Brief Explanation

Our challenge was to create not just another superficial hipster coffee joint, but a vibrant space with soul and a sense of history that connects the rich cultural heritage of the Tiong Bahru district with a new generation of experience-seeking Singaporeans

The Brief

When new owners bought the building that was once the legendary Madam Loh's sewing supply store, they wanted an identity for a gallery-cafe space that would both pay homage to the neighbourhood's rich history and become a go-to destination within the district's thriving arts scene

How the final design was conceived

We created The Orange Thimble - café, art gallery and self-styled refuge from "the little pricks in life." ‘Orange’ references the distinctive colour of the buildings of Tiong Bahru in the 1970s, while ‘Thimble’ is both a sign of respect to Madame Loh and a clever icon to represent the space's new speciality - coffee.

Indication of how successful the outcome was in the market

The Orange Thimble provides a new platform for emerging artistic talent, while welcoming customers of all ages with authentic touches from Singapore's recent past. The originality of design and experience created self-sustaining word-of-mouth and social media coverage, which continues to drive traffic to the venue