The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) announced the winners of the URA Architectural Heritage Awards (AHA) today at a presentation ceremony. This year, four winners were recognised for their exceptional work in heritage building conservation and restoration.
The four winning restoration projects are:
The Awards were inaugurated in 1995 to recognise the people who make conservation happen – dedicated owners, insightful developers, creative professionals and sensitive contractors. They exemplify the highest standards within the conservation movement and have gone beyond what is necessary to sensitively restore their heritage buildings for continued use.
Now in its 21st year, the annual Awards also promote public awareness and appreciation of quality restoration of monuments and buildings with preservation and conservation status in Singapore. With these four winners, the total number of projects that have received the Awards has risen to 124.
There are two categories for the URA Architectural Heritage Awards:
Category A This category is for National Monuments and fully conserved buildings in the Historic Districts and Good Class Bungalow Areas. Buildings fully conserved according to the restoration principles in other areas can also be considered under this category. They are assessed on how far they adhere to quality restoration principles of maximum retention, sensitive restoration and careful repair.
Category B This category is for integrated “old” and “new” developments such as those in the Historic Residential Districts and Secondary Settlement Areas. They are assessed on the quality restoration of the “old” elements, the innovation and architectural excellence of the “new” elements, and how the “new” draws inspiration from the “old”.
Here is an overview of the three winning projects. Detailed write-ups are available in Annex A [PDF, 307kb].
Category A
• 9 & 11 Empress Place (Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall): neo-classical landmarks for the arts
Two monuments built at different times for distinct purposes, Victoria Theatre (1862) and Victoria Concert Hall (1905) have been elegantly rejuvenated with great skill and conceptual finesse. Taken together, restoration and improvements to the buildings have made these major cultural and architectural landmarks newly relevant and resplendent, adding to their aura of Neo-Classical grace and grandeur.
• 1 St Andrew’s Road (National Gallery Singapore): civic monuments renewed
Two important historical monuments have been respectfully rejuvenated, united physically and in purpose to flourish anew as the National Gallery of Singapore. A historic endeavour in itself, this impressive revival has successfully transformed buildings formerly restricted to government and civic activities into a singularly eminent cultural asset which hallowed halls the world can soon wander through and enjoy.
• 12, 13 & 17 Rochester Park (BASF Learning Campus (Singapore)): colonial quarters turned corporate retreat
Originally built as residences for British military officers, this set of three colonial black and white beauties, circa 1950s, has been awakened to its new purpose as a modern corporate training retreat. The holistic approach taken has recaptured the nostalgic charm of colonial homestead living, restoring not just the bungalows but also their terrain of landscaped gardens with vistas to discover, and the natural wooded surrounding.
Category B
• 66 Pheng Geck Avenue (Alkaff Upper Serangoon Mosque): living heritage for the community
A rare and significant specimen of architectural and social history has been preserved and renewed – thanks to the generosity of the community that has always rallied together with pride over the 80 plus-year old building. Working on a modest budget, the restoration has secured a living heritage site for the Mosque’s growing congregation and its neighbouring community, for now and for generations to come.
11 Buckley Road is also receiving a Special Mention for the delicate restoration of its internal and external details.
There will be an exhibition showcasing the four 2015 URA Architectural Heritage Awards winners at The URA Centre. Details are as follows:
Date : 20 October to 14 November 2015
Venue : The URA Centre Atrium 45 Maxwell Road Singapore 069118
Opening Hours : Mondays to Saturdays, 9am to 5pm Closed on Sundays and Public Holiday.
There will also be a series of talks and visits to selected award winners. Please visit www.ura.gov.sg for details on these and other public events related to this year’s AHA. Admission is free.
Factsheets:
Factsheet on the AHA Scheme [PDF, 79kb]
Citations for the winning projects [PDF, 125kb]
Factsheet on AHA book and storyboards [PDF, 408kb]