SINGAPORE — Remember the old-school chalet getaway — simple rooms, barbecue nights, sprawling grounds and groups of friends or family gathering for a weekend escape?
Singapore has given that familiar concept a major makeover.
Coliwoo Resort Changi, Singapore’s first resort-style co-living hotel, has transformed a roughly 40-year-old former holiday chalet at 159 Jalan Loyang Besar into a modern 380-room property that combines hotel accommodation with communal living, greenery and resort-style facilities.
The resort began operations in July 2026, following a 10-month restoration of the former state-owned property.
And while the word “co-living” might make it sound like a conventional long-term rental property, Coliwoo Resort Changi is designed to accommodate both short stays and longer-term residents.
Nightly rates start from around S$190, while monthly stays are also available.
A former chalet gets a second life
The property is one of the more unusual additions to Singapore’s staycation scene because it isn’t a brand-new hotel built from scratch.
Instead, Coliwoo has adaptively reused the existing chalet site, retaining much of its original character.
The resort spans about 380,866 sq ft and retains nearly 40 per cent of the existing landscape. The original terracotta clay tile roofs were also preserved, while timber screens from the old property were repurposed into items including tables, benches and feature walls.
The result is a property that still feels connected to its chalet-era past while introducing a cleaner, contemporary aesthetic.
Its design draws inspiration from Singapore’s colonial-era bungalows, with black-and-white interiors and landscaped outdoor areas.
What are the rooms like?
There are 380 rooms across seven room types, although most are studio-style units rather than traditional large family suites.
The room categories include Superior Studio, Deluxe Studio, Premier Studio, Patio Studio, Pool View Queen Studio, Eastin Studio and Maisonette.
The Superior Studio, which starts at about S$190 per night, measures roughly 200 to 220 sq ft depending on the source’s room classification and comes with two single beds, a workstation and a kitchenette.
For couples or solo travellers wanting something different, the Pool View Queen Studio starts from around S$260 a night.
Larger groups can consider the Maisonette, a two-storey unit of about 400 sq ft with three super-single beds. Rates start at around S$280 per night.
Unlike a conventional hotel room, the units are designed with longer stays in mind. Rooms come with features such as a kitchenette, ensuite bathroom, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and washer-dryer facilities.
However, there is one important catch for families: extra beds and baby cots are not provided.
It’s the communal spaces that make it different
The biggest difference between Coliwoo Resort Changi and a conventional hotel may not be inside the rooms at all.
The property is designed around shared spaces and social interaction, reflecting Coliwoo’s co-living model.
Guests can use communal seating areas, a co-working lounge, karaoke rooms, outdoor event spaces, gardens and a community farming area. There is also a children’s playground, making the property more family-friendly than the term “co-living” might initially suggest.
A first-hand review by TheSmartLocal found a spacious glasshouse-style reception area equipped with seating, beanbags, coffee and tea facilities and a children’s play area. The resort also has a gym with cardio equipment and free weights.
There are also adult and children’s swimming pools, while an outdoor sports corner and jacuzzi pool were scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026.
There’s a major trade-off for chalet fans
Despite its resort positioning, Coliwoo Resort Changi does not completely recreate the traditional Singapore chalet experience.
One notable omission is the familiar private barbecue pit.
A first-hand review by Stacked Homes noted that the renovation removed the old chalet barbecue pits, although Coliwoo organises weekend barbecue socials in communal areas.
For some guests, that could be a deal-breaker — particularly families and large groups who associate a chalet stay with having their own barbecue area.
But the trade-off is a much more polished property with hotel-style rooms, pools, workspaces and landscaped communal areas.
The location is one of its biggest selling points
The resort is located in the eastern part of Singapore, close to Pasir Ris Park, Changi Airport and Downtown East.
Pasir Ris Park is just a short walk away, while Wild Wild Wet can be reached on foot in roughly seven minutes, according to TheSmartLocal’s recent visit.
The property is also around a 10-minute drive from Changi Airport, making it potentially useful for travellers who want to stay near the airport without staying inside the airport precinct itself.
That location gives the resort a somewhat unusual target audience: it can work as a local staycation destination while also appealing to tourists, professionals, airline crew and longer-term residents.
It’s not just a hotel
This is where Coliwoo’s business model becomes particularly interesting.
Unlike a conventional hotel that primarily sells rooms by the night, the resort also caters to medium- and long-term co-living stays.
According to Stacked Homes, Coliwoo offers medium-term stays of roughly three to six months and longer stays of six months to a year. Monthly rates start at around S$3,000 for the smallest Superior Studio, with an opening promotion offering a S$500 monthly discount for eligible bookings beginning by Oct. 31, 2026.
That flexibility is part of what makes the property different from a typical Singapore staycation hotel.
You could spend a weekend there — or potentially make it your home for several months.
The sustainability angle
The resort’s makeover also places considerable emphasis on adaptive reuse and sustainability.
Instead of demolishing the existing property, Coliwoo retained parts of the original structures and landscaping.
Other environmental initiatives include solar energy generation, rainwater harvesting, food composting and electric vehicle charging facilities.
The approach reflects a broader trend in Singapore’s hospitality and property sector: finding new uses for existing buildings instead of always starting with new construction.
So, is it worth staying there?
If you’re looking for a traditional luxury hotel, Coliwoo Resort Changi probably isn’t trying to compete in that category.
But if you want something that sits somewhere between a modern chalet, serviced apartment, co-living community and family staycation resort, it offers a distinctly different proposition.
The strongest attractions are its large grounds, proximity to Pasir Ris Park, modernised rooms, communal facilities and the nostalgic setting of a former Singapore chalet.
The compromises are equally clear: many rooms are relatively compact studios, there are no extra beds or baby cots, and the absence of private barbecue pits means it doesn’t completely recreate the classic chalet experience.
Still, the concept is notable.
Singapore’s old chalet culture has been given a contemporary reboot — and instead of simply preserving the past, Coliwoo Resort Changi is betting that the next generation of staycations will be about flexible rooms, shared spaces, greenery and experiences rather than just a place to sleep.
At a glance
Coliwoo Resort Changi
📍 159 Jalan Loyang Besar, Singapore
🏨 380 rooms
💰 From about S$190 per night
🏡 Maisonettes from about S$280 per night
🌿 About 380,866 sq ft of land
🏊 Adult and children’s pools
🏋️ Gym
🎤 Karaoke rooms
👧 Children’s playground
💻 Co-working lounge
🌱 Community farming area
🚶 Near Pasir Ris Park and Wild Wild Wet
✈️ About 10 minutes by car from Changi Airport
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