The Initial Sama is Singapore’s first wellness-centric serviced residence near the UNESCO-listed Botanic Gardens

From the main road, it appears like nothing has changed for 26 Evans Road. The handsome brick building maintains its charming Modernist character, surrounded by mature trees on the site near the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Singapore Botanic Gardens. 

But wandering inside, one will see rejuvenated interiors to include 92 serviced residences, a Hyrox-equipped gym, spa, a dental clinic, bathhouses and a swimming pool knit into the lush landscaping. 

Since July 21, the building has taken on a new identity as The Initial Sama — Singapore’s first wellness-centric serviced apartment, a project by hospitality-focussed operator Cover Projects. 

The company was co-founded by Lim Keong Wee, who is one of the grandsons of Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong. The latter is the founder of Genting Group, Malaysia’s largest casino operator with related accommodations. 

Lim is not involved in his late grandfather’s company but has similar inclinations towards the property business. A graduate of the prestigious AA (Architectural Association) in London, he runs a design studio, PAC, with business partner Victoria Loh. 

A sense of history 

This is Cover Projects’ biggest project yet. The building’s rich history as Eusoff College, built in 1958 as the first female hall of residence for the University of Malaya, provides a compelling narrative. 

It was the charming architecture with four blocks surrounding a courtyard that drew Lim to bid on the SLA (Singapore Land Authority) conservation-status property.

Adaptive reuse while respecting the building’s heritage was a priority. “In line with URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) conservation guidelines, we retained the architectural elements that define the character of the original building. This includes the red brick façade, French windows, breeze blocks, and structural framework — all of which form the distinctive identity of the former school,” he elaborates.  

In the common corridors, the original mosaic and terrazzo tiles, as well as the lobby’s marble flooring, were preserved and restored. 

Walking around the building, the warmth of the red brick and views to the central courtyard present a comforting environment. The naturally ventilated corridors keep one close to nature when moving from space to space. The structure of a new external lift was incorporated with breeze blocks to match the Modernist-era architecture. 

Neutral, earth tones merge with tropical shades from natural woods, rattan and stone. The idea was to create a biophilic environment through enhancing the existing lush foliage, in line with the city-state’s “garden-city identity”. 

Thus, throughout, internal spaces abut courtyards and gardens. At the property’s rear, a swimming pool, wellness gardens, and bathhouses were added, as well as an outdoor Hyrox gym. 

Wellness and biophilia

“Our wellness offerings and programmes are intentionally curated to meet the needs of a diverse but discerning audience — people who value their health, time, and tangible results with evidence-backed therapies,” says Rosalind Lau, director of wellness. She brings 25 years of experience launching and conceptualising fitness and wellness programs for international brands like Marriott International. 

And The Initial Sama is serious about wellness. 

Its wellness centre, Sama Wellness, will collaborate with external performance specialists to deliver advanced fitness programs, utilising the best equipment. The Bathhouse’s contrast therapy pools, for instance, are by Tundra, a Canadian brand renowned for its precision-engineered cold therapy tubes. 

Compared to regular gyms and wellness spaces, there is already a beautiful green setting to work with. Landscape architecture firm Grant Associates (which designed the famed Gardens by the Bay) was brought into the project to enhance this. 

Says Agnes Soh, the firm’s senior associate, “The site is full of treasures, especially its many old trees. Rather than erasing what came before, the design ethos was all about respect. Preserving these existing giants, and engaging arborists to safeguard their health, became a key design driver.” 

The existing trees are vital to the scheme, providing “instant shade and a sense of continuity”. The connection to nature also became the landscape vision to achieve “wellness as a way of living”.

Green oasis in the city

Design-wise, the team crafted a layered experience. “Moving from public-facing areas like the main drop-off and the alfresco F&B deck into more intimate semi-private zones such as the community gardens, the Wellness Garden, and the Pool Deck. Each layer offers a different rhythm of engagement with nature, from the lively and social to the serene and restorative,” says Soh. 

The pool deck replaces a former basketball court behind the old school block. The Initial Sama plans to collaborate with nearby medical facilities to offer pre- and post-operation wellness and fitness programs. Consequently, the external lift at the outdoor wellness area, which transports residents and visitors from the rooms to the pool level on the lower ground, was a vital addition. There are also inclusive features like ramps. 

Grant Associates worked with the existing sloped topography to create a 25m pool with an infinity edge that flows gracefully into a children’s pool on the lower level. Blue tiles reflect the sky and contrast with the greenery, augmenting the wellness concept.  

“In wellness-focused hospitality design, these subtle touches matter. Details such as water terraces at the stair interface were considered to enhance the sensory quality of sound and movement,” she adds. This is in line with The Initial Sama’s soul purpose, as embodied in the property’s name. 

“The Initial Sama represents a beginning — a place where new journeys take root. ‘Sama’, meaning balance and harmony, reflects our vision of creating a community that honours connection, restoration, and respect,” says Lim. Together, the name embodies a starting point for living well, where heritage and modern life meet in harmony.