Conserved Building

9 Buckley Road

Applicable Guidelines

Bungalow Guidelines

Conservation Area

Buckley Road No. 9 Conservation Area

Historic address: 9 Buckley Road

About

The one-storey bungalow is one of a pair, the other is at No.7 Buckley Road.

The History

The area used to be characterised by landed housing from the late 1800s and early 1900s. However, over the past three decades, many of the houses have given way to more intensive developments. Today, a handful of period buildings still remain as historical markers in a rapidly changing neighbourhood.

While there is no known personality or event linked to the original building at 9 Buckley Rd, nonetheless, it is significant to the current owner of the site as it used to be the family house of the founder of the development company.

The Building

Likely to have been built in the early 1900s, it is of the type popularly known as ‘house on raised footings’ that is more commonly associated with the seaside, where being raised off the ground has the advantage of avoiding floods while increasing air-circulation throughout the house.

The decorative approach can be classified as a mix of Baroque and Classical styles. This was prevalent at the time until the 1930s when the Art Deco and Modern Movement arrived in Singapore and replaced these earlier styles.

While simple in form, it has a grand porch which emphasises its symmetrical layout and provides a welcoming entrance to the house which is set back from the main road by a generous lawn. Entrance to the house is via a grand flight of steps. The balustrades are of pre-cast ‘vase’ shaped balusters, which continue as a perimeter parapet for the verandah of the house. A generous verandah surrounds the front and two sides of the house, creating a sheltered space well-suited to our tropical climate. The impressive pitched and gabled tile roof is supported by a row of perimeter columns treated in a Neo-Classical style.

The front entrance of the house is characterized by an arched doorway, which in turn is flanked on each side by arched windows, creating a pleasant symmetry. The arched motif is carried through with the impressive French-doors and windows that line the inner façade and open out onto the verandah. Demonstrating careful and detailed workmanship, the doors and windows boast fine cornices, ornate cast-iron work within the arches and some have period top-lights of stained-glass. Another stunning feature is the elaborate decorative doorway in the main living room that exhibits effusive baroque plaster details.

The Legacy

The bungalow stands in contrast to the surrounding apartment blocks that are being developed in the neighbourhood. It is a reminder of a past era when the district was well known for its bungalows and spacious, wooded landscaping.

Gazetted under the Voluntary Conservation Scheme on 10 April 2008, by City Developments Ltd

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.