319 Pasir Panjang Road

Starpoint Bungalow

The History

319 Pasir Panjang Road, also known as “Starpoint”, was a 1974 personal project of Datuk Lim Chong Keat, a local pioneer renowned architect. It comprised a 3-storey bungalow for himself and an 11-storey tower for his relatives and friends. ​

The site once fronted the sea before Pasir Panjang coast was reclaimed for port and infrastructure uses. ​

During his residence until 2006, Datuk Lim, who was an avid art collector and cultural patron, used the bungalow as an informal gallery. The house also welcomed luminaries such as Buckminster Fuller and Isamu Noguchi during their visits to Singapore.​

The development was sold en bloc in 2025 to an enlightened developer who volunteered to conserve the bungalow. ​

The Building

The conserved house features Datuk Lim’s signature geometric design language, inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s Dymaxion House. ​

It has a hexagonal floor plate, with a central circulation core, from which deeply cantilevering beams radiate outwards to support an open plan layout. This structural expressiveness is a hallmark of Modernist design, freeing the floor plan from the constraints of load-bearing walls.

At the 2nd storey, open balconies at the corners provide views and cross ventilation, while masonry walls clad the sides for privacy – except on the southwestern facade which has an expansive frameless glass wall.

At the roof level, sloping planes give the building its distinctive silhouette, while open roof terraces afford panoramic views of the surroundings. ​

The Legacy

The bungalow will be integrated with a future residential development, retaining its presence as a familiar landmark along Science Park Road.

The conservation of Starpoint builds on efforts to conserve early Modern-style bungalows from before the 1950s, showcasing the evolution towards more experimental designs in the decades that followed

Guidelines and Procedures

All proposed works will need to comply with the Conservation Guidelines and the Specific Restoration Guidelines (SRG). Conservation Permission is required before all additions & alteration works and operations of new use can begin.

Residential Fronts are characterised by timber casement windows flanking a double-leafed timber door. All buildings with residential front which is existing and/or identified in the 'Specific Restoration Guidelines', regardless of land use zoning, shall be retained and restored.

• Any proposed additions and alterations to this conserved building are subject to evaluation. Please submit your proposal for URA's review.

• Apply for Specific Restoration Guidelines (SRG) (opens in new tab)

• Submission Process for Works

Gallery

1970s view of site from the Southern Coast before reclamation. Source: Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat’s Collection.

Aerial view of the Starpoint bungalow. Source: Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat’s Collection.

Structural elements can be seen from the exterior of the building, a hallmark of Modernist design. Source: Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat’s Collection.

Sea-facing window on the 2nd storey with view towards the coast. Source: Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat’s Collection.

Explore Street View

The building can be found at this street.