The sensitive restoration of Temasek Shophouse, a century-old shophouse near MacDonald House in Orchard Road, picked up one of the island’s most prestigious conservation awards at the annual Architectural Heritage Awards on Oct 21, 2019.
Temasek Shophouse: Built in 1928
Called Temasek Shophouse, the building was built in 1928 by two wealthy Malacca-born businessmen, Ee Kong Guan and Chee Guan Chiang.
The late Chee Guan Chiang, also the eldest son of OCBC’s chairman, famously left behind a $400 million abandoned 1930s mansion called Wellington House at Grange Road which has been in a legal tussle for 40 years.
Temsaek Shophouse used to be a townhouse with apartments and shops, was the sole winner of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) award for restoration.
![temasek-shophouse-before Temasek Shophouse along Dhoby Ghaut, Orchard Road before conservation by Surbana Jurong](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/temasek-shophouse-before.png)
The URA, which has been administering the award since 1995, said the building’s original ornamentation and missing features were carefully restored, returning it as close to its original form as possible.
![temask-shophouse-restored-1-1024x768-1 Temasek Shophouse restoration](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/temask-shophouse-restored-1-1024x768-1.jpg)
Temasek Shophouse: An Art Deco Building
The shophouse was originally used as a mixed-use office and residential building. Later, it was left vacant for many years. Eventually, some offices moved into the premises – many of us would remember the street-level store, “This Fashion”, that remained there till the company shuttered in 2011.
Shophouse’s original ornaments & features kept
For instance, false ceilings at its five-footway were removed, drawing attention to its original double height columns.
![temask-shophouse-restored-1024x768-1 Temasek Shophouse restoration](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/temask-shophouse-restored-1024x768-1.jpg)
Inside, a two-storey atrium now stands in the place of bulky escalators from the 1980s, introducing a new sense of spaciousness to the building, it said.
Restoration took 18 months by Surbana Jurong
The 18-month restoration of the state property had been undertaken by lessee Temasek Trustees and architect Surbana Jurong Consultants. Temasek Shophouse is now home to Temasek’s philanthropy arm and has space for its co-working partners, as well as a public arena on the ground level.
![108429-temasek-shophouse](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/108429-temasek-shophouse.jpg)
URA Architectural Heritage Awards
The award was announced by Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development, at an event which also marked the URA’s 30-year conservation journey. He spent much of his speech emphasising the importance of community partnerships and support in making the cityscape more diverse.
On the award, Ms Yvonne Tay, director of Temasek Shophouse, said: “To take over an old conserved building and re-imagine it as something that can make an impact on Singapore’s future, is something we are happy to be doing.”
In his speech, Mr Lee noted that the authorities have taken a more inclusive and consultative approach to co-create and sustain Singapore’s built heritage landscape.
![singapore-chinese-girls-school-1-1024x682-1 The news follows a campaign by former SCGS students launched in September 2018 to save their old campus of almost 70 years from potential redevelopment. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/singapore-chinese-girls-school-1-1024x682-1.png)
Singapore Chinese Girl’s School, 37 Emerald Hill Road
For example, he highlighted the efforts of a group of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School alumnae who conducted community workshops to put together a proposal to conserve their former campus at 37 Emerald Hill Road.
![singapore-chinese-girls-school Former Singapore Chinese Girls' School at Emerald Hill Road](https://sonadecor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/singapore-chinese-girls-school.png)
URA, which had already been studying the overall plans for the Orchard Road area, carefully considered the group’s proposal as part of its review, he said. The site’s three oldest buildings are now conserved.
Mr Lee said Singapore’s conservation journey can be traced back to as early as the 1960s when pioneer planners saw the importance of selectively and pragmatically protecting the island’s built heritage.
Urban conservation was made a reality in 1989 by then-Minister for National Development, Mr S. Dhanabalan, when URA formalised its conservation programme and conserved more than 3,200 buildings in the districts of Chinatown, Little India, Kampong Glam, Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Cairnhill and Emerald Hill.
The challenges that remain ahead of Singapore’s conservation journey, such as the question of the future of Singapore’s now rundown post-independent, modern architectural landmarks – such as Golden Mile Complex, and People’s Park Complex.
Mr Lee also recognised the efforts of URA’s conservation partners such as public agency, the Singapore Tourism Board, and organisations such as the Singapore Heritage Society. He said: “We have taken a more inclusive and consultative approach to co-create and sustain our built heritage landscape.
“We will continue to engage and collaborate deeply with the industry, community, and all Singaporeans to protect, sustain and enliven our built heritage for the next 30 years, and many more generations to come.”
This article first appeared in The Straits Times in 2019.