ARCHITECT Leong Hon Kit moved his office, Wynk Collaborative, to Golden Mile Complex in 2014. He loves how it was designed, especially the floors above the shops. There is a large slanted atrium space that is naturally ventilated and has daylight coming in, which is totally different from the more dingy feel of the downstairs, he notes. There is an open deck on Level 9 with badminton courts. Shops and offices are on the lower floors, while residential apartments are on the upper ones.

Mr Leong, 36, moved in knowing some of the shops operating there, but had the chance to explore the quieter areas only after his move. He discovered old bakeries and sundry shops, as well as buildings like Sultan Plaza and Textile Centre.

The stretch from Crawford Street to Ophir Road in Beach Road is a patchwork of urban environments: from the HDB flats across the street, to the conservation shophouses in Kampong Glam, and the modernist architecture of Golden Mile Complex, Golden Mile Tower, Textile Centre and the original portions of The Concourse (which he adores).