Singapore City Gallery Free Public Talks & Free Guided Heritage Tour

26 May 2007

6.5 million: Growing Singapore, Planning Ahead (19.5.07)
In conjunction with "International Museum Day", Singapore City Gallery organized a free public talk on 19.5.07, and another free public talk and a free guided heritage tour and 26.5.07. I get to know these events incidentally, while on my routine visit to Singapore City Gallery on 10.5.07 and I immediately signed up for the talk on "6.5 million: Growing Singapore, Planning Ahead".

Content of the talk proper is pretty average, considering the fact that I had already knew so much of these information from past exhibitions and my own research. However, huge credits must be awarded to the presenter Ms Carol Lim, Public Relations Manager from URA Corporate Development Division, who is capable of making the talk lively and yet professional.

I think the most interesting part about this talk would be the Q&A session. Ms Carol Lim patiently answered every question raised. After the Q&A session officially ended, I get to ask Ms Carol Lim and her colleagues more (difficult) questions in person. It is through the Q&A sessions that I obtained satisfactory answers for many life-long questions that had been in my mind. Furthermore, Ms Carol Lim offers to help me with other questions that I cannot recall on site. I would really like to thank Ms Carol Lim and her colleagues for their answers and assistance offered.

Understand Heritage Buildings: More than a Façade (26.5.07)
Benefiting much from the previous talk "6.5 million: Growing Singapore, Planning Ahead", I decided to attend the second talk "Understanding Heritage Buildings: More than a Façade".

Like its predecessor, content of the talk proper covers little technical aspects. But the presenter, Mr Kelvin Ang, Senior Architect from URA, shared tons of personal experiences and opinions on conservation. Mr Kelvin Ang juxtaposed photos of good and bad conservation effort. Mr Kelvin Ang is also humorous in his presentation.

I totally agree with Mr Kelvin Ang that painting the brick façade completely destroyed the beautiful pattern layout and characteristic of the brickworks. It also murdered the identity of the building. Bricks are used in façade for its unique charm and low maintenance required. Painting these bricks actually increases maintenance fees and labour work, as paint needs to be refurnished after a period of time.

After the talk ended, I have the chance to consult Mr Kelvin for places worth visiting. Mr Kelvin recommended some places that had not being restored, which fulfilled my criteria for nostalgic places.

Singapore City Gallery Free Guided Heritage Tour (26.5.07)
After the "Understanding Heritage Buildings: More than a Façade" ended, I spent some time answering the "Know the Central Area Model" Quiz, which I won a Veneer Bookmark. After waiting for a short while, the 2nd slot of the free guided heritage tour "Street of the Red Chambers" finally kicked off.

On the way to our destination Bukit Pasoh, the tour guide provided detailed explanation on Kadayanallur Street, Fairfield Methodist Church and Jinriksha Station. Highlights of this tour began after crossing Neil Road to Teck Lim Road. After a long stroll along Keong Saik Road, we visited a family-run Chinese temple, before heading towards Duxton Plain Park. After walking for 2h, the tour ended at the New Majestic Hotel.

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