Revised Conservation Guidelines, Technical Handbooks and Strategic Sale Sites

Circular No : URA/PB/2017/08-PCUDG

Our Ref : DC/ADMIN/CIRCULAR/PB_17

CIRCULAR TO PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES

Who Should Know:
Qualified Persons, building owners, developers and tenants

Effective Date:
With effect from 15 Dec 2017

1. Since the gazette of the first conservation areas in 1989, URA has continuously aimed to guide and improve the standards of works carried out to conserved buildings.

2. Through conservation guidelines, works carried out to conserved shophouses and bungalows retain the essential architectural features and spatial characteristics of the buildings while allowing flexibility for adaptive reuse.

3. Technical handbooks and best practice guides are available to foster greater appreciation and increase the level of technical competency within the industry.

1. Revised Conservation Guidelines

4. URA has carried out its latest review of the conservation guidelines in consultation with practicing architects and conservation specialists from both Singapore and abroad. The revised guidelines aim to better protect unique original architecture features and spatial features. New interventions in the historic streetscape will be guided more closely so that overall scale, urban grain and historic character is retained.

5. For your information, the complete set of revised conservation guidelines is now available online.

2. Conservation Technical Handbooks

6. To complement the online URA Conservation Guidelines, URA has collaborated with the local chapter of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS SG) to produce a series of Conservation Technical Handbooks.

7. This is an 8-volume series covering different aspects of technical restoration, architectural elements and material usage. The series will share best practices and technical expertise on restoration works and promote greater understanding of locally used materials, construction methods and restoration techniques for heritage buildings.

8. The series aims to promote better quality restoration projects, enhance the level of competency within the heritage building industry, and increase appreciation for our built heritage. Through quality technical restoration, our heritage buildings can be better sustained into the future.

9. The first volume in the series, “Conservation Technical Handbook – A Guide For Best Practices / Volume 1 – Introduction”, provides a brief overview of key historic building types and materials found in Singapore, common causes of deterioration and useful information to assist building owners and practitioners in the restoration and care of heritage buildings.

10. This is now available online for free download.

3. Strategic Sale Sites

11. For strategic sale sites involving conserved buildings, developers may be required to engage a heritage consultant to ensure that the heritage aspects of such sites are adequately addressed upfront and well integrated in the planning and design of the development. The heritage consultant will be requested to carry out thorough investigation, documentation, and assessment of the building’s history, significance and existing condition and present the proposed restoration and maintenance approach before any works commence. Such a requirement will be made known in the sales conditions of tender.

12. I would appreciate it if you could convey the contents of this circular to the relevant members of your organisation.

13. For other information on the master plan, urban design guidelines, private property use and approval, car park locations and availability, private residential property transactions, and conservation areas and buildings, use URA SPACE (Service Portal and Community e-Services). For feedback or enquiries, please email us.

Thank You.

CHOU MEI (MS)
GROUP DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION & URBAN DESIGN)
for CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY