A living laboratory for the study of heritage and conservation management in Singapore and the wider region has opened with a launch event held for invited guests and donors.
Housed in a century-old townhouse in Singapore's Blair Plain Conservation Area, the Architecture Conservation Laboratory (ArClab) will serve as a site for researchers, graduate students and built heritage professionals to conduct a wide range of teaching and research activities on sustainable development of the built environment.
Managed and operated by the Department of Architecture at the NUS College of Design and Engineering (CDE), the lab located at 141 Neil Road aims to become a new model for learning about the historic environment, building professional capacity to manage historical resources, and promoting historical and environmental studies.
Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration, graced the opening of ArClab held on November 14 as the Guest-of-Honour and toured a specially curated exhibition titled 'Heritage in Motion'
In a speech to invited guests he said: "Beyond providing opportunities to learn and research, I hope that ArClab can kickstart more conversations on the future of the built and cultural heritage in Singapore. Above all, we want to foster appreciation for our built heritage among the public and potentially even inspire future leaders in this area."
The house was donated to NUS earlier this year by the Portabella family, along with a gift of S$2million to support its repair and conservation work.
"We are deeply grateful to the Portabella family for their generous gift," said Professor Ho Puay Peng, Head of the NUS Department of Architecture and UNESCO Chair on Architectural Heritage Conservation and Management in Asia.
"The first of its kind in Southeast Asia, the ArClab aims to be an exemplar and pedagogical demonstration of sensitive repair and conservation, adaptive reuse of heritage, and sustainable management of the historic environment."
From left to right: Prof Ho Puay Peng, Head of the NUS Department of Architecture; Assoc Prof Daniel Chua, Vice Dean, Development, CDE; Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration; Prof Tan Eng Chye, NUS President; Mr Ricardo Jr Portabella, representative of the Portabella family; Prof Heng Chye Kiang, Deputy Dean, Research & Innovation, CDE
'Classroom in the city"
ArClab was established in January 2022 to achieve four key goals:
- augment the training capabilities of Singapore's building industry in built heritage conservation;
- develop innovative use of technologies to enhance conservation;
- conduct high-impact research into broader conservation issues;
- promote climate resilience and net-zero retrofit in historic buildings.
Over the next few years, ArClab will undertake the restoration of the house at 141 Neil Road, providing opportunities for both teaching and research.
The lab will be a dynamic "classroom in the city" for students taking graduate programmes and doctoral studies in built heritage management who will play a significant role in the repair and conservation works.
Students will learn and conduct research on areas such as traditional building materials and craftsmanship; the use of innovative technologies for repair works, energy efficiency and comfort; and net-zero retrofit in historic buildings. ArClab will also design and deliver advanced courses for professionals working in the field of built heritage.
Alongside this teaching, NUS researchers will carry out various projects, including conducting research, documentation and restoration of Singapore's heritage using innovative technologies such as 3D modelling.
Other research will explore developing an integrated approach for energy efficiency and net-zero retrofit of Singapore's historic buildings; testing and developing traditional building materials and techniques as well as using innovative technologies for conservation and repair works in the Singapore context; as well as tracking the impact of high-density urban surroundings on the microclimate of historic districts.
