Clestra was established in 1913 by Earl J. Hauserman. A building contractor by trade, Hauserman’s revolutionary idea of a ‘relocatable partition’ – conceived during the era of the first modern skyscrapers – soon went on to inspire change in management practices and the utilisation of space.

The concept of monoblock system panels that could be easily and safely installed and re-erected on site was one that was quickly embraced by developers and companies alike; two of the first buildings to feature Hauserman’s relocatable partition were the iconic Chrysler Building (1930) and the Empire State Building (1931).

Baosteel, Shanghai

Clestra’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, Gilles Marino, highlights that the principle of the relocatable partition remains the same one hundred years on. “It shows that the concept of increased efficiency through re-use rather than replacement is more alive than ever,” says Marino.

Baosteel, Shanghai

Together with increased efficiency comes increased safety as less work is done on site, and Marino believes these factors are particularly important in Singapore where Clestra’s Southeast Asia’s office is based.

Baosteel, Shanghai

He adds that the government’s move to reduce foreign manpower and the increase in labour costs have also impacted the product’s evolution.

“Clients are looking for factory pre-assembled products that are easier and faster to install, so our product design has continued to evolve to better meet these needs. For example, Metropolines 1, the new monoblock panel that we have just released, has been developed to be even faster to install than the previous models.”

The upcoming Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Hong Kong

Clestra, which has R&D facilities in France and Korea as well as four factories around the world, typically releases a new product every year.  Given the company’s design and manufacturing capabilities, it is also able to offer product customisation to clients.

Custom projects include a recently completed 360 degree curved structure for Baosteel in Shanghai; the ongoing project for Credit Suisse in Singapore at Changi Business Park involving monoblock relocatable partitions made of wood and glass; and freestanding, reconfigurable partitions for the upcoming Sir Norman Foster-designed Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong.

DBS MBFC, Singapore

“With two of our factories located in Asia, Clestra not only has the ability to meet specific requests for customisations, but we are also able to deliver to a tight schedule if necessary,” says Marino.

“One good example is DBS. With this project we had to deliver four kilometres of partitioning for 18 floors within five months, which was a very challenging schedule’’ explains Marino. “One of the reasons we were awarded the project is because we could deliver on schedule, and because we were using our own factory, we knew that the quality would not be compromised to meet the deadlines as might happen elsewhere. Having our own factories and the support from them is a key advantage.”

DBS MBFC, Singapore

Clestra’s clients today include offices, hospitals and educational facilities. It has also expanded its core competency to include cleanrooms, which Marino says, now forms an important part of the business.

As Clestra celebrates its centennial, it already enjoys a strong foothold in many parts of Asia, but Marino shares that the company is also looking to expand its business further in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Other notable projects undertaken by Clestra in Singapore:

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