Skylinep4

Historical buildings are a gracious presence in any city. They remind us of the past and form a valuable part of our heritage.

Identifying buildings for conservation is an important part of URA's work. URA first drew up the Conservation Plan in 1989 and over 5,600 buildings have been gazetted for conservation since.

This process of identifying buildings for conservation is an ongoing one. Recently, another two clusters of buildings and three individual buildings have been added to the conservation list.

From Eclectic to Art Deco, these buildings display a rich variety of architectural styles.

Eclectic Charms

This row of buildings, located at the tail end of Orchard Road near the Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station, demonstrate a rich and diverse mix of architectural styles. Ranging from the ornate and decorative features of the Eclectic style to the simple Art Deco style, these buildings are architectural gems.

Built after World War 1, it is the only remaining street-block of buildings left along Orchard Road, which hark back to the days before the development of modern shopping complexes. This stretch was well-known for its many car showrooms. One of which is the Singapore Manufacturing Association House. Previously the Malayan Motors Building, it is now the only car showroom building left in Orchard Road.

Interesting Snippet
Art Deco was a style in architecture that developed in the 1920s to 1930s in Europe and the United States. The distinguishing features of the style are simple, clean shapes, often with a streamlined look. The Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building in New York are perhaps the best known examples of this style.

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