Shared facilities at 26 Evans Road will include a pool and "sensory and healing gardens" (Picture: Cover Projects)
The heritage property at 26 Evans Road will be named "The Initial Sama", a new co-living brand coined by the hospitality management company Cover Projects, which was awarded the tender by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) earlier today.
According to Lim Keong Wee, co-founder and managing director of Cover Projects, the name "Sama" in Sanskrit means "balanced" or "well-maintained". He intends to position the property as "a sanctuary in the city, dedicated to holistic well-being".
Lim Keong Wee, co-founder and managing director of Cover Projects, intends to position the property as "a sanctuary in the city, dedicated to holistic well-being" (Photo: Cover Projects)
The property at 26 Evans Road will be converted into 74 serviced apartments, with a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom units. The interiors will have a "retro-modern interior design, seamlessly integrating biophilic elements and natural furnishings," says Lim.
He was involved in architecture and design for 13 years and five years in hospitality before co-founding Cover Projects in 2015 with Victoria Loh, who also has a similar background in architecture, design and hospitality.
Shared facilities include a wellness-focused workspace hub (Picture: Cover Projects)
Previous properties designed by Cover Projects include Eighteen by Three Cabins, a premium cabin hostel on Stanley Street in 2017, followed by the launch of serviced apartments, Initial @ Balestier and Thank You Come Again social space at 355 Balestier Road in 2021-2022.
The property at 26 Evans Road will "prioritise wellness and connectivity through shared spaces like sensory and healing gardens and a wellness-focused workspace hub".