Campaign Featured in I-S Magazine

From I-S Magazine this week comes this article on 23 Amber Road:

"And how much of a difference has or will all [the effforts to save the building] make? Especially in a society known more for its top-down approach than for grassroots influence?URA is supportive of the cause to save the house, but so far is not making any concrete move to save it. 23 Amber Road is not on URA's conservation list, and the URA is leaving it to Goodland Development to voluntarily list the property which would immediately protect it-but given Goodland's plan to build a condo on the site, this is unlikely."

Straits Times: Conserve Linguistic Heritage of Singapore

“Look beyond brick and mortar preservation and save dialects from becoming extinct
By Paul Tan

THE recent debate on saving the Butterfly House at 23, Amber Road is heartening on two counts.

One, it points to the growing interest many Singaporeans have in protecting the island's architecture. The 20-member group that was formed to lobby for its preservation, the Historic Architecture Rescue Plan, has its forebears in the enthusiastic Singaporeans who petitioned against the demolition of Eu Court along Stamford Road in the early 1990s and, more recently, the old National Library.

Two, it underscores the uniqueness of certain parts of Singapore. The individuals interviewed for the Straits Times report identified themselves as Katongites and spoke passionately of the distinct character of the area. In a modern era of homogeneous public housing and families who change homes every few years, that unique historical flavour should be valued, not least by the country's urban planners.

But in this popular discussion to conserve heritage and foster the rootedness of Singaporeans, one wonders, can preservation be extended beyond brick and mortar? For instance, should we also try to save Singapore's rich linguistic heritage?
...
One wishes the Katongites well in their petition to save 23, Amber Road. It will be an uphill task, given that the prime land the mansion sits on belongs to a private entity and the planning authorities' track record when it comes to petitioners.”

Read the full article at the Straits Times website.

Bird’s Eye View of 23 Amber Road

This photo was taken by Mrs Helen Khoo, from a neighbouring apartment block Amberville (Block 50D), and shows very clearly the “butterfly” configuration of this house.

Amber Road on Singapore Infopedia

The Singapore Infopedia website maintained by the National Library Board has a very interesting article on the history of Amber Road.

Here’s an extract:

“In 1921, a stretch of road running between Grove Road (now discontinued) and Tanjong Katong Road was named Amber Road, after a renowned property owner, the Elias family. Amber Elias was the mother of Joseph, Ezra and Issac Elias and they belonged to a well-known Jewish business family. Other places named after her is the Amber Building on Malacca Street and Amber Mansion on Orchard Road.

Amber Road was the scene of two tragic events in Singapore's history. During the Japanese Occupation, the beach across this road was used for Operation "Sook Ching", carried out to purge suspected anti-Japanese elements. As a result, many Chinese males were brought to the beach only to be slaughtered mercilessly by the Japanese soldiers. Amber road was also one of the worst hit areas during the Maria Hertogh Riots that took place in 1950.”

Straits Times: No. 23 Wasn't 'Cashin Mansion'

This letter was published in the Straits Times Forum today:

"TO DISPEL any misinformation, may I, as a former resident who lived in Amber Road, point out that 23 Amber Road was never known as Cashin Mansion, although it was given by Mr A. W. Cashin to his brother-in-law, Mr D. Kitowitz.

The only residence there dubbed with a name was Mandalay Villa at No. 29 Amber Road.

The other surviving original buildings in the locality are No. 40 Amber Road and, as far as I know, the Elias mansion, which now forms part of the Sea View Hotel complex.

Lee Kip Lee"

Save 23 Amber Road Campaign Blogged!

Edoraye has written about the Campaign to Save 23 Amber Road at her blog, Many Degrees Off the Equator.

The whole article is really worth reading, and here’s a taster:

“I believe that in the course of keeping up with the times, our society should not run the risk of becoming overly modernized and culturally sterile. After all, even the newest of buildings which we build today will someday become old but the oldest of buildings we preserve today will always remain fondly in style in the years to come. Some day, when I walk along the streets of Mountbatten with my children, I will tell them stories of my childhood and that of my parents, my grandparents and my great grandparents. And I pray that we will be able to stop by the Cashin Mansion to awe at how far Singapore has come to be the great nation it is and the place we affectionately call 'Home'.”

Straits Times Highlights Plight of 23 Amber Road

The Straits Times newspaper published a two page spread on building conservation today. There are excellent photos (in colour) of eight of the buildings HARP has earmarked for rescuing. They are lined up on H2 of the Home Section.

Call to preserve 1912 ‘crescent’ house

Save these buildings

The 1912 'crescent' house is shown on H1 with Tan Hui Yee's write-up:

“A GROUP of heritage property lovers are trying to save a bungalow designed by the architect of Raffles Hotel that could be facing demolition after it was bought recently by a developer.

The neo-Renaissance style bungalow on Amber Road was designed by Regent Alfred John Bidwell in 1912.

The two-storey property, which stood on the seafront before land reclamation began, has an unusual crescent shape to let in as much fresh air as possible. It is currently surrounded by many private housing projects.
A new developer, AG Capital, bought the bungalow last year. The company told The Straits Times 'no corporate decision has been adopted' on future plans for the site.

The company is free to tear it down though, as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has no plans to add it to its list of more than 6,000 buildings that have to be retained because of their historical heritage value.”

Read more on the Straits Times website, or here.