Conservation's Worth The Hassle

Source : The Straits Times, Nov 3, 2007

That's the verdict of the owners whose restored terrace house won an architectural heritage award















CENTRE PIECE: A 'floating' deck (Next), surrounded by water teeming with fish, has been put into the courtyard. It adjoins the kitchen (left) and is now the heart of the home. -- PHOTOS: URA, ST PHOTO: DOMINIC WONG

RESTORING and putting in new additions to conservation buildings can be a real hassle as owners must follow strict guidelines. But that did not deter a pair of Australians who live in a conservation house off Balestier Road in the Balestier Conservation Area.

Steven and Stacey Bealing, who hail from Sydney but are now Singapore permanent residents, bought their three-storey Transitional-style terrace house in 2005 for $900,000. It was once a dormitory for orderlies from the nearby Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

















LABOUR OF LOVE: Mrs Bealing paid $900,000 for the three- storey terrace house off Balestier Road, and spent another $400,000 and seven months restoring it.

They moved in last year after spending $400,000 and seven months restoring it.

Mrs Bealing, 32, who runs her own design firm, says they were aware of the strict regulations for such houses but went ahead anyway as 'Steve and I like the idea of coming back to a home that has a unique Singapore heritage'.

The labour of love paid off - the house is an URA Architectural Heritage Award winner this year.

Mr Bealing, 35, runs a software firm. The couple previously lived in apartments in Orchard Road.

Two associates with the firm that worked on the home, Ong & Ong Architects' Ms Maria Arango and Mr Diego Molina, say for such houses, clear proposals to any changes or additions have to be submitted to URA's conservation department for approval.

They recall going through 'many rounds of discussion' with the URA to get permission to create a passageway to connect the existing master bedroom to a new bathroom at the house's rear.

Mrs Bealing says the effort was worth it as the restoration has resulted in them being able to live in an old house but one with modern touches to suit their lifestyle.

The changes included creating an extension at the back of the house for a new kitchen and bathroom.

Also, a zinc roof that partially covered the rear courtyard and which had become derelict over the years was removed. This allowed more natural light and ventilation.

While the facade of the house had to be kept under the regulations, the design team also wanted to keep the old charm of the interiors. A spiral staircase and most of the original timber floorboards were restored and kept.

Neighbours and expatriates walking past the house have been asking if the couple will sell their home. But they have no plans to do that.

Mrs Bealing says they get a 'special feeling' living in the house and adds that 'we won't live in a condominium again for a while'.