One of the oldest structures in Singapore, the building will undergo
extensive restoration and renovation as it evolves into the school’s
Asian campus. Since the house is a a national historic landmark,
it must be renovated with two purposes in mind: the needs of twenty-first
century students and the preservation requirements mandated by
its landmark status.
The last of four traditional Chinese courtyard mansions built
in the early days of Singapore, the house stands in stark contrast
to its neighboring glass and steel skyscrapers in the heart of
the city. Built as the home of Tan Yeok Nee (18271902), a prominent
Chinese businessman who amassed a large fortune in the nineteenth
century as a trader of such commodities as pepper, gambier, and
opium, the house typifies southern Chinese houses in its ornamentation,
building materials, and inward-looking layout. The halls are symmetrically
arranged along a central axis and separated by two courtyards.
Rich in detail, the architecture is enhanced by intricate carvings
on roof supports and wall panels under the eaves that depict scenes
from Chinese culture and history. The house also features elaborate
jian-nian, a mosaic technique popular in Canton in the 1870s that uses
broken ceramic pieces to depict images in relief.
Houses built in this traditional Chinese style were unusual in
Singapore at the end of the last century. Materials and craftsmen
would have been imported from China at considerable expense. What
prompted Tan Yeok Nee to do so is a mystery, although the impressive
architectural style presented an opportunity for him to flaunt
his wealth and his position in society.
But if he expected the house to remain a family legacy, it was
not to be. All his sons preceded him in death, and after he died
in 1902, the house was acquired by Singapore’s first railway line
and is believed to have been used as the station master’s residence.
Around 1912 the government gave the building to the Anglican church,
which opened St. Mary’s Home and School for Eurasian Girls on
the site. In 1938, the longest chapter in the building’s history
began when the house was leased as the international headquarters
for the Salvation Army.
The building was sold to the adjacent Cockpit Hotel in 1991, and
five years later was acquired by Winpeak Investment Pte. Ltd.,
a consortium headed by Wing Tai Holdings, Ltd., whose chairman,
Cheng Wai-Keung, ’73, arranged for its use by the GSB.
As the school’s new campus, the shell of the house will be restored
to its original grandeur, with interior spaces modified to accommodate
state-of-the-art classrooms and group study space. Part of the
cost of outfitting the classrooms will come from the W.L.S. Spencer
Foundation, chaired by Jack Wadsworth, ’63, and from the Singapore
Economic Development Board.
“As the building has been designated as a historical monument,
most of the existing building elements need to be preserved or
restored to their original condition,” said Susana Lim, project
manager of the restoration. Just as when the house was built,
both skilled workers and materials must be brought from China
to complete the work. A trip was made to Chaozhou and other Chinese
cities last year to view traditional Chinese architecture and
to assess the skills of artisans needed for the restoration. Special
skills are required, Lim explained, for gilding, ceramic patterning,
and timber carving. “Some of the craftsmen are available in Singapore,
but their skills cannot match the standards of Chinese craftsmen
from China, as they possess higher standards of skill and knowledge
in traditional Chinese methods of construction,” she said.
While most of the necessary materials are available in Singapore,
some items will be imported from Chaozhou, including colored ceramic
bowls, roof tiles, and Chinese paints.
Striking a balance between preservation of the building and fulfilling
the new usage requirements is among the project’s biggest challenges,
Lim said. “We need to comply with the authorities’ requirements
with minimal compromise to the school’s operational needs. A lot
of decisions need to be made regarding traditional construction
methods versus new building materials. Modern building services
will be incorporated to cater to modern needs, yet they must be
carried out in a manner compatible with the restoration process.
The issues to be considered include watertightness, acoustic control,
air conditioning, sanitation and plumbing, and lighting,” she
said.
Work on the project is under way and is expected to take approximately
twenty-four months to complete.–C.N.
Singapore Facts
Population
3.2 million.
Area of city
The total land area, including that of the smaller islands, is
about 247 square miles.
Time Zone
Singapore is 8 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and 14 hours
ahead of Chicago (CST). Singapore does not observe daylight savings
time.
Language
English (official language of administration), Malay (national
language), Mandarin, and Tamil. English is widely used in commerce,
business, and day-to-day life. Street signs, maps, and hotel names
are in English.
Literacy rate
92.8 percent.
Literacy in two or more language
45 percent.
Race
Chinese, 77.2 percent; Malays, 14.1 percent; Indians, 7.4 percent;
other ethnic groups, 1.3 percent.
Religion
Buddhism, 31.9 percent; Taoism, 21.9 percent; Islam, 14.9 percent;
Christianity, 12.9 percent; Hinduism, 3.3 percent; other religions,
.6 percent; no religion, 14.5 percent.
Government and politics
Singapore is a republic with a parliamentary system of government.
The head of state is the president. The administration of the
government is vested in the cabinet headed by the prime minister.
GDP at current market prices
S$143 billion.
Per capita GDP
S$38,273.
Number of
radio channels: 19; TV channels: 4; newspapers: 8; foreign publications,
journals, and magazines: 5,300.
Percentage of people who own a
television: 97; air conditioner: 53.1; personal computer: 40.8;
car: 35.8.
Sources: Excite Travel, Lonely Planet, and Singapore Infomap, the national Web site