Walls, Uninterrupted: 9 Must-Visit Adaptive Reuse Projects in Southeast Asia
These nine places demonstrate that few things rival the elegance of buildings rich with history, revitalized to carry their legacy forward for future generations

The tension between preserving the past and embracing the future is a challenge that I—and many built heritage advocates—care deeply about.
For every heartbreaking demolition, there are rays of hope in bold acts of adaptive reuse, where innovation breathes new life into heritage buildings, forging a dialogue between history and modernity.
Thankfully, Southeast Asia brims with remarkable examples of these structures, showcasing that restored heritage spaces can remain vital to contemporary living. These renewed cultural hubs show that they can take up space without sacrificing their historical essence.
Below, these nine examples prove that few things are as elegant as buildings imbued with age and given new life to continue their story for future generations.
Philippines: First United Building, Manila, NCR

A cornerstone of adaptive reuse in Manila, the First United Building (FUB) has lived many lives.
Built in 1928 as the art deco Perez-Samanillo Building by Andres Luna de San Pedro (the son of painter Juan Luna), it began as a commercial hub, hosting offices, a department store, consulates, and even the studios of National Artist Nora Aunor and comedian Dolphy.
Years of decline saw the building change ownership until it was revived under the Sylianteng family. With a staunch vision for preservation and innovation, they reimagined the building as a creative incubator; their project, HUB: Make Lab, attracted a new generation of tenants and transformed FUB into a vibrant coworking and events space.
The building now anchors the popular Escolta Block Party (rebranded as Hola, Escolta!), cementing its role in Manila’s urban fabric.
In 2024, it won the Gran Prix Malasakit Award, the highest honor of Good Design Award Philippines, in recognition of its empowering use of history and design to rejuvenate a forgotten community.
Singapore: New Bahru, River Valley, Singapore

The name ‘New Bahru’ carries a playful edge, riffing on the Singaporean habit of doubling words for emphasis. Once the Nan Chiau High School, this once-tired modernist complex has undergone a spirited transformation into the city’s newest creative hub.
Architecture studio FARM gave the space a bold refresh with a peppy color palette and striking murals, which, coupled with their thoughtful restoration of original architectural details, nods to its storied past while embracing a more energetic, contemporary vibe.
Curated by The Lo & Behold Group—seasoned developers in adaptive reuse (they also transformed the 1895 Robertson Quay godowns into the Warehouse Hotel)—New Bahru now houses 40 tenants.
Highlights include Soilboy, a ceramics and plant studio; slow-fashion brand Rye; and pioneering makkoli bar Odem. Alma House adds a lived-in dimension, converting old classrooms into serviced apartments.
There’s poetry in New Bahru’s purpose: startups and creatives finding learning and footing within the walls of a former school. It has become a community “living room” where history and modernity converge in full color.
Malaysia: REXKL, Kuala Lumpur
Few transformations are as dramatic as REXKL’s rebirth. Originally built in the 1940s as the REX Theatre, it was one of Malaysia’s first cinemas before a devastating series of fires—1976, 2002, and 2007—left it in ruins.
After a stint as a backpacker hostel, it seemed destined for obscurity until creative entrepreneurs Shin Chang and Shin Tseng saw its potential as a bridge between old and new.
Today, 80 Jalan Sultan hums with life as REXKL, a three-story arts and culture hub. The building hosts a mix of craft beer bars, cafés, jewelry designers, and art galleries, amongst other creative ventures, with BookXcess—its Instagram-worthy, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves—stealing the spotlight.
The centerpiece of its revival has got to be the theatrical REXPERIENCE, a cutting-edge digital art gallery housed in the main hall, which opened in 2023.
Vietnam: TDX Ice Factory, Ho Chi Minh City
Before becoming a hub for bold furniture design and captivating art exhibitions, the TDX Ice Factory served a much more practical purpose: refrigeration.
Located in the historic District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, this industrial space has been thoughtfully repurposed while retaining its rhythmic, timeworn charm. A sleek black paint job conceals the old, but the building’s inherent industrial beauty still steals the show.
Now, TDX Ice Factory serves as a mixed-use venue for exhibitions, design, and creative collaboration. The space is home to Gallery Medium, which recently partnered with local furniture brand District Eight for their new digs, the latter also opening their second showroom at the location after nearly four years of planning and construction.
Cambodia: Atelier Kampot, City of Kampot
The charming city of Kampot, known for its 19th-century French colonial architecture and world-famous pepper, is home to Atelier Kampot—a residential-restaurant space brought to life by Khmer-French brothers, architect Antoine and pastry chef David Meinnel.
In 2013, they breathed new life into a deteriorating 1940s shophouse, preserving its ornate façade while updating the interiors to meet contemporary needs.
The result is a seamless blend of old-world charm and modern touches, with intricate floor tiles, brickwork, and wood textures throughout.
The ground floor now houses a gourmet restaurant that puts the spotlight on Kampot’s prized pepper, while the upper floors serve as a breezy residential space for the Meinnel family, with prized river and mountain views. A lush courtyard, complete with a spiraling staircase, ties the two levels together.
Thailand: Thailand Creative and Design Center, Bangkok

When one thinks of government offices, the image is often of tired, uninspired spaces or relics from a colonial past. The Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC) is fittingly none of these.
As the agency tasked with propelling the country’s creative economy, TCDC is fittingly housed in the monumental art deco Grand Postal Building,
Bangkok studio Department of Architecture masterfully blended respect for the building’s heritage with contemporary innovation. The iconic façade remains intact, while the interior introduces a light, airy, modular design.
A space-age library emphasizes exchange over silence, and a well-stocked material library serves the creative community. The contrast between the 1930s heavy masonry and the light, diaphanous finishes of the interior highlights how creativity can thrive when grounded in firm foundations and given space to grow.
Thailand: Benjakitti Forest Park, Bangkok

Originally a royally owned tobacco factory complex, Benjakitti Forest Park’s site has undergone a massive transformation under the green thumbs of Turenscape and Arsomsilp Landscape Studio.
The result? An award-winning, lush, 102-acre park that is a breath of fresh air in built-up Bangkok. The designers didn’t completely erase the complex’s industrial past—instead, they kept the frames of the old warehouse structures, repurposing some into sports venues and event spaces, while others were stripped of their roofs and walls to let nature take over.
Beyond the bold re-greening, four lakes were excavated and filled with grassy ‘islands’ topped with trees. More than just aesthetic flourishes, these lakes serve as excess stormwater storage and a natural filtration system.
Visitors can wander across the lakes via a meandering network of walkways, offering calming green vistas amidst the city’s visual chaos.
Not bad for a project with an 18-month turnover and a shoestring budget!
Indonesia: De Tjolomadoe, Karanganyar, Central Java
The story of Indonesia’s first sugar factory could have had a bittersweet ending if not for the visionary adaptive reuse that has brought the 1861 De Colomadu Sugar Factory back to life.
This once-thriving industrial complex in Karanganyar, Central Java, was a vital part of Indonesia’s sugar production until its decline, which followed the disappearance of the surrounding sugarcane fields and the bankruptcy of its operator. By 2016, the factory was in ruins, but its architectural framework still held the promise of renewal.
Local studio Airmas Asri saw potential in the building’s aging walls and worked to preserve its industrial heritage while infusing it with new purpose.
The result is a space that houses a museum, retail outlets, F&B spots, and an exhibition venue, with a 2,600-person concert hall as its stunning centerpiece.
The museum displays giveaways from the factory’s sugar-rich past, including its steam kettle, main chimney, and surviving Moller tanks, keeping the factory’s legacy intact while looking toward brighter days.
Indonesia: Kopimanyar, Bintaro, South Jakarta

Leave it to Indonesian architectural superstar Andra Matin to transform a typical suburban home into a hybrid space that serves as a coffee shop, office, and exhibition venue.
Visiting Kopimanyar, nestled in the quiet Bintaro neighborhood of far-flung South Jakarta, is almost a pilgrimage. The space’s unassuming white façade, once Andra Matin’s residence, slowly reveals its true nature as you enter, shedding its sedate, residential appearance to become a minimalist Japanese-inspired haven.
Inside, a tree-shaded zen courtyard, understated wood furniture, and floating staircases create a calming atmosphere and aesthetic fodder for the Instagram crowd.
Kopimanyar also doubles as an informal annex to studio andramatin, with a rotating gallery space showcasing recent works—photography, maquettes, and sculptures—that give insight into the highly-revered practice’s latest creations.
As you sip your espresso-based brew, you’ll likely overhear the casual conversations of the studio’s employees, who work throughout the space, blending the energy of a creative office with the serenity of a public space.
Photography Patrick Kasingsing (Benjakitti Forest Park, First United Building, Kopimanyar, New Bahru, Thailand Creative & Design Center)