[ad_1]
SINGAPORE: The Golden Mile complex will be proposed for preservation in light of its “historical and architectural significance,” the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said on Friday (October 9).
URA will also offer planning incentives to support the adaptive reuse and commercial viability of the building given its owners’ interest in a collective sale.
The authority proposed to retain the main building, with its “characteristic attached profile on the podium block” as key features to be preserved.
“There are opportunities to adapt the building for new uses, restore and transform it and the Beach Road campus into a more vibrant destination where more people can appreciate its rich heritage,” said URA.
READ: Golden Mile Complex for second block offering at S $ 800 million
Located along Beach Road, the 16-story building sits on one of the first government land sales sites. The Golden Mile complex, completed in 1973, was named after the newly reclaimed Beach Road, which was coined the “Golden Mile.”
The building was designed by pioneering Singaporean architects Gan Eng Oon, William Lim and Tay Kheng Soon, from local firm Design Partnership, now DP Architects.
It was one of the first large mixed-use developments in Singapore that combined commercial, recreational and residential uses in a single building, URA said.
The authority also praised the building’s structural ambition and the skillful construction methods required to construct its “‘terraced’ floor slabs, sloping beams, soaring columns and ‘floating’ stepped stairs.”
“The Golden Mile complex attracted a resident population and visitors for recreation, as well as catalyzed new development along the Beach Road area.
“The building remains a distinctive landmark and symbol of the collective memory of Singaporeans and the ‘spirit of power’ of our pioneer generation during the post-independence years,” said URA.
THE CONSERVATION DECISION CAME AFTER AN “EXTENSIVE” STUDY OF TWO YEARS
The decision to retain the Golden Mile Complex came after an extensive two-year study that included the participation of various stakeholder groups and work with various agencies, the authority said.
In recognition of its conservation merits and the building owners’ interest in a collective sale, URA said it studied ways to preserve the building while supporting adaptive reuse and commercial viability, while considering feedback received.
READ: Comment: Will COVID-19 Mean the End of Strata Malls?
READ: From the hidden to an abandoned pool: 12 things about the Golden Mile complex that you did not know
In addition to the Heritage and Identity Association, input was also solicited from building owners, heritage groups and industry players.
The Heritage and Identity Association serves as a platform for dialogue between URA and its members. It also provides feedback and suggests ways to maintain and manage built heritage and identity.
While there is strong support for the heritage and architectural merits of the Golden Mile Complex, building owners raised concerns about how conservation requirements could affect plans for a collective sale, given the associated building maintenance costs and design limitations, said URA.
The developers also cited uncertainties surrounding the local property market’s welcome to purchase a preserved development titled Large Scale Strata, the first sale of its kind in Singapore.
INCENTIVES FOR OWNERS AND PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPERS
In response to these challenges, the URA and relevant agencies are prepared to offer incentives to building owners or potential buyer-developers in the event the building is sold, the authority said.
The incentives include an additional floor area, which will allow the construction of an additional 30-story tower within the existing site.
READ: The Big Read: Run Down But Not Out Of Stock: Iconic Old Malls Find Their Way Into Singaporeans’ Hearts
READ: ‘I’m afraid it will one day go’: Saving Singapore’s Old Buildings One Photograph at a Time
There will also be a partial development fee waiver on the additional floor area and a development fee waiver for the improvement in the value of the conserved gross floor area.
Other incentives include the option to complete the 99-year lease on the land and the flexibility to adapt the building to a mix of potential uses.
“Additionally, URA is prepared to work closely with owners and industry experts to facilitate adaptive reuse possibilities within conservation requirements,” he said.
In total, more than 7,200 heritage buildings have been preserved across the island, mostly dating from the colonial period, URA said.
He added that as Singapore continues to progress, it will continue to engage Singaporeans on how to celebrate the important buildings of the country’s “recent past” and facilitate a balance between heritage and development.
The proposal to preserve the Golden Mile Complex will be posted on Saturday and will be open for public comment and comment from October 10 to November 8, 2020 at the URA Center.
The proposal can also be viewed online on the URA website.
