Another 228 buildings in the Joo Chiat/Katong area identified for preservation
FROM landmark churches to picturesque pre-war shop houses, the Joo Chiat and Katong area is an undisputed hotbed of architectural diversity and the historical home for the local Eurasian and Peranakan community.
Given its unique mix of exquisite architecture, history and culture, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has identified another 228 buildings for preservation. These are in addition to the more than 700 historical landmarks located along key roads such as Joo Chiat Road and East Coast Road, as well as 15 bungalows on Mountbatten Road, that have already been gazetted for conservation.
Speaking at the URA Architectural Heritage Awards presentation ceremony at the National Museum of Singapore yesterday, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan said that the URA recently embarked on public consultation with the owners of the 228 buildings earmarked for conservation.
Said Mr Mah: "The aim of this conservation proposal is to complete conservation of the street block and add to the critical mass of heritage buildings and rich architectural diversity in Katong and Joo Chiat."
Seeking the individual owners' views, he added, was in line with the URA's consultative approach.
"It also contributes to a more transparent process in gazetting buildings for conservation (and) will take into account the owners' feedback," he said.
Among the buildings targeted in this proposal will be the bungalows, terrace houses and shop houses in Koon Seng Road, Onan Road and Carpmael Road, as well as landmarks such as St Hilda's Church at Ceylon Road and the single storey Bethesda (Katong) Church at Pennefather Road.
Mr Mah also announced plans to build a new 4.9km waterfront promenade stretching from Punggol Point to Sungei Serangoon, as well as projects to revitalise the older housing estates of Woodlands and Siglap Village "in order to enhance the distinct character, identity and overall environment of each area".
These improvements are targeted for completion between 2008 and 2010.
"As a land-scarce nation, we have to take a pragmatic and balanced approach towards conservation," he said.
"Creating an endearing home goes beyond individual heritage buildings, it is also about strengthening the identity of places where we live, work and play."
Since 1989, the URA has gazetted more than 5,600 buildings for conservation. In addition, 55 buildings with historical significance have been earmarked as national monuments.
ARCHITECTURAL HONOURS
Now in its 13th year, the annual URA awards were set up to recognise and inspire quality restoration and architectural excellence.
“Protecting and restoring Singapore’s building heritage cannot be done by the Government alone,” said Mr Mah at the awards ceremony.
“Increasingly, more and more enlightened developers and owners have willingly expended resources to buy and restore their conservation buildings for the benefit of the larger society and our future generations.”
To date, more than 77 winners have received the awards since they were launched in 1995.
The prizes are divided into two categories: Category A is for national monuments which are assessed on how far they adhere to quality restoration principles, while Category B appraises projects on both quality of refurbishment as well as innovation of new elements.
The National Museum of Singapore, the Chek Jawa Visitor Centre on Pulau Ubin, Amara Sanctuary Resort on Sentosa and the NUS Law School at Bukit Timah won the Category A awards yesterday.
The Category B honours went to a renovated 1940s terrace house at Martaban Road and a shop house at Niven Road.
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