EATING ESTABLISHMENTS IN CONSERVATION AREAS - A CASE STUDY ON TANJONG PAGAR CONSERVATION AREA

Abstract

Historic buildings are a gracious presence in any city. They remind us of the past and cast a retrospection against future developments. The continuous evolutionary process of a city is expressed by historic buildings. The conservation worth of these buildings should possess the qualities of architectural merit, historical significance, rarity and contributions to the environment. Therefore, conservation is an important tool to reinforce the perpetuity between the past and the present. In Singapore, conservation projects are not actively undertaken by the private sector. The private sector is hesitant about financing conservation projects in the fear of receiving low returns. Moreover, the quality of conservation is curbed by inadequate expertise on restoration works resulting less devotion towards conservation. This study attempts to seek out the problems faced by operators of eating establishments in restored shop houses. In the case study, Tanjong Pagar Conservation Area, eating establishments constitute the second largest users after office, hence, the study is focused on them. In addition, eating establishments impose greater adaptation on the property which further prompt the author to undertake this study. The aim of this study is to explore new avenues for solving the various problems identified in the case study. The challenges of conservation are not merely those depicted earlier. Singapore is a small country of limited land resources where the highest and best use should be allowed to dictate the allocation of land resources. Conservation poses a dilemma on this principle in which many shop houses and historic buildings are built low. How far can conservation maintain its foothold in the light of progress of Singapore? Perceptions of conservation should be constantly reviewed so that it can be oriented more sensitively to sustain its viability.