100 Guillemard Road

Former Singapore Badminton Stadium

About

The genesis of the former Singapore Badminton Hall (SBH) at 100 Guillemard Road can be traced back to events linked to the first Thomas Cup Tournament first held in Britain in 1949, which the team from Malaya won and was given the opportunity to host the next tournament.

The History

Completed in June 1952, SBH hosted the third and fourth Thomas Cup Tournaments in 1955 and 1958 respectively. It was the nurturing ground for local badminton talents in the 1950s, such as Wong Peng Soon, Ismail Marjan and Ong Poh Lim. Besides badminton, SBH also hosted other sporting competitions, such as gymnastics, sepak takraw, table tennis, billiards and wrestling.

SBH was also a venue for entertainment events, such as plays, movie screenings, talent-search and dance competitions. In 1962, the hall was used as the vote-counting venue for the referendum to merge Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak, Sabah and the Federation of Malay States to form Malaysia.

These are important milestones in the development of Singapore’s local sports scene as well as historic events in our nation’s history.

The Building

Designed by pioneer Singaporean architect Ng Keng Siang, SBH has a rectilinear form characterised by modern architectural features, such as streamlined concrete fins/canopies and pre-cast concrete vents and parapet wall. The building’s entrance is marked by a protruding box structure, featuring an inset framed concrete canopy and a concrete flag post.

SBH’s key internal features include its large open hall with a metal roof with steel trusses, and tiered grandstand seating. Offices and ancillary spaces are located around the building’s perimeter, beneath the grandstand seating.

Before Guillemard Road became a main arterial road, large crowds used to gather at the building during events, and its front has been much photographed.

The Legacy

In recognition of the significance of the venue, the National Heritage Board marked the former SBH as a historic site in 1999. URA will be proposing to conserve the building as a symbol of Singapore’s humble beginnings and to mark historic moments in the local sports scene and our nation’s evolution. Today, it stands as an important marker of local identity and a repository of social memories.

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)

• Submission Process for Works

Explore Street View

The building can be found at this street.