1960s NatSteel building, former Pasir Panjang English School proposed for conservation
SINGAPORE – The first stages of Changi Airport and Singapore's MRT system – which have today become pillars of the country's transport system – opened in the 1980s.
What is not as widely known is that at the core of these projects was steel from the National Iron and Steel Mills – the first factory set up in the Jurong Industrial Estate in 1961.
Known as NatSteel today, the firm has remained at its original location for the past six decades, with its former main office building still standing.
Called the Steel Pavilion, the two-storey building – which is more than six decades old – has been proposed for conservation under the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) Draft Master Plan 2025, in recognition of NatSteel's contributions to Singapore's economy.
While relatively unknown and sitting in a far-flung part of the island, the Steel Pavilion's proposed conservation is the latest sign of URA's shifting approach towards conservation.
Having kept a significant number of structures from the colonial era – which form the bulk of the country's more than 7,200 conserved buildings and structures – URA has in recent times increasingly looked to conserve heritage markers from the period surrounding Singapore's independence in 1965.
Also proposed for conservation are the former Pasir Panjang English School at 24 Yew Siang Road and 20 buildings at the former Bukit Timah Turf City, which will be redeveloped into a new housing estate, URA said at the draft masterplan exhibition launch on June 25.
The former Pasir Panjang English School, pictured behind its gates on June 21.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
These add to five previously announced sites that are also slated for conservation, such as the former Turf City's two grandstands, former housing blocks in Dakota Crescent and Jurong Hill Tower.
URA said the former school is an example of standardised designs for schools built with timber in the 1920s and 1930s, and was one of the first schools in Pasir Panjang when it opened in January 1933.
The school closed in 1986, and its premises were used from 1999 to 2024 by Breakthrough Missions – a drug rehabilitation centre.
URA said it would conserve the former school's U-shaped main building, which stands as an example of the development of Singapore's schools and education system.
Public agencies are considering integrating the building, which is now vacant, into a future residential development.
Meanwhile, URA's proposal to conserve 20 buildings at the former Bukit Timah Turf City – in addition to the former racecourse's North and South grandstands – follows a study that assessed the feasibility of retaining 27 heritage structures at the site.
The internal courtyard of the former Pasir Panjang English School, encircled by a classroom block and greenery.
PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Of the five not earmarked for conservation, two are horse bridges that may be retained but not conserved, while the other three, located in the Fairways Quarters – where Turf Club workers lived – were found to be structurally unsound.
The buildings to be conserved include bungalows that were occupied by the club's management and their families, stables, workers' quarters and the former Dunearn Water Depot, which housed a Water Department district office and flats for the depot's officers.
An artist's impression of the former Pasir Panjang English School restored and adaptively reused as part of a future residential development.
PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
'Taken together, these buildings represent key yet different facets of the former racecourse's history and functional ecosystem,' URA said.
'Repurposing these selected buildings as part of the future housing estate will create a distinctive environment for future residents and communities.'
On June 25, the agency revealed a new thematic framework that will aid its selection of sites and buildings for retention.
The framework groups structures into four themes – economy, housing, social and defence – which represent the building blocks of Singapore's development. It will 'support the identification of selected sites that represent Singapore's history and development over the past 60 years'.
An artist's impression of how the former Fairways Quarters could be integrated to serve as a community-centric node as part of a well-connected and accessible estate.
PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Under 'economy' are infrastructural developments for commercial, industrial, transport and utility purposes that supported Singapore's growth, while 'housing' includes shophouses, high-rise public housing and mixed-use developments.
The 'social' theme – which the former Pasir Panjang English School is classified under – includes medical facilities, schools, places of worship, event venues and sports facilities, while parked under 'defence' are military, law enforcement, fire security and facilities such as army camps and airbases.
URA on June 25 also announced that it had identified three new identity nodes in Siglap, Moonstone Lane Estate and Newton, taking the number of such nodes from 18 to 21.
Identity nodes, which have been earmarked since 2002, are areas with distinctive character and charm that the agency seeks to retain through methods such as rolling out design guidelines for new developments.
URA said Siglap has a laid-back atmosphere that exudes a unique urban charm, while Moonstone Lane Estate's 'intimate waterfront setting and rich multicultural history' will be retained.
It envisages that the upcoming neighbourhood in Newton will be community-centric, with greenery, heritage and identity woven into the area.
Building on the identity nodes, URA in 2022 introduced five identity corridors as part of its long-term plan – a conceptual plan that looks into the country's needs for the next 50 years and beyond, and is reviewed every decade.
At each corridor, the agency aims to strengthen the identity and character of areas along it, while improving walking and cycling infrastructure.
Upgrades to three corridors have been planned based on public engagements.
At the Historic East corridor, which covers Geylang and Changi, a new pedestrian mall will be developed along East Coast Road, near where it intersects with Joo Chiat Road. The pedestrian mall will stretch between i12 Katong shopping centre and Katong V mall.
URA said the mall could include landscaping, seating, recreational spaces for visitors, as well as for community events and activities.
As for the Kallang River corridor, public agencies are planning a new waterfront park between Serangoon Road and Bendemeer Road.
The upcoming park at Kallang River could serve as a pit stop for cyclists travelling from Bishan to the city along the Kallang Park Connector, and as a new community space for local residents and visitors.
PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Improvements will also be made to the riverbank fronting St Andrew's Village, with the possibility of outdoor classrooms for students from nearby schools.
New cycling paths along the riverbank fronting St Andrew's Village will connect to the Kallang Park Connector, enhance connectivity in the area and allow more people to enjoy the waterfront.
PHOTO: URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
At the Inner Ring corridor, which links fringe districts around the city centre, a stretch of Zion Road between Ganges Avenue and River Valley Road will be repurposed to accommodate wider walking and cycling paths.
Am artist's impression of the stretch of Zion Road that will be repurposed for wider walking and cycling paths.
PHOTO: NATIONAL PARKS BOARD
By 2030, new cycling paths will also be added to the western stretch of this corridor, between Outram and Orchard, and the eastern stretch, along Lavender Street and between Kallang Road and Balestier Road.
Ng Keng Gene is a correspondent at The Straits Times, reporting on issues relating to land use, urban planning and heritage.
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