A Butterfly Without Wings

Yes, that’s probably what we’d get at Number 23, Amber Road in Katong, should everything proceed as planned, for AG Capital Pte Ltd to erect a monster of a development in the place of the charming, romantic Butterfly House that now occupies the site.

According to HARP, the Historic Architecture Rescue Plan, Section 9(1) of the URA’s Planning Act Cap 232 gives discretion for a Minister to approve a proposal to amend the Master Plan to designate an area as a conservation area. The Minister may do so if he considers that the area is of “special architectural, historic, traditional or aesthetic interest�. It seems that this has fallen on somewhat half-deaf ears.

Half deaf, because they’ve decided to keep only half the building - one questions how the future building, post Frankenstein-ification, can even continue to be called the ‘Butterfly House’, since, according to the developer in question, “only a small portion of the Butterfly House comprising the porch and stairhall structure will be saved.� The proposal allows the developer to destroy the rest of the building, including the distinctive crescent portion which has given the house the nickname “the Butterfly House�.

It seems that commercial gain is the only form of motivation for developers these days. The current en-bloc fever has already taught us much, as numerous developments are set to face the wrecking ball, their only opposition presenting itself in the form of a rare-breed of owners and tenants, who would love nothing more than the status quo. In many cases, the developer wins. However, these seemingly heartless coups could be judged rationally – by deciding whether or not buildings have a place in Singapore’s architectural heritage – many don’t, but some are priceless and irreplaceable.

Take the Butterfly House for example. HARP lists many good reasons for keeping it:

•Historic buildings should be conserved as an integral structure (the URA Conservation Guidelines make this very clear).

•The porch and stairhall structure are integral to the structure of the Butterfly House, and do not “make sense� without the rest of the house.

•The crescent arms of the Butterfly House are what make it special and worth preserving.

•The crescent arms of the Butterfly House were designed by the architect to let in the sea breeze, to let in the light and to get the best view of the sea. The crescent arms allowed maximum enjoyment of the seaside location.

•The crescent wings are therefore in a real sense the raison d’etre of the Butterfly House. Without them, the entire context of the Butterfly House in its seaside location is lost.

•The Butterfly House was designed by Regent A J Bidwell, who was the architect who designed the Raffles Hotel, Victoria Concert House, Stamford House, the Chased-El Synagogue and the Goodwood Park Hotel.

•The Butterfly House is the only private residence designed by Bidwell in the “Butterfly Style”.
There are other buildings in the Butterfly Style in Singapore, but these are all public buildings which were built for a different purpose and with different considerations.

•The Butterfly House was built in 1912 and because of its age it should be saved.

•If the developer cannot be trusted to come up with a sympathetic proposal that preserves the character of the building, then perhaps it is time for the Government to step in and acquire the land.

•It would be a bold step, but this may be the only way to protect and preserve the building for the benefit of future generations of Singaporeans.

It would be hard to debate this list, let alone believe that the monstrosity that will replace the Butterfly House could summon similar criteria for preservation. Take another good look at the new proposal, and then glance back at the 23 Amber Road; and ask yourself if you’d really prefer to show your kids a 32 storey condominium, (with a stump of a colonial building at its base) instead of the last surviving piece of residential Butterfly Style architecture in Singapore. – FFW

All Images and Some text are taken from the HARP website.
Visit HARP NOW and find out how you can play your part to save 23 Amber Road!

JJ is the co-founder of 5ft Creatives and he is now a legal alien in the USA