturehouse showed their final films in 2000 before closing. Most of Cathay Building was demolished in 2003, although a section of the original main facade was uncovered and preserved. The site was gazetted as a national monument on 10 February 2003 despite the loss of most of the structure. The replacement complex, named The Cathay, opened on 24 March 2006. Designed by Paul Tange of Tange Associates and RDC Architects, it combined retail, food and beverage outlets, and an eight-screen Cathay Cineplex. Cathay Residences, a condominium development above the mall, opened later in 2006. The new complex experienced low footfall and underwent several operational and layout changes. In June 2022, Cathay Cineplexes announced that it would end its operation at the site, concluding 83 years of cinema activity associated with the location. Projector X: Picturehouse subsequently used the former cineplex space as a pop-up venue. In February 2023, the Cathay Organisation announced plans to close The Cathay for redevelopment, with tenants expected to vacate by 18 August 2023.

Cathay Building emerged during Singapore's pre-war modernization as a combined broadcasting, cinema, hospitality, and residential property. Loke Wan Tho commissioned British architect Frank W. Brewer to design the building at Handy Road. Its first completed section opened in October 1939, featuring the Cathay Cinema, a restaurant, and a dance hall. The cinema's air-conditioning made it a technological landmark, while the building's height made it Singapore's first skyscraper and a prominent feature of the regional skyline. Its water tower brought the overall height to about 83.5 metres, and the structure was visible as a landmark for aircraft approaching Kallang Airport. A residential block opened in July 1940. The building's original program combined public entertainment with private accommodation, including a roof garden and penthouse. Its location and communications facilities gave it strategic importance during the Second World War. The Straits Settlements government requisitioned the property in early 1942. Several floors were assigned to broadcasting and wartime administration, while other rooms were used by the Royal Air Force. After the Japanese occupation began, Cathay Building became associated with Japanese information and propaganda operations. It housed Japanese broadcasting and military information departments, as well as the broadcasting arm of the Indian National Army's Provisional Government of Free India. Subhas Chandra Bose announced the formation of that government at the building on 21 October 1943. The building also provided accommodation for film director Yasujirō Ozu from 1944 until the end of the war. In the immediate post-war period it became the headquarters of Admiral Lord Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander of the South East Asia Command. When that command was dissolved in 1946, the property returned to commercial and entertainment uses. The cinema resumed showing films, including American and British productions, and Cathay Restaurant reopened in May 1948 after the installation of a new air-conditioning plant. In January 1954 the building reopened as Cathay Hotel. Its 60 rooms eventually grew to 170, alongside a restaurant, nightclub, swimming pool, and shopping arcade. The hotel closed at the end of 1970, and the former accommodation floors were converted into offices. Cathay Organisation occupied the top floor by 1974. A new external treatment designed by STS Leong was applied in 1978, hiding much of the original facade. Cathay Building remained a recognizable entertainment address in the late twentieth century. An Orange Julius outlet opened there in 1982, and Cathay Organisation added The Picturehouse in 1990. The adjacent arthouse venue helped establish the site as a home for specialist cinema, while the original cinema auditorium was divided into smaller halls. As the property aged and commercial requirements changed, Cathay announced a comprehensive redevelopment in 1999. The historic cinema and The Picturehouse screened their last films in 2000. Most of the old structure was demolished in 2003, but a concealed section of the original facade was exposed and retained. The remnant was gazetted as part of a national monument on 10 February 2003, preserving a physical and symbolic link to the original building. The replacement development, The Cathay, opened in March 2006. It was designed by Paul Tange's Tange Associates with RDC Architects and combined a shopping mall, food and beverage outlets, and an eight-screen cineplex. Cathay Residences, a condominium tower above the mall, opened later that year. Commercial performance was challenged by low footfall, prompting changes to shop layouts and other features. In 2022, Cathay Cineplexes announced its departure from the complex, while Projector X: Picturehouse used the former cinema space on a temporary basis. In 2023, Cathay Organisation announced another redevelopment and the closure of The Cathay. The original Cathay Building therefore survives principally through its preserved facade fragment, historical documentation, and continuing association with cinema and entertainment at the Handy Road site.

• 2006

  The Cathay replacement complex opens

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  The replacement mixed-use development opened on 24 March with retail, food and beverage outlets, and an eight-screen cineplex.

• 2003

  Historic structure largely demolished and facade protected

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  Most of Cathay Building was demolished, while a section of its original facade was preserved and the site was gazetted as a national monument on 10 February.

• 1990

  The Picturehouse opens

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  An adjacent extension opened with The Picturehouse, an arthouse cinema operated by Cathay Organisation.

• 1978

  Facade redesigned

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  STS Leong applied a new facade that obscured much of the building's original external design.

• 1970

  Hotel closes

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  Cathay Hotel ended operations on 30 December, after which the accommodation floors were converted into offices.

• 1954

  Cathay Hotel opens

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  The property reopened as Cathay Hotel with 60 rooms and later expanded to 170 rooms.

• 1945

  Post-war Allied headquarters

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  The building served as Admiral Lord Mountbatten's headquarters as Supreme Allied Commander of the South East Asia Command.

• 1943

  Azad Hind government announced at the building

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  Subhas Chandra Bose announced the formation of the Provisional Government of Free India at Cathay Building on 21 October.

• 1940

  Residential block completed

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  The 11-storey residential section opened for occupancy on 1 July.

• 1939

  First section opens

  [1]Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org

  Cathay Cinema, the restaurant, and the dance hall opened on 3 October. The air-conditioned cinema was a major first for Singapore.

A landmark Singapore entertainment and mixed-use property whose identity evolved from pioneering cinema and hotel facilities into a heritage-associated retail and cineplex complex.

• Cinema · 1939

  Cathay Cinema

  The original 1,300-seat cinema opened in 1939 and was Singapore's first air-conditioned cinema and public building. It became the defining entertainment facility of the property and later had its main auditorium subdivided into two smaller halls.

• Hotel · 1954

  Cathay Hotel

  Cathay Hotel opened in 1954 with 60 rooms and subsequently expanded to 170 rooms. Its supporting facilities included a restaurant, nightclub, swimming pool, and shopping arcade before hotel operations ended in 1970.

• Arthouse cinema · 1990

  The Picturehouse

  Opened in an extension beside Cathay Building in 1990, The Picturehouse was positioned as a specialist venue for art films and helped broaden the site's role beyond mainstream cinema.

• Mixed-use entertainment complex · 2006

  The Cathay

  The Cathay replaced most of the historic building and opened in 2006. It combined retail and food and beverage space with an eight-screen Cathay Cineplex and was linked to Cathay Residences above the mall.

• Residential development · 2006

  Cathay Residences

  Cathay Residences is the condominium component occupying the tower above the replacement shopping and entertainment complex. It opened toward the end of 2006.

• 2023

  The Cathay scheduled for further redevelopmentStrategy

  Background

  The replacement complex had reportedly experienced low footfall and had already undergone minor layout and facility changes.

  Action taken

  Cathay Organisation announced that The Cathay would close for redevelopment in 2023 and required mall tenants to vacate by 18 August.

  Aftermath

  The complex entered a new redevelopment phase; the later reopening outcome is not established in the supplied reference material.

  Source

• 2022

  Cineplex operation discontinuedOther

  Background

  The cinema business at the Handy Road site faced changing operating conditions and the replacement complex had experienced low footfall.

  Action taken

  Cathay Cineplexes announced that it would cease operations at The Cathay. Projector X: Picturehouse subsequently operated in the former cineplex space as a pop-up venue.

  Aftermath

  The decision ended 83 years of Cathay cinema operations associated with the site, although temporary cinema activity continued under a different operator.

  Source

• 1999

  Comprehensive redevelopment announcedStrategy

  Background

  Cathay Organisation sought to redevelop the aging complex while retaining a connection to the site's entertainment identity.

  Action taken

  It announced a S$100 million redevelopment plan. The historic building and The Picturehouse closed after their final screenings in 2000, and most of the original structure was demolished in 2003.

  Aftermath

  A portion of the original facade was preserved and the site received national-monument protection, while The Cathay replacement complex opened in 2006.

  Announced redevelopment investment. S$100 million planned investment (1999 announcement)

  Source

1. 1Cathay Buildingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Singapore Infopedia: Cathay Buildingnlb.gov.sg