past to present
d+a|Issue 133
A thoughtful restoration revives the glory of a national monument and a neighbouring conserved building and brings them up to current standards
Victor Chen
past to present

“Heritage conservation is essential particularly in a city-state like Singapore,” says Joe Fu of Ong & Ong Pte Ltd. Together with Tan Wei Sheng, Fu led the team in the restoration and conservation of St Joseph’s Church and Parochial House, a national monument and a conserved building, respectively. “It is crucial for preserving the cultural, historical, and architectural legacy of a place,” he adds. Work on the project located along Victoria Street in downtown Singapore began in 2017 and was fully completed in March this year.

“Conservation connects us to our past, maintains the unique character of our environments, and provides a sense of continuity and identity in an ever-changing world. It also serves as a reminder of a city’s history, traditions, and achievements,” Fu continues. “The true challenge, however,” he emphasises, “lies in the significant effort required to balance heritage preservation with modern development needs.”

Fu explains that the work closely followed the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s fundamental principles of conservation. Often referred to as the 3Rs, they include maximum retention, sensitive restoration and careful repair. “During the design process, we worked very closely with government agencies to ensure that significant architectural or heritage elements were carefully considered and restored,” he shares.

These fundamental principles were evenly applied to the project. “To modernise the building,” Fu notes, “we incorporated air-conditioning, plumbing, fire protection, and other systems to meet modern codes. However, retaining existing elements was often challenging under such circumstances. We had to resist the urge to take the easiest path, ensure that our solutions were carefully considered, and adhere closely to the 3Rs.”

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Issue 133 من d+a.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Issue 133 من d+a.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من D+A مشاهدة الكل
Tailored For The Curious Explorer
d+a

Tailored For The Curious Explorer

The new Alma House at the New Bahru enclave reflects the collaborative spirit of a school environment.

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 134
Eco And Egalitarian
d+a

Eco And Egalitarian

Can a building represent a culture? Berrel Kräutler Architekten's sensitive renovation of the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore stimulates discourse.

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 134
Building A Green Home
d+a

Building A Green Home

This semi-detached house by Zivy Architects explores passive tropical design, the delight in architecture and the issues of multi-generational living.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 134
The Natural Balance
d+a

The Natural Balance

Inspired by the serene beauty of dewdrops, the Antao Collection by Villeroy & Boch transforms bathrooms into wellness sanctuaries, combining sustainability with timeless elegance.

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 134
Inspiring Creativity And Exploration
d+a

Inspiring Creativity And Exploration

The new Hafary House at Lavender reflects the brand’s vibrancy and innovation, as well as provide an inspiring and engaging space for customers.

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 134
Home Is Where The Heart Is
d+a

Home Is Where The Heart Is

A vacation house is reimagined for a multi-generational family to gather for holidays in the bucolic setting of Yongjia in Zhejiang, China.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 134
balancing act: nature and humanity
d+a

balancing act: nature and humanity

In this inspiration-led series, we asked Jay Liu and Alex Liu, co-founders of Right Angle Studio, to dream up a unique interior concept using mainly items from Space Furniture.

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 134
rethinking, remaking, reframing
d+a

rethinking, remaking, reframing

Aoki Akio, the founder of DESIGNART TOKYO discusses the importance and legacy of Tokyo's eminent art and design event, particularly for young creatives.

time-read
5 mins  |
Issue 134
rebuilding communities
d+a

rebuilding communities

Shift2024, the much-anticipated conference returns with a stellar line-up of prolific architects making their mark in Asian urban design.

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 134
unparalleled italian craftsmanship
d+a

unparalleled italian craftsmanship

Filippo Arnaboldi, Chief Executive Officer of Frette, tells us how this luxury lifestyle Italian brand is moving forward with times yet not forgetting about its existing legacy.

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 134