Anglo-Eastern Singapore
Across Waters
Anglo-Eastern, one of the world's leading ship management companies, commissioned us to design their new 37,000sqft Singapore workplace across two floors - a natural evolution of our work for their Hong Kong headquarters. The brief called for a space that would reflect the same strength, elegance, and clarity of brand identity established in Hong Kong, while introducing subtle improvements and region-specific nuances. The aim was to design an agile, inspiring, and confident environment for the Singapore team, rooted in the company’s maritime legacy yet attuned to contemporary ways of working.
The Narrative: Poetry of the Sea
Our conceptual journey began with the sea — a powerful symbol for Anglo-Eastern’s identity. Drawing inspiration from the poetic beauty of shipping structures, nautical forms, and the abstract language of vessels and docks, we envisioned a spatial narrative that would resonate with strength, movement, and craftsmanship. The design borrows cues from maritime art and shipbuilding traditions, while also responding to the building’s context at Labrador Tower — a landmark that gestures towards Singapore’s maritime history and its contemporary aspirations.
The Process: Crafting the Nautical Spirit
From the outset, our process involved close collaboration between our Hong Kong studio and our local design team on the ground in Singapore. We explored traditional maritime detailing — from hull-like curves to rivet patterns — and abstracted them into joinery details and bespoke furniture. Curved elements were meticulously crafted to evoke the organic strength of ship hulls, while digital modelling and physical mock-ups ensured that every line and junction spoke of precision and harmony. These explorations helped us shape a confident spatial language that was both poetic and professional.
The Solution: Flow and Function in Harmony
Spatially, the composition follows a clear sequence from arrival to collaboration and focus zones. The reception area acts as a welcoming anchor — sculptural, open, and light-filled — setting the tone for the entire workplace. Beyond this, the open plan features fluid movement patterns, punctuated by collaboration “islands” that offer moments of interaction and retreat. The layout encourages visibility and engagement while still respecting zones of concentration. The pantry merges hospitality and workspace, creating a vibrant social hub with views towards the ocean — reinforcing the connection to nature and community.
“We wanted to create a space that would be instantly recognisable as Anglo-Eastern — grounded in brand identity but uplifted by gentle, sensory moments like the ship bells, maritime photography, and rippling ceiling textures.”
— Lorène Faure, co-founder of Bean Buro
The Materials: A Maritime Palette
The material palette is a refined continuation of the Hong Kong headquarters, reinterpreted for Singapore’s light and climate. We used a base of dark navy blue and crisp white — colours often found in naval uniforms and ship exteriors — paired with warm timber tones and burgundy red accents. These shades lend the space a sense of gravitas and warmth. Bespoke furniture pieces such as the reception desk and collaboration tables are finished with smooth matte surfaces and gentle curves, giving them a sculptural, vessel-like presence that quietly commands attention.
Sensory Design: Light, Sound and Poetic Encounters
Natural light plays a key role, especially in the reception and pantry areas where full-height windows invite the sea inward. Above the pantries, we designed metallic ceiling features with a water-rippled texture — a subtle yet powerful element that evokes the movement of waves and reflects dappled light throughout the space. This poetic detail transforms a functional area into a sensory experience. Acoustic wellbeing is enhanced through soft-surfaced dividers in the open plan, while biophilic elements and breathable textures help to elevate comfort and focus throughout the day.
The Challenge: Designing Across Waters
Designing remotely from Hong Kong meant we had to be precise, responsive, and deeply attuned to our Singapore collaborators. Navigating site-specific constraints and schedules demanded agility. Yet this distance became an asset — encouraging clarity in decision-making and trust in our design language.
“We saw this project as an opportunity to express the poetic strength of the sea within a refined workplace environment — sculptural, confident, and deeply rooted in Anglo-Eastern’s identity.”
— Kenny Kinugasa-Tsui, co-founder of Bean Buro
As a returning client, Anglo-Eastern empowered us to push the brief further. New features — such as wall-mounted ship bells in the pantries and curated maritime photography — deepen the emotional connection to the sea, creating moments of discovery and delight throughout the workplace.
With a narrative rooted in nautical beauty and a design grounded in precision and purpose, the Anglo-Eastern Singapore office is a space that celebrates identity, connection, and transformation — across waters and beyond.
Client: Anglo-Eastern Ship Management
Main contractor: LFA Studio x Conexus
Local representative: LFA Studio
Project manager: Colliers
Photography: Daniel Koh
Location: Singapore