House this for history?

April 26, 2008

House this for history?

This clubhouse's glass panels and timber fittings are from the 1900s, and have been restored to look as good as new

By Sariwati Latif

PROGRESS is inevitable. But when it encompasses the best of the past, it becomes special. That is what has happened at The Sea View condominium, where a bungalow built in the early 1900s has been restored and put into use as the clubhouse of Wheelock Properties' new development.

The building, once owned by brothers Joseph Aaron and Ezra Aaron Elias, now has two games and entertainment rooms on the ground floor and function rooms on the second level.

Coming from a family of property speculators and brokers, Joseph ran a bottled water business and the now-defunct Malaya Tribune newspaper.

Back then, the bungalow was an annexe to their main mansion. It was later used as a storeroom by the Seaview Hotel in the 1990s.

Wheelock spent $1.3 million on the restoration works, which were carried out by RSP Architects Planners & Engineers. These included sprucing up many of the original fittings - the panoramic stained-glass panels above the grand entrance, the timber interior such as the stairs and the intricately designed cast-iron railing on the verandahs.

These elements have been restored in accordance with the Urban Redevelopment Authority's guidelines on conservation areas.

While some parts were not restored as they were not in good condition and could raise safety issues, Wheelock Properties has attempted to recreate some floor designs to resemble the original.

When asked why the bungalow was chosen to be restored, Wheelock Properties director Tan Bee Kim said: 'The architecture of the house epitomises the charming character of the Katong area and we felt strongly that retaining this piece of historical grandeur will heighten residents' enjoyment of The Sea View.'





AS GOOD AS NEW: The panoramic glass panels (far left) at the grand entrance (middle) and the timber flooring (left) at the second- floor's sitting area are among the $1.3-million restoration works done on the bungalow, which is now The Sea View's clubhouse.