Fancy working in a 'torture chamber'?
By RACHEL CHAN
THERE is a running joke between people working in the premises of the former Home Affairs Ministry in Phoenix Park: their neighbouring block was once a torture chamber.
To be sure, they may have let their imaginations run a bit wild, but private developers who have refurbished the cluster of 24 buildings are quick to reassure tenants that they have nothing to worry about.
Phoenix Park is one of four sites that used to house government agencies, but has now found a new lease of life as commercial buildings.
And the tenants of these revamped premises are happy to have found a new home.
Mr Patrick Hogan, executive director of career-placement company Recruit, Place & Train, located at the former police headquarters in Pearl's Hill Terrace, said: 'It's a convenient place to work and the atmosphere here has a real friendly feeling to it.'
There is also room for more tenants at the former Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau building at Cantonment Road.
Back in Phoenix Park, Mr Anurag Srivastava - chief executive and managing director of Space Matrix, an interior and architectural- design consultancy firm - intends to hack down the walls of his office, the former 'torture room' that people joke about.
He intends to turn it into his new 'war room'. 'It'll be where we'd churn out our ideas,' he said.
WHERE
195, PEARL'S HILL TERRACE
Previously: Police HQ
Where: 195, Pearl's Hill Terrace
Land area: About 14,500 sq m
Rent: $3.50 to $4.50 psf
Who works there: Lawyers, foreign-worker placement services, public-relations firms, a recruitment-and-training company and accountants.
What they say: 'This area has got an old-world charm. And you just need to go down that 71-step staircase and you're in Chinatown.'
- Mr Asok Chugani, 48, a partner at a law firm located on the third floor of the single building.
18, PEARL'S HILL TERRACE
Previously: CID Training Centre
Where: 18, Pearl's Hill Terrace
Land area: About 1,700 sq m
Rent: $3.50 psf
Who works there: A design firm and a consultancy firm.
What they say:'We decided to repaint the grey building red and white to brighten up the area...windows were changed to wooden casement ones to enhance its colonial style.'
- Mr Kelvin Lim, managing director of LHN Group, the developer which leased the site.
PHOENIX PARK
Previously: Ministry of Home Affairs complex
Where: Tanglin Road
Land area: 59,629.2 sq m
Rent: $4 psf
Who works there: Design firms, a wine distributor, a learning-difficulties centre and an architectural firm.
What they say: 'We didn't want our office to be housed inside a typical concrete building. This place is perfect as it has trees and greenery.'
- Mr Anurag Srivastava, 42, chief executive officer and managing director of Space Matrix.
150, CANTONMENT ROAD
Previously: Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
Where: 150, Cantonment Road
Land area: About 7,100 sq m
Rent: $5 to $6 psf
Who works there: A ship-management company, an investment firm and a multinational media and advertising agency.
What they say: 'The building doesn't look as threatening as before...the sloping orange-tiled roof is preserved to retain some of its original character.'
- Mr Patrick Tay, 50, director of developer, Bravo YK Investments.
By RACHEL CHAN
THERE is a running joke between people working in the premises of the former Home Affairs Ministry in Phoenix Park: their neighbouring block was once a torture chamber.
To be sure, they may have let their imaginations run a bit wild, but private developers who have refurbished the cluster of 24 buildings are quick to reassure tenants that they have nothing to worry about.
Phoenix Park is one of four sites that used to house government agencies, but has now found a new lease of life as commercial buildings.
And the tenants of these revamped premises are happy to have found a new home.
Mr Patrick Hogan, executive director of career-placement company Recruit, Place & Train, located at the former police headquarters in Pearl's Hill Terrace, said: 'It's a convenient place to work and the atmosphere here has a real friendly feeling to it.'
There is also room for more tenants at the former Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau building at Cantonment Road.
Back in Phoenix Park, Mr Anurag Srivastava - chief executive and managing director of Space Matrix, an interior and architectural- design consultancy firm - intends to hack down the walls of his office, the former 'torture room' that people joke about.
He intends to turn it into his new 'war room'. 'It'll be where we'd churn out our ideas,' he said.
WHERE
195, PEARL'S HILL TERRACE
Previously: Police HQ
Where: 195, Pearl's Hill Terrace
Land area: About 14,500 sq m
Rent: $3.50 to $4.50 psf
Who works there: Lawyers, foreign-worker placement services, public-relations firms, a recruitment-and-training company and accountants.
What they say: 'This area has got an old-world charm. And you just need to go down that 71-step staircase and you're in Chinatown.'
- Mr Asok Chugani, 48, a partner at a law firm located on the third floor of the single building.
18, PEARL'S HILL TERRACE
Previously: CID Training Centre
Where: 18, Pearl's Hill Terrace
Land area: About 1,700 sq m
Rent: $3.50 psf
Who works there: A design firm and a consultancy firm.
What they say:'We decided to repaint the grey building red and white to brighten up the area...windows were changed to wooden casement ones to enhance its colonial style.'
- Mr Kelvin Lim, managing director of LHN Group, the developer which leased the site.
PHOENIX PARK
Previously: Ministry of Home Affairs complex
Where: Tanglin Road
Land area: 59,629.2 sq m
Rent: $4 psf
Who works there: Design firms, a wine distributor, a learning-difficulties centre and an architectural firm.
What they say: 'We didn't want our office to be housed inside a typical concrete building. This place is perfect as it has trees and greenery.'
- Mr Anurag Srivastava, 42, chief executive officer and managing director of Space Matrix.
150, CANTONMENT ROAD
Previously: Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau
Where: 150, Cantonment Road
Land area: About 7,100 sq m
Rent: $5 to $6 psf
Who works there: A ship-management company, an investment firm and a multinational media and advertising agency.
What they say: 'The building doesn't look as threatening as before...the sloping orange-tiled roof is preserved to retain some of its original character.'
- Mr Patrick Tay, 50, director of developer, Bravo YK Investments.
