With Singapore’s push to modernize, the struggle to preserve historic buildings is challenging. Many former religious schools have been torn down or modernized to house everything from retail stores to hotels. However, the Singaporean government is working on unique ways to raise the visibility of historic buildings in order to encourage people to be more aware of them and likely to support efforts to preserve them.
One such site was the former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus. The group itself has been relocated to another site, but the highly impressive and artistic building remains. It has been declared a national monument and currently houses shops and outlets. Some people who attended the school complained about how the building is used now, but others whose schools have been demolished tell them that at least the building still stands.
Another interesting conversion has been the former St. Joseph’s Institution, a Catholic school for boys. The building that used to house the campus now is home to the Singapore Art Museum. One of the directors of the museum says that learning is still the focus of the facility, making it easier for alumni of the former school to stomach the changes.
Some critics of the changes and growth of Singapore’s highly modern and artistic culture say that there was no need for the historic buildings in question to be remodeled, but the truth of the matter is that the things inside them require that the buildings be climate controlled. Singapore’s heavy tropical heat would damage artwork if there was no air conditioning present — even though, in the past, no buildings had air conditioning.
However, the Singapore government is looking to preserve buildings from several of its historic districts and showcase them in unique ways. One effort is to draw young people back into the heart of the city itself by making historic areas more interesting for them. That requires the addition of retail opportunities, restaurants, and the arts. Another way is innovative events like the Singapore Night Festival, which shuts down streets and incorporates buildings into art displays. This past year, the facade of the Singapore Art Museum was included in an artistic display, providing the backdrop for a wildly creative projection of a Jules Verne classic story.
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To read more about Singapore’s historic buildings and the efforts to conserve them, go to http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/09/175898/past-lives-and-present-glory-singapores-preserved-heritage-buildings.