Asia Insurance Building & Bank of China Building might be conserved

Article from Lian He Zao Bao, 21Oct2006.

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m213/shaoyedediyici/8743396830.jpg (http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m213/shaoyedediyici/8743396830.jpg)
http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m213/shaoyedediyici/874339683087249.jpg (http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m213/shaoyedediyici/874339683087249.jpg)

http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m213/shaoyedediyici/4389765928.jpg (http://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m213/shaoyedediyici/4389765928.jpg)


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市建局考虑保留市区战后商业大厦 亚洲保险大厦中国银行大厦可能受保留
● 吴汉钧
　　市区重建局正与中央商业区内多座战后兴建的大厦业主洽谈，考虑把一些现代高楼大厦列为受保留建筑。

　　据可靠消息，考虑保留的大厦包括亚洲保险大厦（Asia Insurance Building）和中国银行大厦。

　　这个概念一旦落实，相信是市建局自1970年代进行保留工作以来，首次保留战后在中央商业区兴建的高楼大厦。

　　亚洲保险大厦最近被雅诗阁集团（Ascott）购入，该集团决定保留和不更动大厦的外貌，以改建成本地第一座复古“全套房”式服务公寓。

　　中国银行大厦建于1950年代末，10年前扩建时也保留了大厦外观。这些保留行动都是业主自行决定，它们当时可以选择把建筑拆掉重建，但并不这么做。

　　雅诗阁向市建局询问了保留工作的细节。不过，市建局还未决定是否在宪报上公布亚洲保险大厦为受保留建筑。

　　市建局发言人回答本报询问时说，它正同雅诗阁合作，目前还在商讨细节问题，以期达到双赢解决方案来保留亚洲保险大厦。

　　他说：“在开始的那几年，受保留的建筑大部分是代表本地早期发展的店屋。我们的保留工作是持续渐进的，以平衡发展需求和建筑遗产。我们将继续研究是否要保留这些建筑类型。”

　　亚洲保险大厦是原籍中国广东省的富商李亮琪所建。李亮琪以经营水火保险起家，1948年创设亚洲人寿保险有限公司，业绩可观，并在1953年策划兴建一座全新加坡最高的建筑物。

兴建期间正好碰上英女王伊丽莎白二世登基大典，兴建中的大厦也“戴”上王冠以示庆祝。大厦在1956年落成，定名亚洲保险大厦，成为东南亚最高建筑。
　　建筑特色包括与众不同的线条美和阶梯形楼顶。楼顶现在还有象征皇冠的结构，纪念当年英女王伊丽莎白二世的加冕礼。

　　市建局对于雅诗阁保留亚洲保险大厦的决定表示赞赏。发言人说：“我们感到很受鼓舞，雅诗阁是一家很有启发性的发展商，以保留建筑遗产为荣，勇于接受挑战把新加坡中央商业区内一块瑰宝转变成能够加强该公司业务的高品质产品。”

　　市建局也向雅诗阁提供必要的协助如取得旧建筑的防火执照和设计等，同时也让雅诗阁了解当局在保留旧店屋方面的做法。

I used to do temp work in the Asia Insurance building for a couple of months. They have antique brass bits in the building, especially the brass letter chute thing. The ceiling height is suprisingly low (like HDB).

Managed to get to the open rooftop once and saw a lovely and relaxing sea view from there.

I do hope they can be officially given conservation status.

btw I think in line with URA's efforts to encourage buildings downtown to install lighting features, I saw that the old Bank of China building is now sporting lighting which really enhance its features.

really beautiful

That's great news!!!

They say AI is Art Deco??? :?:?:?

i think it meant that the AIB design was influenced by modern movement and art deco...

I do hope they can be officially given conservation status.

btw I think in line with URA's efforts to encourage buildings downtown to install lighting features, I saw that the old Bank of China building is now sporting lighting which really enhance its features.

really beautiful

hmm got pictures?

nope :P

nope :P

:(

Managed to get to the open rooftop once and saw a lovely and relaxing sea view from there.

not any more! Hmm.. that makes me wonder, how high-end can a service apartment be if all the rooms are facing skyscrapers 20m away...

not any more! Hmm.. that makes me wonder, how high-end can a service apartment be if all the rooms are facing skyscrapers 20m away...

The windows facing the alley are worse... the other building is just like 6m away and much taller than AI.

This building and its setting somehow seems so New-York.....the marketing gimmick and Raffles Place location - it can be high end

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/AI0911.jpg

This building and its setting somehow seems so New-York.....the marketing gimmick and Raffles Place location - it can be high end

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/AI0911.jpg

Raffles City, you have made Raffles Place like Manhattan in
NYC!

nice job!

Thanks...but Shenton Way is really Shenton Way because of the density of wall of skyscrapers :)

Really wonder how it will be converted, specially so many windows are facing the alley.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/asiarep.jpg

I love both of those buildings, some wonderful art deco architecture there.

I suggest that Raffles City also has a look at the old Afro Asia Building at the junction of Cecil Street and Maccullum St - it is the former Nanyang Siangpau newspaper HQ, and a really cool low rise International Style Modern building.....

Its not quite Manhattan, but looks more like some cool office block from maybe 1950s Milan street..

I really hope it will be conserved. :cry:

I agree that the Afro-Asia has a simple elegance to it....a few years ago before I looked at old pics of the city I wouldnt have thought the building worthy of conservation....but its design is really a reflection of its time, and there are not many of its type left in the CBD

Its neighbour, the Crosby House will be demolished...

hehe...it is unlikely, but there are also some old school buildings near Capital Tower

For me, I don't feel conserving these buildings will do any benefit, lol.

Ascott's new serviced apartments to be group's most expensive in Asia

25 Apr 07

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpejNl0Y.jpg

SINGAPORE: The Ascott Group's first ever serviced apartments in Singapore's Central Business District will also be one of its most expensive.

Slated for completion in the third quarter of 2008, the new Ascott Raffles Place will offer room rates starting at S$500 a night - second only to the group's properties in London.

The new Ascott Raffles Place will be housed in the historic Asia Insurance Building, at the corner of Raffles Quay and Finlayson Green.

Ascott is pumping some S$60 million to turn the 57-year-old office tower into a 154-unit luxury serviced apartment.

It is counting on the prime location, as well as views of Marina Bay and the upcoming integrated resort, to bring in the paying customers.

"Our published rates will be about $500 to $600 that we're looking at. We believe that Singapore rates are relatively low, and could actually move up. Singapore is now transforming itself into a global city, but the rates themselves in Singapore are among the lowest. It is in fact the lowest within the market that we're talking about, so there is tremendous opportunity for rate movement within Singapore," says CEO of The Ascott Group, Cameron Ong.

Ascott Raffles Place will feature an infinity pool on the rooftop, as well as an 80-seater French gourmet restaurant run by the Saint Julien group.

Much of the facade of the original building will be conserved, and Ascott is hoping that this touch of history will add to the attraction.

"What Ascott is trying to do is to bring back the old glory, to bring back the old charm. This building has its beauty. And what we would like to do is to restore it back to its originality. And bring back many modern amenities, and at the same time provide deluxe accommodations for business travellers who are coming for an extended stay in Singapore," says Mr Ong.

Ascott, a unit of property giant CapitaLand, paid S$110 million to buy the building from original owners, Asia Life Assurance, last year.


By Daryl Loo, Channel NewsAsia

Pity the rooms facing into the alley...

Manhattan lifestyle :lol:

but are there windows on the other sides?

Manhattan lifestyle :lol:

but are there windows on the other sides?

It has... http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/picas/data/tn_pcd/19980002137-8515-3111-0227/img0009.jpg

:(

Would this be the tallest building conserved so far?

Ascott Raffles Place makes 50 units available first

7 Aug 08

THE plush Ascott Raffles Place, the former Asia Insurance Building (AIB), had a soft opening yesterday, with its owner, the Ascott Group, making 50 units available.

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2008-08-07/BT_IMAGES_LASERVICE.jpg

The remaining units of the 146-unit premium serviced residence project will be ready by its official launch set for October.

An Ascott press statement yesterday said the property, a national heritage building and South-east Asia's tallest tower in the 1950s, was restored at a cost of $60 million.

It will be equipped with meeting rooms, WiFi connectivity, an infinity pool, jacuzzis, a fully equipped gymnasium, a fitness studio, a lounge bar and a fine-dining restaurant by award-winning Julien Bompard.

Ascott Raffles Place, situated within walking distance of the Raffles Place Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station, is also close to a wide range of restaurants, cafes, pubs, shopping outlets and the upcoming Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.

The property is the latest addition to The Ascott Group's seven serviced residences in Singapore, including Citadines Mount Sophia, which will open in 2009.

AIB was the first modern highrise office building erected in Singapore after World War II. It symbolised Singapore's development as an important financial hub, and is one of the few remaining highrise buildings from the 1950s.

The property was designed by Dr Ng Keng Siang, the first Singaporean member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. The 52-year-old landmark was gazetted as a conservation building by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in April 2007.

Grand! :cool: I'm glad the building is being saved for adaptive reuse. :)

Any news about the Bank of China building yet? To me it's the more Art Deco looking of the two, and I surely hope it will meet a similarly kind fate as AIB. :angel1:

Havent heard anything concerning it, but it should definitely be conserved or at least remain status quo. Actually, the absence of any news is also good in a sense :D

Anyway, I find that the recent refurbishment and reuse of the AI Building does more to highlight its historical significance than would have been the case if it just remained as an old and ageing office block.

Here are some pics I took of its new lighting scheme.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/ai.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/ai2.jpg

What happened to the airwell

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl1XQ2ipBJU

An old vid shot from the AI. Looks like Penang

Some reminders from 50+ years ago:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3401/3584661635_02308d859c_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/3584661247_fe4a59a1b2_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/3585468200_187a0ffedd_o.jpg

That looks great! Is anyone brave enough to wander inside and get some sneaky pics of the lobby and other areas? Just dress in smart clothes and act like you own the place!

Well there is a restaurant there if one needs a pretext :P

Anyway there are some good perspectives from inside the building on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=ascott+raffles+place

Here are some old pics from the National Archives:

http://202.172.178.226/DJVUServer/getImage.jsp?file=/picas_data/tn_pcd/19980005142-8073-3222-0227/img0110.jpg

http://202.172.178.226/DJVUServer/getImage.jsp?file=/picas_data/tn_pcd/19980006568-8105-3181-0776/img0015.jpg

http://202.172.178.226/DJVUServer/getImage.jsp?file=/picas_data/tn_pcd/19980005861-8120-3181-2494/img0013.jpg

http://202.172.178.226/DJVUServer/getImage.jsp?file=/picas_data/tn_pcd/19980005137-8073-3222-0225/img0096.jpg

What occupies the top floor?

Old pic when it was still an office
http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/6460/genimage.jpg

^^

Good angle there. This pic by lifestyle-1881 gives a glimpse of what the rooftop has been converted into.

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/541452154_ZfGrG-L.jpg

I think had it been in silver frames with white glass, it would suit the design better. What's at the top floor?

the swimming pool view is impressive....even better when OFC is up.

I think had it been in silver frames with white glass, it would suit the design better. What's at the top floor?

Looks like a jacuzzi, perhaps?

Whats the crown on the old picture? Any idea what was the building before? An ER stand for?

ER stands for Elizabeth Regina, put up to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 2

Yes, every British monarch has an initial known as the cypher. ER stands for "Elizabeth Regina" and "Regina" means queen in Latin. If the crown was put up for the celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, then the picture must have been taken in June 1953?

And interestingly, the picture shows the old crown that belonged to George VI, the current queen's father. It is more round, while the queen's crown is more sharp. Well, the current crown only came into use in 1954 or 1955.

Also, the cypher should be EIIR instead, because ER was the cypher of Queen Elizabeth The First, the daughter of Henry VIII.

Taken during the facelift time...
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/559233124_JUdRT-XL.jpg

I think that's 1 Finlayson Green, the office block behind it.

I saw the real crown last week and man it was amazing. It is at the jewel house in London Bridge fort.http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g42/mhcampboy/monarchy_pop_crown1.jpg

Good to hear about the progress with the AIB, thanks for the continuing reports. :)

Seeing the old photo from the National Archives one gets a totally different feeling of the building:

http://202.172.178.226/DJVUServer/getImage.jsp?file=/picas_data/tn_pcd/19980005142-8073-3222-0227/img0110.jpg

Up there, without its much taller modern day neighbors close by, the building somehow seems much wider than it appears now:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/ai2.jpg

17June09

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/566510350_vKmqT-XL.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/566524446_NPpSA-XL.jpg