Here is the article
Look at the difference between the stuff said by those want the
sites preserved and the stuff said by URA.
Singapore
Call to preserve 1912 'crescent' house
Tan Hui Yee
606 words
3 January 2007
Straits Times
English
(c) 2007 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
Developer has no plans for Amber Road site but it's not on heritage
list
A GROUP of heritage property lovers are trying to save a bungalow
designed by the architect of Raffles Hotel that could be facing
demolition after it was bought recently by a developer.
The neo-Renaissance style bungalow on Amber Road was designed by
Regent Alfred John Bidwell in 1912.
The two-storey property, which stood on the seafront before land
reclamation began, has an unusual crescent shape to let in as much
fresh air as possible. It is currently surrounded by many private
housing projects.
A new developer, AG Capital, bought the bungalow last year. The
company told The Straits Times 'no corporate decision has been
adopted' on future plans for the site.
The company is free to tear it down though, as the Urban
Redevelopment Authority (URA) has no plans to add it to its list of
more than 6,000 buildings that have to be retained because of their
historical heritage value.
The URA told The Straits Times it adopted a 'pragmatic'
approach to conservation. It said: 'It is done on a highly
selective basis to retain the unique character and identity of an
area.
'We have adopted a 'win-win' approach to strike a balance in
allowing owners to realise the economic potential of their
properties and ensuring the identity and character of our historic
past are retained.'
However, a group of about 20 people, who call themselves the
Historic Architecture Rescue Plan, feel this bungalow deserves
preservation. On Christmas Eve, the group distributed fliers about
the bungalow to residents in the Mountbatten area.
One member, Mr Terrence Hong, 26, unemployed, suggested the
building be dismantled and relocated rather than demolished.
Destroying buildings like this would 'contribute to the sense of
impermanence and unrootedness in Singapore', he said.
Another member, 72-year-old retired administrator Helen Khoo, said:
'Modern buildings are okay in themselves. But when we have too
many, we start everything on a clean slate and rub off all the
happy memories.'
The group is trying to get the authorities to conserve at least 12
other buildings.
They include private buildings like the National Aerated Water
Company building in Serangoon Road, the Shaw Brothers film studio
in Jalan Ampas, off Balestier Road, as well as state properties
like a two-storey manor in Gilstead Road that used to be home to
Leslie Charteris, author of the mystery books that inspired the
television series, The Saint.
The conservation group tries to raise awareness of heritage
properties by giving their owners or tenants information on their
historical value. They recently approached Gracefields
Kindergarten, which rents the house in Gilstead Road.
The imposing 1920s building, which used to house the Spastic
Children's Association, was painted a cheery mint green when the
kindergarten took up the tenancy in August.
Its principal, Ms Joyce Teo, 50, said that since then, at least
eight people have walked in to express admiration for the
building.
'I stand in awe. Every day that I stand here, I am grateful for
this place,' she said. 'It's so majestic.'
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