Condo complex showcases how creative reuse and flexible models add value to conserved buildings
It has been one of the country’s best kept secrets but that will change when a former chapel on Mount Sophia that boasts some striking architectural features throws open its doors to the public next year .
This one-of-a-kind modernist tropical structure, which has been largely in private hands, is set to reopen as a restaurant, but will retain the sweeping roof beams forming the Chinese character “ren” (people) and a floating skylight.
The old chapel was built in 1969 by the Trinity Theological College and is one of three historic structures that developer Hoi Hup Sunway spent $6.3 million on restoring as part of its new $161 million condominium project, Sophia Hills.
It was a daunting challenge as it involved incorporating three conservation landmarks within a new condo complex. It took five years – a year longer than a typical condo build project – to complete.
In land-scarce but increasingly heritage-conscious Singapore, the authorities and developers have been tackling the challenge of repurposing old, conserved structures while maximising plot ratios.
BOLD ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PAST
The other two conserved structures within the Sophia Hills condominium perimeter – the Methodist Girls’ School’s 1928 Olson Building and the former 1941 Nan Hwa Girls’ High School – have been repurposed to respectively house a clubhouse and childcare centre.
Rents for the upcoming restaurant and childcare centre will likely go towards the condo’s maintenance and sinking funds, which will reduce fees for residents.
With the fate of multiple post-independence landmarks at risk of demolition, especially amid the en bloc frenzy, some experts said Sophia Hills is an example of how creative reuse and flexible models give old buildings a chance to add value to a development.
But this requires sacrifices on the part of the developer. Hoi Hup Sunway, for example, had to double its conservation budget along the way.
Mr Koon Wai Leong, who is the general manager of Hoi Hup Realty, told The Straits Times: “It’s our first conservation-development project. We didn’t want to do a half-hearted job.”
Where nutmeg used to be grown
It takes some imagination to picture it now but nutmeg plantations once ran across Mount Sophia, Mount Emily and Mount Caroline in the Rochor area. The hills were part of Charles Robert Prinsep’s 270-acre estate that heritage blogger Jerome Lim estimates was the size of present-day Gardens By The Bay.
When the crop failed, the land was split up and sold. The area was popular for the commanding views and isolation it offered, said Mr Lim, adding: “It was an exclusive area since a horse carriage was needed to access the hill.”
The homes there included a mansion, the now demolished Eu Villa, designed by architecture firm Swan and MaClaren for businessman Eu Tong Sen. At one point, the grounds were home to the Adis Lodge built by Nissim Nassim Adis, the proprietor of Grand Hotel de L’Europe, where the old Supreme Court wing of the National Gallery stands today.
According to architectural conservation specialist consultant Studio Lapis, the wealthy gradually moved to the Tanglin area, leading various communities and institutions to buy some of the structures on Mount Sophia. Among them was the Methodist Mission, which had a significant presence on the hill from 1895. Some of the old houses it occupied housed training facilities for its pastoral staff. The Olson Building for the Methodist Girls’ School was erected in 1928.
In the 1940s and 1950s, the Nan Hwa Girls’ High School and San Shan Public School were built. These still stand today, alongside at least five other old buildings, including the former Trinity Theological College chapel.
Melody Zaccheus
Almost all 493 units at Sophia Hills have already been sold at an average price of around $2,000 per square foot. It obtained its Temporary Occupation Permit last month.
What is striking about the new project by Consortium 168 Architects is its rather bold acknowledgement of the past – terracotta cladding runs across the facade of its 12 low-rise blocks – in homage to the Olson Building, which has an expansive terracotta tile roof, and fairfaced brickwork along its facade.
The building is perched on the peak of the 30m tall Mount Sophia and overlooks the residential blocks and a swimming pool.
The redevelopment of the site, which was occupied by Methodist Girls’ School (MGS) from 1928 to 1992, had been a contentious issue. In 2011, some MGS alumni started a campaign to save all six of the onsite school buildings. In the end, just one – the oldest of the lot, the Olson Building, was conserved. The rest were demolished.
Ms Sharmila Nair, 47, the alumni’s honorary secretary, said she hopes that the Olson Building is “somehow kept open” to old girls.
Elements of the site’s MGS past pop up intentionally across the development as a means to “enrich the heritage narrative of Sophia Hills”, said Mr Koon.
For instance, historic “Crittall” steel windows with brass hinges from a demolished MGS building were restored and installed along a flight of stairs at the main drop-off point to keep the rain at bay.
Detailed studies were also done to uncover the original hue of Nan Hwa on the advice of the project’s conservation consultant Studio Lapis. This required a team to scrape away layers of old paint and to skim coats. The three-storey building is now sporting a soothing grey hue and is one of three entrances into the condo.
Other developments with conserved structures include The Sea View condo in Katong, which repurposed a 1900s bungalow into a clubhouse. A Treasure Trove condo in Punggol also re-purposed the 1902 Matilda House as a clubhouse.
“Source:[3 historic structures on Mount Sophia to undergo $6.3m restoration] © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction”
