Conserved Building

145 Neil Road

Applicable Guidelines

Residential Historic District Guidelines

Conservation Area

Blair Plain Conservation Area

Historic address: 145 Neil Road

About

This Chinese style townhouse used to be the family home of Kway Mee Koo (1876–1940), who with his sons were contractors responsible for building some of Singapore's early road and drainage infrastructure.

The Building

Decorated with cut porcelain pieces otherwise known as jian nian (剪粘) and plaster relief mouldings of animals rich in Chinese symbolism, it is a good example of a towkay's townhouse from the turn of the 20th century.

The Legacy

In adapting it for contemporary living, close attention was paid to the retention and repair of interesting features such as the airwell's original waterspout designed in the form of a carp, which to the Chinese symbolises perseverance and abundance.

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.