A conserved building at 9 Norris Road has been put back on the market with a guide price of $16.5 million. Located within the Little India Historic District, the three-storey, freehold property was built in the 1930s.
Zoned for civic and community institution use, the property was initially known as the Ramakrishna Mission Building. It was occupied by the Ramakrishna Mission — a spiritual and welfare organisation — for two decades before the group relocated to Bartley Road and sold the building in the 1950s.
The property was recently refurbished and modernised by the previous owner, which totalled around $5 million. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
The site also housed the Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA), a non-profit organisation founded in 1970, and served as a family service centre in the 1980s.
The property sits on a 5,447 sq ft plot with a total built-up area of 9,200 sq ft and a prominent 15m street frontage. It was recently refurbished and modernised by the previous owner, a Singaporean businessman, who invested $5 million in the project.
Following the refurbishment, the internal layout has been reconfigured for flexibility. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Local architectural and interior design firm OWAA Architects oversaw the restoration of the building’s façade, returning it to its original Moorish style. Key features include timber-louvred windows, a cantilevered balcony, and domed roof turrets. A central highlight of the property is the glass canopy that now covers the internal courtyard, allowing natural light to flood the interiors.
The internal layout has been reconfigured for flexibility. The ground and second floors can accommodate gallery rooms, practice studios, or multi-purpose function spaces, while the third floor could serve as an office.
Following the refurbishment, the building was first put on the market in July 2024 at a guide price of $16 million. A Singaporean entrepreneur reportedly purchased it for $12.5 million in December. A property title search shows the deal was completed in May 2025.
The new owner has now relisted the property for $16.5 million, which translates to $1,793 psf based on the built-up area. The building is also available for lease at $50,000 per month. Jane Tan, group associate director at OrangeTee & Tie, is the exclusive marketing agent for the property. It is available for sale by private treaty.
The building has retained its original Moorish style, including features such as its domed roof turrets. (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Tan notes that freehold heritage buildings with civic, community, or institutional zoning are rarely available for sale. The building is suitable for use as a community club, museum, art gallery, civic institution, or childcare centre — subject to approval from the relevant authorities.
However, due to its zoning, the property is restricted to local buyers. Tan says she has already received several enquiries from parties intending to occupy the space, including commercial schools and childcare operators.
“It is increasingly rare to find conserved freehold buildings of such a size, and at such a palatable price tag,” she adds.
