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URA-NUS
GUEST LECTURE: CONSERVATION & CHANGE & SITE VISIT, 13 July 2002
Reported by Shu Charng Yen, MSIP cyshu3@singnet.com.sg |
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In line with
the presentation of URA 2002 Heritage Awards, URA in conjunction
with the NUS organised a half-day Guest Lecture entitled "Conservation
and Change: Old & New" followed by a site visit to 2 of the winners
of the 2002 Heritage Awards. |
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| Some of these
examples attempted to show the new buildings are distinct from the
old. Others utilised the architectural language of rhythm but all
did not make any attempt at imitating the heritage building. Prof Chan ended her presentation by recapitulating on the need to ensure proper documentation by the authorities, the need to handle change innovatively and to make the intervention reversible. She added conservation should leave behind a cultural heritage not to be dismissed by posterity as lacking in authenticity. BEYOND CONSERVATION Ms Wo Mei Lan, Director, Liu & Wo Architects Pte Ltd Ms Wo presented a first-hand account of a restoration architect who is also the consultant to the restoration and addition of a new 4-storey to a residential development (The Lotus) one of the winners of the 2002 URA Heritage Awards. Ms Wo introduced 6 restoration projects: |
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| Ms Wo proposed
that it is possible to have creative adaptive re-use and that conservation
ideals and economic goals can coexist in harmony. She cited the above
examples of conversion of shophouses into boutique hotels and residential-commercial
use as viable adaptive re-uses. CONSERVATION - THE ENGINEERING APPROACH Er. Lee Tuck Cheong, Technical Director, Maunsell Consultants (S) Pte Ltd Maunsell Consultants was the Consulting Engineer for the 2 buildings which won the URA Heritage Awards, namely, The Fullerton Hotel (2001 URA Heritage Award) and the Sun Yat Sen Villa (2002 URA Heritage Award) Er Lee mentioned that for new construction, RITA appraoch was used but for conservation buildings an additional "S" was added, i.e., strengthening of existing structural members: |
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| CONSERVATION
- A DEVELOPER'S PERSPECTIVE Mr. Daniel Teo, Chairman & Managing Director, Hong How Group Mr Teo started by reminiscing lost heritage such as Eu Villa, Meyer Chambers, Amber Chambers and listed heritage which are now being protected in Singapore such as Stanford Building, House @ Meyer Place, House of Tan Yeok Nee (now Chicago School of Business), CHIJMS, Victoria Concert Hall, Supreme Court and Goodwood Park Hotel. |
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| It is noted
that URA subsequently allowed the demolition of the narrow front gates
at No 11 Kim Yam Road to allow car park at the front which set the
precedent for No 3 to be allowed so accordingly. His current project is at Armenian St/ Loke Yew St which is proposed as a boutique hotel/ lifestyle store. Mr Teo ended his presentation by outlining the following points for the authorities to consider: 1. Transferable Plot Ratio 2. Property Tax Concession 3. Exemption of Development Charge 4. Encouragement of Soho Concept by Exemption of Conversion charges 5. Clarification of the Purpose of Road Widening Line 6. Back Land issue 7. Fire Safety Bureau considerations |
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| CONCLUSION
The Guest Lectures were thought-provoking in that it poses questions to what extent the authorities' would allow in terms of envelop-control guidelines to achieve greater architectural expression of the old v new, and hence, the attendant guidelines to complement the new thinking. We have seen how Assoc Prof Chan's inspirational foreign examples and how this can breathe a new fresh of new ideas into the architectural language to be used in the integration of old v new. On the other hand, to what extent will the authorities allow a diversity of voices in this whole Remaking of Singapore to create a place where all Singaporeans belong and be rooted. Will the new Conservation Advisory Panel fall into this role??? On the part of the practising architects, from what we have seen, many of our new buildings or extensions to heritage buildings not particularly experimental, from the Raffles Hotel extension (which is a reproduction of the historic monument itself) to the ubiquitous shophouse with extensions to the rear. The "safest" solution is to imitate, of course, we have reached a stage where our local architecture can stamp its unique identity in our quest to be a great city, a global City of Distinction. Of course, it is fair to say that Singapore may not have many opportunities to do large-scale conservation and extension projects as in the British Museum, Reichstag, Guggenheim. We only have the humble shophouse. In view that the authorities are now working out in detail the Identity Plan, there could be more opportunities for daring, bold, experimental, innovative architecture that marries the old and new. Furthermore, we still have Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, the Museums, and even heritage buildings are undergoing evolution. Even some of our newer buildings will eventually become heritage buildings in time to come. Although we may not have many opportunities, we still have some opportunities to create such exciting marriage of old and new architecture in time to come. |
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