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  Business Times 31 Aug 07
Tribute to a built heritage
The race is on to document disappearing landmark buildings in the first book on modern local architecture, reports CHEAH UI-HOON

FOR two years now, Dinesh Naidu, a writer on architectural subjects, has been roving the streets of Singapore, in search of modern-style buildings built between the 1920s and 1970s.

He and his team members, Ho Weng Hin and Tan Kar Lin, both members of the Singapore Heritage Society and trained architects as well, have surveyed over 700 buildings all over the island, to be covered in a book on Singapore's modern architectural heritage.

'Besides that, we've also consulted a variety of secondary sources such as architectural journals, other published works and academic theses on the subject. Then we also went into primary sources: annual reports, architectural drawings, interviews and archival photos,' says Mr Naidu, 32.

The team is writing up their book now, the first on modern architecture in Singapore, to be published next year. It's a task that could have come maybe a year earlier, however, seeing that many modern buildings in Singapore have come under en bloc threat of late.

There's a sense of urgency to their task, especially with recent proposed changes to en bloc laws likely to hasten deals before October, when the proposed changes get legislated.

But why should we be concerned anyway? Especially when opinion is divided over whether modern-style buildings even look good - with their functional, geometrical shapes and extensive use of concrete.

However, its most avid conservationists point out that it's because this period of architecture has much to do with the idea of nationhood.

Independence and idealism

There's been a growing awareness around the world about the value of modernist architecture of the 1950s-70s, especially in the last five years or so, says Tay Kheng Soon, principal architect of Akitek Tenggara, who - in his mid-60s - is one of Singapore's pioneer architects.

'Worldwide, modern architecture is also linked strongly with the post-independence period . . . from Brazil to South-east Asia. The post-war period was an amazing period which saw a release of creative energy, thanks also to the independence movements in various countries. There was an upswell of idealism at that time and a period of nation-building for many countries,' he describes.

The innovation in modern architecture was also quite remarkable, especially compared with contemporary architecture today, which is more decorative. 'Contemporary works just don't have that kind of energy or passion,' says Mr Tay.

But so far, people have overlooked the value of modern architecture 'because of the lack of documentation'.

'The general public isn't aware of the theory and expression behind modern architecture,' he reckons. 'But these are buildings of what was believed to be the 'new world order', and they reflected confidence and optimism,' he adds.

In Singapore, as the consciousness and awareness of modernist architecture is just beginning, these buildings are not valued as highly as, say, colonial architecture, he notes.

If it's any consolation, it's not just here that modernist architecture is in danger of being wiped off the map. In the United States and the United Kingdom too, modernist buildings are under threat of being pulled down to make way for new buildings or carparks.

Works by famous modernist architects such as Paul Rudolph - who designed the Colonnade in Grange Road - from Boston to Florida look likely to fall under the wrecker's ball.

'That's the problem when land is valued more than what's on it,' says Dr Kevin Tan, president of the Singapore Heritage Society.

'We're in danger of becoming another anonymous city if we lose our built heritage,' he says, referring to the Singapore situation.

The government, he notes, has to look and study the issue so that they find a way that iconic buildings don't have to be torn down, or the owners end up bearing the cost of social memories.

In fact, to improve their efforts in conservation, the Singapore Heritage Society is holding talks with the Singapore Institute of Architects and the Singapore Institute of Planners, to find ways to work together.

'We're looking at how to pull our different expertise together. This is the first time we're formally having a discussion about it,' Dr Tan says. It's important to look at this now, says Dr Lai Chee Kien, an architecture lecturer from the National University of Singapore.

He feels strongly about the issue, partly because this is his area of research. 'I teach students about modern architecture in South-east Asia, but soon, it will be harder to take students on field trips to appreciate them if they don't exist anymore.'

Born in 1965 himself - the same year Singapore gained independence - Dr Lai has put up an exhibition and penned an accompanying book on Building Merdeka: Independence Architecture in Kuala Lumpur, 1957-1966, now on display at Galeri Petronas, Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur.

The exhibition focuses on the 10 most iconic buildings in independent Malaysia, in conjunction with Malaysia's 50th anniversary. The exhibition came out of his thesis on post-war architecture in the region, up till the 1970s.

So far, conservation efforts have focused on colonial and 19th century buildings, he points out. 'These are, of course, worthy of conservation, but increasingly, we would argue that buildings in the post-war period are important to document as well.'

When he put up this exhibition, for example, what struck him is that out of the 10 most important post-Merdeka buildings erected in KL, eight were still around. 'So if any Malaysian wanted to look at buildings of this period, they can.'

Point of significance

In Singapore, however, the National Library and National Theatre have been demolished, and the National Stadium is on its way out as well. The iconic Singapore Badminton Hall is still standing, however, hopefully not under threat of being bulldozed even though the Singapore Badminton Association has moved out of the building.

'The significance of that building is because of the Thomas Cup,' explains Dr Lai. As the National Heritage Board plaque on the building elaborates: Malaya - which included Singapore at that time - had won the first Thomas Cup Tournament in 1949. The victory also meant that Malaya won the right to host the next tournament, so the Singapore Badminton Hall was built in 1951 for that purpose. Although it wasn't completed in time, it did host the third tournament in 1955.

Another point of significance is that 'the vote-counting for the referendum on Singapore's merger with Malaya, Sabah and Sarawak was held there on Sept 1, 1962. About 71 per cent of the electorate voted for the proposal to merge,' according to the plaque.

Architecturally, it was also designed by Ng Keng Siang, Singapore's first overseas- trained local architect and first president of the local architectural society.

The main defending argument for Singapore's constant, ongoing architectural 'renewal' - thus justifying the tearing down of buildings - is that land is a scarce commodity.

But Mr Naidu thinks otherwise. He points out that before the amendment of the Strata Title Act in the early 1990s, en bloc could only proceed with 100 per cent agreement from owners.

'Bringing consensus to 80 or 90 per cent means it has become easier for developers to initiate en bloc proceedings,' he thinks. Without the law, developers might be more creative, he reckons, and build outside the prime neighbourhoods in districts 9 to 11.

'Oftentimes, a new development that took the place of an old one has just 10 to 15 more units than the former building. So it's a very small maximisation effect,' he says.

Singapore has had three en bloc waves since the 1990s, he says. The first in 1994 which ended in 1997, the second brief one in 1999, and the third and latest which started last year.

Mr Naidu notes that this time around, a confluence of factors is making en bloc activity a lot more feverish than the first two times, such as the rise of prices in the property market as well as the shortage of property.

At the rate of demolition, some of the buildings his book team visited and photographed just a year or two ago have now been torn down, such as the HDB flats at Outram.

And then there are clearly compelling reasons to preserve post-war buildings like the Singapore Badminton Hall, says Dr Lai.

'It's become difficult for me as a teacher of post-war architecture not to be able to show them to a younger generation or demonstrate their physical significance. It's time to start looking at modern architecture as important components of our shared architectural heritage and link them to expressions of nationhood and national development.

'The built environment should not only be appraised for its aesthetics or economics, but also for other tangible or intangible values. If this is not the case, time gaps will appear in our future readings of national and architectural histories, and associations to this place we call home will be diminished,' he concludes.
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