Revitalizing Spaces: Ashish Manchharam’s Vision for Real Estate
Ashish Manchharam is a renowned name in the realm of real estate, particularly known for his dedication to transforming historical properties into vibrant lifestyle hubs. With a rich background as an investment sales broker at JLL and now leading Elevate Capital Group, his work continues to shape Singapore’s urban landscape. Manchharam’s passion lies in breathing new life into older buildings, a pursuit driven by both instinct and expertise.
A Journey Through Conservation
Throughout his impressive career spanning over a decade, Manchharam has developed a keen eye for spotting potential within conservation shophouses. His approach involves purchasing these properties, meticulously reconfiguring them, and then repositioning them with imaginative concepts that attract curated tenants. One of his most notable achievements includes the boutique hotel 21 Carpenter, which gained recognition by winning the Design of the Year at the President’s Design Award 2025.
The Challenge of Adaptive Reuse
Adaptive reuse projects come with their own set of challenges; each renovation unveils unexpected hurdles. As he reflects on his experiences, Manchharam highlights the complexities that arise when making structural changes to historical buildings. However, he maintains that overcoming these challenges is part of what makes this type of work rewarding.
Manchharam founded 8M Real Estate in 2014 after completing his tenure at JLL where he served as its South-East Asia head of investments. At 8M, he focused primarily on shophouses located in strategic areas of the city. His insights into how well-positioned historic structures can appeal to independent restaurateurs were drawn from personal experience; as a child living in Bussorah Street’s shophouses, he witnessed firsthand their transformation into trendy spots filled with cafes and boutiques.
Building Towards Sustainability
Following a successful run with 8M—during which time he managed assets amounting to S$1.5 billion—Manchharam decided it was time for a new venture. In September 2023, he transitioned out and established Elevate Capital Group, targeting not just shophouses but other segments of real estate as well. His focus remains firmly fixed on adaptive reuse due to its economic viability compared to new constructions.
Innovative Projects Ahead
Elevate Capital Group’s inaugural project is Stamford Place, formerly known as Stamford Court—a building with significant room for revitalization. After investing S$25 million into its redevelopment, the property reopened recently featuring modern serviced apartments under APT and contemporary workspaces by The Great Room. This project marks another step towards creating integrated spaces that blend heritage with modern functionality.
Another ambitious undertaking is the refurbishment of 51 Merchant Road—a four-storey development adjacent to preserved heritage shophouses—which aims to introduce wellness-oriented services alongside traditional office space.
The Route to Success
Manchharam credits much of his success to the robust education and diverse experiences he gathered while studying abroad in both the UK and US. His upbringing fostered an entrepreneurial spirit influenced by family history; his ancestors were textile merchants who made savvy property investments back in the early 1900s. Today, they continue to manage multiple shophouses as rental properties while instilling those values in future generations.
The transition from corporate security at JLL to entrepreneurial risk-taking was daunting for him yet proved fruitful. Now overseeing Elevate Capital Group along with a dedicated team originally hired at 8M speaks volumes about his leadership abilities and vision for growth within this sector.
Looking Forward
A true football fan and sports enthusiast, Manchharam’s instinctive knack for identifying promising opportunities shows no sign of waning. He hints at exciting prospects on the horizon—plans that involve acquiring additional assets within the next few months. The potential for hospitality ventures using APT as a vehicle could lead him toward further expansion if initial efforts prove successful.
Explore more about innovative real estate developments here.
The ongoing shift towards refurbishing rather than redeveloping en bloc sites aligns perfectly with evolving market demands; many existing buildings still possess untapped potential waiting for visionary developers like him.
Source: Original Article
Ashish Manchharam is a renowned name in the realm of real estate, particularly known for his dedication to transforming historical properties into vibrant lifestyle hubs. With a rich background as an investment sales broker at JLL and now leading Elevate Capital Group, his work continues to shape Singapore’s urban landscape. Manchharam’s passion lies in breathing new life into older buildings, a pursuit driven by both instinct and expertise.
A Journey Through Conservation
Throughout his impressive career spanning over a decade, Manchharam has developed a keen eye for spotting potential within conservation shophouses. His approach involves purchasing these properties, meticulously reconfiguring them, and then repositioning them with imaginative concepts that attract curated tenants. One of his most notable achievements includes the boutique hotel 21 Carpenter, which gained recognition by winning the Design of the Year at the President’s Design Award 2025.
The Challenge of Adaptive Reuse
Adaptive reuse projects come with their own set of challenges; each renovation unveils unexpected hurdles. As he reflects on his experiences, Manchharam highlights the complexities that arise when making structural changes to historical buildings. However, he maintains that overcoming these challenges is part of what makes this type of work rewarding.
Manchharam founded 8M Real Estate in 2014 after completing his tenure at JLL where he served as its South-East Asia head of investments. At 8M, he focused primarily on shophouses located in strategic areas of the city. His insights into how well-positioned historic structures can appeal to independent restaurateurs were drawn from personal experience; as a child living in Bussorah Street’s shophouses, he witnessed firsthand their transformation into trendy spots filled with cafes and boutiques.
Building Towards Sustainability
Following a successful run with 8M—during which time he managed assets amounting to S$1.5 billion—Manchharam decided it was time for a new venture. In September 2023, he transitioned out and established Elevate Capital Group, targeting not just shophouses but other segments of real estate as well. His focus remains firmly fixed on adaptive reuse due to its economic viability compared to new constructions.
Innovative Projects Ahead
Elevate Capital Group’s inaugural project is Stamford Place, formerly known as Stamford Court—a building with significant room for revitalization. After investing S$25 million into its redevelopment, the property reopened recently featuring modern serviced apartments under APT and contemporary workspaces by The Great Room. This project marks another step towards creating integrated spaces that blend heritage with modern functionality.
Another ambitious undertaking is the refurbishment of 51 Merchant Road—a four-storey development adjacent to preserved heritage shophouses—which aims to introduce wellness-oriented services alongside traditional office space.
The Route to Success
Manchharam credits much of his success to the robust education and diverse experiences he gathered while studying abroad in both the UK and US. His upbringing fostered an entrepreneurial spirit influenced by family history; his ancestors were textile merchants who made savvy property investments back in the early 1900s. Today, they continue to manage multiple shophouses as rental properties while instilling those values in future generations.
The transition from corporate security at JLL to entrepreneurial risk-taking was daunting for him yet proved fruitful. Now overseeing Elevate Capital Group along with a dedicated team originally hired at 8M speaks volumes about his leadership abilities and vision for growth within this sector.
Looking Forward
A true football fan and sports enthusiast, Manchharam’s instinctive knack for identifying promising opportunities shows no sign of waning. He hints at exciting prospects on the horizon—plans that involve acquiring additional assets within the next few months. The potential for hospitality ventures using APT as a vehicle could lead him toward further expansion if initial efforts prove successful.
Explore more about innovative real estate developments here.
The ongoing shift towards refurbishing rather than redeveloping en bloc sites aligns perfectly with evolving market demands; many existing buildings still possess untapped potential waiting for visionary developers like him.
Source: Original Article