Swan & Maclaren Architectural firm. The company started out as Swan & Lermit (1887– 92), a firm of civil engineers. In 1892, it became Swan & Maclaren, after James Waddell Boyd Maclaren joined as partner. In 1897, R.A.J. Bidwell joined the firm, after leaving the Public Works Department of the Federated Malay States. Because of his talent and reputation, Swan & Maclaren soon became the dominant architectural firm in Singapore, winning the most prestigious commissions, including Raffles Hotel (1899), Teutonia Club (now Goodwood Park Hotel) (1901) and Victoria Memorial Hall (1905).

By 1904, Swan & Maclaren was the largest architectural firm in Singapore. Bidwell dominated its work between 1897 and 1914. In the inter- war years, it continued to lead the local market with commissions such as the Sultan Mosque (1925– 28), Ocean Building (1923), Hongkong and Shanghai Bank (1922) and the Singapore Turf Club (1934).

The firm remained important but lost some of its dominance after World War II, due to increased competition.

Photo credit: Citibank Singapore