Saturday, October 4, 2008

Conservation To Include Structures

Source : The Business Times, October 4, 2008

CONSERVATION efforts will now extend beyond historic buildings to include heritage structures such as bridges, pavilions and towers, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said yesterday.

BRIDGING THE TIMES
Elgin Bridge at Boat Quay is one of six historic bridges to be conserved


Familiar structures slated to join more than 6,800 buildings conserved so far include the Botanic Gardens bandstand and swan lake gazebo, the look-out towers at Toa Payoh Town Park and Seletar Reservoir Park, and the water intake towers and bridges at MacRitchie Reservoir and Lower Peirce Reservoir.

Six historic bridges will also be conserved - Elgin Bridge at Boat Quay, Cavenagh Bridge outside the Fullerton Hotel, and the Anderson, Ord, Read and Crawford Bridges. 'What makes a place distinctive and memorable is not just buildings,' said Mr Mah. 'There are many places and landmarks we can identify with and feel for in Singapore.'

He also announced the conservation of four black-and-white bungalows at Bukit Chermin.

Conservation status prevents the alteration of a building beyond URA's guidelines and, by guaranteeing its future, raises the value of the conserved building.

Mr Mah was speaking at yesterday's presentation ceremony for the URA Architectural Heritage Awards (AHA) 2008.

The awards are presented yearly to owners, architects, engineers and contractors to promote quality restoration of buildings in Singapore with preservation or conservation status. The seven winning restoration projects this year are: Sri Temasek in the Istana grounds, The Screening Room in Ann Siang Road, The Sea View Clubhouse in Amber Road, 14 Cable Road, Tan Chin Tuan Mansion in Cairnhill Road, 120 Cairnhill Road, and Citylights in Jellicoe Road.

Including this year's crop, 84 buildings have received awards since the inception of the AHA in 1995.

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