22 Tanjong Kling Road

Natsteel Steel Pavilion

About

Located at the former Jalan Besi Baja, now known as Tanjong Kling Road, the former National Iron and Steel Mills Ltd., later renamed NatSteel, was officially opened on 31 January 1964.

NatSteel was the first heavy industry factory to be established in Jurong Industrial Estate and has played a fundamental role in Singapore’s formative years. As the sole supplier of steel to the Housing & Development Board (HDB), the mills contributed to the construction of HDB’s earliest public housing projects, in response to the pressing need for accessible public housing from the 1960s to 1980s. The mills have also supplied material for the construction of infrastructure for the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system and trains, as well as the building of Changi Airport.

The History

The former National Iron and Steel Mills was officially opened on January 31, 1964, as the first heavy industry factory to be established in the landmark Jurong Industrial Estate. ​

As the sole supplier of steel to the Housing & Development Board at the time, the mills contributed heavily to the construction of public housing during Singapore’s early nation building phase. The mills have also supplied material for the construction of MRT trains and the Changi Airport. ​

In 1990, the company was renamed NatSteel. It still stands in its original location and still operates as a steel mill.​

The Building

The main office building of the former National Iron and Steel Mills was designed by Malayan Architects co-partnership, consisting of architects Lim Chong Keat, William Lim and Chen Voon Fee. The firm designed prominent buildings such as the Singapore Conference Hall. ​

The main office building consists of two storeys in a modern simplified design. It features the conserved ‘Steel Pavilion’ with steel framed glass windows and exposed fair-face brick walls. ​

The conserved Steel Pavilion is topped with a hyperpolic paraboloid ‘umbrella’ steel roof structure. The roof design was seen as an engineering feat at the time, demonstrating the capabilities of steel as a building material. The structure results in unique triangular clerestory windows above the curtain walls on the second storey. ​

The original Foundation Stone is also integrated near the entrance of the conserved Steel Pavilion.

The Legacy

The Steel Pavilion will remain under NatSteel. It will continue its use as an administration building and marker of the steel mill and integrated into the larger industrial development.​

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

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