Three restored projects were awarded the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Architectural Heritage Awards this year.
A terrace house on 145 Neil Road (pictured) has been transformed into a modern home yet still retains its charming vintage features and elements that required replacement were reinterpreted with a refreshing touch.
The Yueh Hai Ching Temple in Raffles Place on 30B Phillip Street has been restored to articulate detail by extensive archival research and technical consultation with local and overseas architectural experts and temple craftsmen. The Taoist temple also won the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation.
The third winner is J8, a heritage boutique hotel on Townshend Road near Jalan Besar. The project has enhanced the qualities of five conserved two-storey shophouses, and added a new six-storey tower to the neighbourhood skyline.
A shophouse at 271 Tembeling Road was also given a Special Mention for the sensitive treatment of the conserved property.
In his speech presentation ceremony on 2 October, by Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee said, “Conserving and restoring our buildings is only the first step. How they are then brought to life – being regarded and incorporated into people’s daily lives – determines whether they will continue to be relevant and important.”
Now in its 20th year, the annual URA Architectural Heritage Awards celebrates conservation excellence. 120 projects have received the Awards since 1995.
Image source: URA’s Facebook page
Muneerah Bee, Senior Journalist at PropertyGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email muneerah@propertyguru.com.sg
