Six historic bridges in Singapore gazetted for conservation
By Ryan Huang and Greta Georges, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 03 October 2008 1640 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is expanding its conservation programme beyond buildings.

For the first time, structures such as bridges, towers and pavilions will be conserved as part of Singapore's architectural heritage, and Anderson Bridge is one of six bridges named for conservation in 2008.

The others are the Elgin Bridge at Boat Quay, the Cavenagh Bridge just outside Fullerton Hotel, the Ord, Read and Crawford Bridges.

Also gazetted for conservation are the iconic observatory tower at Seletar Reservoir Park and the floating pavilion at the MacRitchie Reservoir.

The grand Band Stand and Swan Lake gazebo at Botanic Gardens will also be conserved.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said, "Our city is not just a collection of buildings. Iconic new buildings alone do not give a city its unique character. The soul of a city requires more careful nurturing. By preserving the collective memories of our past, we make our physical environment more meaningful."

One major challenge in conservation projects is the loss in redevelopment potential, but seven conservation projects managed to overcome this.

They won the 2008 URA Architectural Heritage Award for restoring heritage buildings to their former glory and giving them a new lease of life.

One of the winning projects is a century-old seaside bungalow, which is currently the clubhouse for the Sea View condominium.

Another winner is the Screening Room, previously the historical two-star Damenlou Hotel within the Chinatown District. It has been transformed into an eclectic film and food haven complete with a screening theatre and a rekindled rooftop under the stars.

The other winning projects are Sri Temasek at the Istana, a row of high-end townhouses transformed from pre-war shophouses at Jellicoe Road, Tan Chin Tuan Mansion, No 14 Cable Road and a shophouse at Cairnhill Road.

Nearly 7,000 buildings and structures have been conserved so far.

- CNA/yt