Conserving Singapore’s built heritage is a necessary aspect of visual storytelling as the nation matures. The 3R Principle of Maximum Retention, Sensitive Restoration and Careful Repair by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) guides the conservation of our built heritage. As a result, older buildings are finding new life in land-scarce and densely populated Singapore. Depending on the location of the conservation building, different conservation guidelines apply. On one end of the spectrum, there are the Historic Districts where the entire building has to be retained and restored. On the other, there are the Secondary Settlements where the emphasis is on the retention of the streetscape where new rear extensions can be built.
Through working with conserved buildings over the years, we understand the balance needed in tailoring the design to meet the client’s brief within the framework of the conservation guidelines. Guided by research and documentation, we maximise the retention and restoration of the original structure and its architectural elements. Any addition or alteration works are approached with sensitivity whenever we upgrade and adapt a conservation building to new uses. We believe that such works should be conducted in the most sympathetic and inconspicuous way, focusing on using original materials wherever possible.
( Related: What Is The Allure Of Black And White Houses? )
Among these, colonial-era black and white bungalows in Singapore hold enormous charm. They are also iconic in the nation’s built heritage. There are approximately 500 such conservation houses. The standout characteristics of this award winning Good Class Bungalow at Cable Road are its timber louvred casement windows and black outlines of the main doors and windows. Our brief was to revamp the interior to a show suite quality. So, we used a similar design language to tie the conservation exterior with the modern interior. Informed by the features of the conservation building, the new extension echoes its unique features and blends with the contemporary interior design. Among the furnishings introduced to the original conservation block is a long bespoke marble dining table with black and white chairs framed by a grey wall for an elegant, modern ambience.
As interior designers, we practise the same level of care when we refresh the interiors of restored and renovated buildings. The architecture of Tan Chin Tuan Mansion, a 1926 grand Victorian mansion at Cairnhill Road, features beautiful details and ornamentation. Aside from new interior decoration, we rejuvenated the interior design by refreshing the interior colours of the walls, doors and windows. The lighting scheme and furniture layout were overhauled in a manner that complements the historical artefacts and displays. Throughout the design process, we were mindful of the historical artefacts and displays. These precious items are now housed in new display cases that we have specially designed and fabricated.
For another commercial client, we transformed several shophouses in the historic Joo Chiat area into a boutique hotel. Like in several parts of Southeast Asia, shophouses are iconic buildings here. Openings, if any, must comply with the respective URA conversation guidelines. The party walls in between the shophouses must be retained. Instead of creating yet another heritage hotel shophouse interior, we introduced a modern, quirky look that remains congruent with the conservation shophouse exterior. The aim of this design challenge was to create a bold visual impact, which we achieved with a dramatic walkway in the lobby area and vibrant furnishings. The intricate mouldings on the exterior façade, the timber louvred casement windows, the pitched roof and the five-foot way’s floor finishes were carefully restored to retain the streetscape. Designworx is honoured that this project, the first boutique hotel of the Venue Hotel brand, was awarded the Best Hotel Interior Singapore in Asia Pacific Property Award 2014.
Helping conservation buildings enjoy a new lease of life is one of our greatest joys as designers. Working with structures that chronicle the lives of the people who came before us is an honour and a privilege. As an experienced interior design company, we approach such projects with a keen understanding of the sensitivities needed and balancing it with opening up design horizons to help our clients add new chapters to the building’s story.
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