Move to create list of 50 post-1965 buildings to help raise profile of Singapore’s modernist architecture.
Written by Melody Zaccheus for The Straits Times. Published on 18 October 2019.
Beach Road is a star-studded avenue of historical architecture and neighbourhoods from colonial and post-independent Singapore.
It comprises landmarks such as Golden Mile Complex, Kampong Glam, Shaw Tower, the Concourse, South Beach and Raffles Hotel.
Now, imagine voids along that stretch. Some of the structures could one day be demolished, given their prime locations and the nation’s penchant for redevelopment and collective sales, conservation expert Ho Weng Hin, 45, told The Straits Times.
Golden Mile Complex, for one, has undergone several collective sale attempts. “Beach Road serves as an open book of our architectural history. The erasure of such modern landmarks will be a great loss to our landscape,” Mr Ho said.
In anticipation of such a day, Mr Ho, together with 11 Singaporean architects and building experts, is piecing together an inventory of 50 post-1965 buildings.
(From left) Engineer Colin Yip, conservation expert Ho Weng Hin, consultant Karen Tan and architect Jonathan Poh at the carpark of Golden Mile Tower, with Golden Mile Complex in the background. They are part of a group that is compiling the list of 50 post-1965 buildings here.
Photo by Marcellin Lopez, The Straits Times
