148-year-old Orchard Road Presbyterian Church proposed for conservation status

Lianhe Zaobao, 148年教堂乌节路长老会拟列为受保留建筑

(Summarised translation)

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) plans to designate the main building of the nearly 150-year-old Orchard Road Presbyterian Church as a conserved building.

Associate Professor Yeo Kang Shua from the Singapore University of Technology and Design’s Architecture and Sustainable Design pillar, noted that Orchard Road Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest surviving church buildings in Singapore. Despite later extensions, its basic form and religious function have been preserved. He believes the building should have received legal protection earlier, and even be designated a National Monument.

“The window design beneath the dome of the main building is a classic example of the Neo-Palladian style, which was very popular locally in the mid-to-late 19th century. The façade also incorporates elements of Italian Neo-Renaissance architecture, enhancing the building’s overall architectural value,” he said.