Four winners of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Architectural Heritage Awards (AHA) were unveiled today at a presentation ceremony, for their exceptional work in heritage building conservation and restoration.
The four winning projects are:
• 225A Queen Street, Roman Catholic Church of Saints Peter & Paul • 3 Muscat Street, Sultan Mosque • 72 Club Street, Goh Loo Club • 13, 15, 17 Stamford Road, Capitol Singapore
The Awards were inaugurated in 1995 to recognise the people who make conservation happen – committed owners, insightful developers, dedicated 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.
To recognise the important role that conservation specialists play in these restoration projects, from this year onwards, they have been included as part of the awardees.
Now in its 22nd 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, there are now a total of 128 projects that have received the Awards.
There are two categories for the URA Architectural Heritage Awards:
Award for Restoration This is for projects which demonstrate exemplary restoration of gazetted heritage buildings and they stand out for adherence to the three ‘R’ principles of maximum retention, sensitive restoration and careful repair, as well as the “top-down” approach.
Award for Restoration and Innovation This is for integrated “old” and “new” developments which demonstrate exemplary restoration of gazetted heritage buildings, innovation and architectural excellence of the new developments and how the “new” draw inspiration from and enhance the “old”.
In addition, from this year, the ‘Special Mention’ has been formalised. At the discretion of the Assessment Committee, a project may be given ‘Special Mention’ for commendable efforts in some aspects of the restoration work.
Here is an overview of the four winning projects. Detailed write-ups are available in Annex A [PDF, 183kb].
Award for Restoration
• 225A Queen Street, Roman Catholic Church of Saints Peter & Paul
Having undergone numerous and drastic physical changes since its founding in 1870, the Roman Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul has been restored, regaining its century-old splendour and acquiring upgrades that are faithful to the spirit of the original.
• 3 Muscat Street, Sultan Mosque
Carefully reconditioned and upgraded, this national monument now assumes an even more prominent role in fostering a cohesive spirit, within the multi-ethnic Muslim community it serves and beyond.
• 72 Club Street, Goh Loo Club
About a century old, this three-storey building, formerly a gentlemen’s club, has been devotedly restored, recovering its rich heritage and reconnecting to its old neighbourhood with renewed verve and purpose.
Award for Restoration and Innovation
• 13, 15, 17 Stamford Road, Capitol Singapore
Dormant for over a decade, this once-popular leisure venue comprising three iconic buildings built in the early to mid-1900s, has regained its position as an important cultural and social landmark. Its revival has been further enhanced by the introduction of vibrant new urban spaces that honour the past and celebrate the future.
30 Beach Road, South Beach has received a ‘Special Mention’ for the historical research, approach, preparations and technical expertise that went into its restoration work.
There will be an exhibition showcasing the four 2016 URA Architectural Heritage Awards winners at The URA Centre. Details are as follows:
Date: 7 October to 30 November 2016
Venue: The URA Centre Atrium 45 Maxwell Road Singapore 069118
Opening Hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 9am to 5pm (Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays) There will also be a series of talks and visits to selected award winners. Please visit http://ura.sg/AHAsg for details on these and other public events related to this year’s AHA. Admission is free.
Factsheet on the AHA Scheme [PDF, 86kb]
Citations for the winning projects [PDF, 169kb]
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