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Shuang Lin Temple
of Singapore, together with the National Heritage Board and Department
of Architecture, NUS, organised an international conference titled
'Traditional Chinese Architecture and Conservation in Asia, on 8th
March 2002 at Mandarin Hotel, Singapore. SIP President Tan Shee
Tiong was invited to chair the morning session. The conference was
conducted in Mandarin.
Guest-of-honour Mr Chan Soo Sen highlighted the importance of development
to support conservation. He cited how the old Suzhou city was given
a big boost in restoration from the profits generated from Suzhou
Industrial Park. Keynote speaker Dr. Liu Thai Ker mentioned architects
have duties to elevate the quality of city by creating local identity
amidst modernity. His title was 'Looking at traditional Chinese
architecture from the modern design stand point'. He urged professionals
to understand the architectural theory and the intrinsic artistry
of ancient buildings. Buildings are also modelled by the climatic
condition and the availability of building materials in a particular
country. A good understanding of these principles would help in
creating a modern asian city with identity. Prof. Fang Yong of Beijing
University illustrated distinct differences in the colour and design
of traditional southern Chinese architecture according to different
dialectic groups : Hainan, Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka and Teochew.
Prof. Lee Chian-Lang of Taiwan Chinese Cultural University, who
was also involved as consultant to the restoration of Shaung Lin
Temple as Prof. Fang, spoke on similar theme and identified the
various dialectic differences found in Chinese architecture in Singapore.
Prof. David Lung of Hong Kong University showed many slides of little-known
Chinese vernacular architecture especially in Shatin area while
Mr Stephen Chak of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Macau, presented
a case study for a temple restoration in the city. Mr Tan Yeow Wooi
of Culture & Heritage Research Studio in Penang gave a comprehensive
survey of the traditional Chinese architecture in West Malaysia.
His hundreds of colour slides convinced the audience that while
there were many similarities between these buildings in south-east
asia and China, there were also distinct differences. Human intervention
in many cases have destroyed this heritage in Malaysian towns due
to little understanding of the origins of these unique architectural
styles.
Associate Professor Chan Yew Lih, Deputy Head of the Department
of Architecture, NUS spoke on the restoration and adaptive re-use
experience of Singapore, while Mr Alaistair Ferrie of James Ferrie
& Partner illustrated the restoration he has collaborated with builders
from China on the oldest temple of Singapore, the Tian Hock Keng
at Telok Ayer. Associate Professor Heng Chye Kiang's closing remarks
brought examples of successful conservation efforts in Europe to
conclude that larger city cores could be conserved if development
pressure could be contained on the periphery with higher density.
This has to be done proactively in the city planning.
The second day, 9 March 2002, were site visits to Lian Shan Shuang
Lin Si, Fuk Tak Chi, former Thong Chai Medical Institution, Tian
Hock Keng, House of Tan Yoek Nee, and the Asian Civilisations Museum
(former Tao Nan School).
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