Asia Insurance Building: Difference between revisions
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The former '''Asia Insurance Building''' ({{zh|s=前亚洲保险大厦|p=qián Yàzhōu Bǎoxiǎn dàshà}}) is a [[high-rise]] [[building]] formerly for [[Commerce|commercial]] use, located on [[Finlayson Green]] near [[Raffles Place]], in [[Singapore]]'s [[Downtown Core]]. The Asia Insurance Building was also known as the '''A.I. Building''', but was renamed to '''Ascott Raffles Place''' after the [[Ascott Group]] (a division of [[CapitaLand]]) completed its redevelopment of the building into a [[serviced apartment]] [[House|residence]] in November 2008. |
The former '''Asia Insurance Building''' ({{zh|s=前亚洲保险大厦|p=qián Yàzhōu Bǎoxiǎn dàshà}}) is a [[high-rise]] [[building]] formerly for [[Commerce|commercial]] use, located on [[Finlayson Green]] near [[Raffles Place]], in [[Singapore]]'s [[Downtown Core]]. The Asia Insurance Building was also known as the '''A.I. Building''', but was renamed to '''Ascott Raffles Place''' after the [[Ascott Group]] (a division of [[CapitaLand]]) completed its redevelopment of the building into a [[serviced apartment]] [[House|residence]] in November 2008. The 20-storey office building, which has a total gross floor area of about 13,900 square metres (about 150,000 sq ft), sits on a 999-year leasehold site with an area of about 950 square metres (about 10,200 sq ft). |
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==History== |
==History== |
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===Early history=== |
===Early history=== |
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The site was previously occupied by the [[Union Insurance of Canton]]. In 1924, the company vacated and moved to its own building on Collyer Quay. After the relocation, the site was then occupied by the South British Insurance Company before the building was demolished to make way for Asia Insurance Building. |
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Its completion in 1955 marked Singapore's emergence as a regional financial powerhouse. The building become an unchallenged tallest building in South-east Asia through the 50s and was a prominent feature of Singapore's heritage coastal-scape. With 20 storeys and at 87 metres, it beat Cathay Building to be the tallest building in Singapore until Shaw Centre was completed in 1958. |
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| ⚫ | |||
The Asia Insurance Building was named after its former namesake occupant, [[Asia Insurance]], which is a Singaporean company incorporated on 11 July 1923. |
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| ⚫ | At the heart of a blossoming financial center, it was home to one of the first local insurance companies in Singapore. Still bearing the 3-tier crown built to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, this monument graces a busy thoroughfare with its elegant presence. The building was initially designed as a high rise building for commercial use, however, it has since been redeveloped into a serviced apartment after being acquired by Ascott Group in 2006. |
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===Acquisition=== |
===Acquisition=== |
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In July 2006, the Ascott Group, an international [[serviced residence]] owner-operator, [[Purchase|acquired]] the Asia Insurance Building for [[S$]]109.5 million. The building was [[Building restoration|restored]], and RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (pte) Ltd was engaged to convert it into serviced apartments for [[business travel]]lers. The new Ascott Raffles Place will be a 146-unit serviced apartment residence that opened in November 2008. It is Ascott Group's only [[real property]] under its luxury-[[Premium segment|premium]] "Ascott" name in Singapore, with rates at S$500 to S$600 a night. |
In July 2006, the Ascott Group, an international [[serviced residence]] owner-operator, [[Purchase|acquired]] the Asia Insurance Building for [[S$]]109.5 million. The building was [[Building restoration|restored]], and RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (pte) Ltd was engaged to convert it into serviced apartments for [[business travel]]lers. The new Ascott Raffles Place will be a 146-unit serviced apartment residence that opened in November 2008. It is Ascott Group's only [[real property]] under its luxury-[[Premium segment|premium]] "Ascott" name in Singapore, with rates at S$500 to S$600 a night. |
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===Timeline=== |
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1953: Foundation stone for the building was laid by Commissioner-General Malcolm MacDonald. |
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1955: Construction of building completed with Asia Insurance as its anchor tenant. |
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2006: Building acquired by Ascott Group for $110 million, and renamed as Ascott Singapore. |
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2007: Gazetted for conservation. |
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2008: Reopened as serviced apartments. |
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2009: Won the URA's Architectural Heritage Award. |
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==Architecture== |
==Architecture== |
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Design by Ng Keng Seng, a Singaporean pioneer architect and a member of Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Ng is known for his eclectic style and the Art Deco skyscraper was a symbol of the nation rising up from the ashes of World War 2. Ng demonstrated a quantum leap in the architectural field by successfully marring the tenets of the Modern Art Deco Movement with local influences. |
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The building has a L-shaped facade with rows of windows, and a concrete crown on the tip of the building. The tripartite division of the façade features the atrium base, the main levels and the concrete crown. The Art Deco-style skyscraper was clad in travertine and topped by a crown. The building's three-tiered stainless steel crown is designed to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953. |
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| ⚫ | Other distinctive architectural features include a brass mail chute where mail could be dropped at a high point and collected at a central depository, a mosaic staircase with timber railing, a black granite five foot way around the perimeter of the building, and two Nero Portaro black granite Colonnades at the front. All these features, including the building façade and crown, will be conserved at a cost of S$60 million with the development of Ascott Raffles Place. Hirsch Bedner Associates, a hospitality design firm is commissioned to design the interior of the suites. |
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==Restoration and Conservation== |
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The building was gazetted for conservation on 18 April 2007. New owners, Ascott Group recognised the potential of the building to be conserved and turned into upscale serviced suites. URA worked with the project architect to determine how the building could be reconfigured and additional spaces added at the roof without detracting from the original architecture. |
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The restoration kept many of the original design features such as the original travertine stone cladding, antiquated window frames, brass mail chute and ornamental staircase railings. A significant portion of the facade that are cladded with Italian Tavertine have been pin-strengthened and restored to recapture as much possible the creaminess and tonality of the original stone. The existing Italian Nero stone along the five footway that has undergone significant fading over the decades have been diamond-poloshed to regain the deep black richness of the original stone. The corner pinnacle at the very top of the building that is made of stainless steel has been repolished to recapture its gloss. The antiquated window frame with brass handles that required sensitive repair and restoration were replaced with modern, high-performance glass. |
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The building has a L-shaped [[façade]] with rows of [[window]]s, and a [[concrete]] [[Crown (headgear)|crown]] on its top. In 1955, to celebrate the [[coronation]] of [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|Queen]] [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom]], a colossal [[banner]] was put up on the building's façade, and [[Light fixture|light]]s were decked out on the crown. |
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The careful and elegant restoration of the structure gives exuberance to this elegant building. This suggests show thoughtful conservation efforts can give old buildings a new lease of life with a sustainable future. |
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| ⚫ | Other distinctive architectural features include a |
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==Media== |
==Media== |
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Revision as of 14:57, 2 February 2019
| Ascott Raffles Place | |
|---|---|
前亚洲保险大厦 | |
 | |
 | |
| Former names | Asia Insurance Building |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed 1954, reopened November 2008 |
| Type | Residential |
| Architectural style | High-rise |
| Location | Downtown Core, Singapore |
| Coordinates | 1°16′55″N 103°51′05″E / 1.28194°N 103.85139°E |
| Owner | Ascott Group |
| Management | Ascott Group |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 20 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Ng Keng Siang |
The former Asia Insurance Building (Chinese: 前亚洲保险大厦; pinyin: qián Yàzhōu Bǎoxiǎn dàshà) is a high-rise building formerly for commercial use, located on Finlayson Green near Raffles Place, in Singapore's Downtown Core. The Asia Insurance Building was also known as the A.I. Building, but was renamed to Ascott Raffles Place after the Ascott Group (a division of CapitaLand) completed its redevelopment of the building into a serviced apartment residence in November 2008. The 20-storey office building, which has a total gross floor area of about 13,900 square metres (about 150,000 sq ft), sits on a 999-year leasehold site with an area of about 950 square metres (about 10,200 sq ft).
History
Early history
The site was previously occupied by the Union Insurance of Canton. In 1924, the company vacated and moved to its own building on Collyer Quay. After the relocation, the site was then occupied by the South British Insurance Company before the building was demolished to make way for Asia Insurance Building.
Its completion in 1955 marked Singapore's emergence as a regional financial powerhouse. The building become an unchallenged tallest building in South-east Asia through the 50s and was a prominent feature of Singapore's heritage coastal-scape. With 20 storeys and at 87 metres, it beat Cathay Building to be the tallest building in Singapore until Shaw Centre was completed in 1958.
At the heart of a blossoming financial center, it was home to one of the first local insurance companies in Singapore. Still bearing the 3-tier crown built to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, this monument graces a busy thoroughfare with its elegant presence. The building was initially designed as a high rise building for commercial use, however, it has since been redeveloped into a serviced apartment after being acquired by Ascott Group in 2006.
Acquisition
In July 2006, the Ascott Group, an international serviced residence owner-operator, acquired the Asia Insurance Building for S$109.5 million. The building was restored, and RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (pte) Ltd was engaged to convert it into serviced apartments for business travellers. The new Ascott Raffles Place will be a 146-unit serviced apartment residence that opened in November 2008. It is Ascott Group's only real property under its luxury-premium "Ascott" name in Singapore, with rates at S$500 to S$600 a night.
Timeline
1953: Foundation stone for the building was laid by Commissioner-General Malcolm MacDonald.
1955: Construction of building completed with Asia Insurance as its anchor tenant.
2006: Building acquired by Ascott Group for $110 million, and renamed as Ascott Singapore.
2007: Gazetted for conservation.
2008: Reopened as serviced apartments.
2009: Won the URA's Architectural Heritage Award.
Architecture
Design by Ng Keng Seng, a Singaporean pioneer architect and a member of Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Ng is known for his eclectic style and the Art Deco skyscraper was a symbol of the nation rising up from the ashes of World War 2. Ng demonstrated a quantum leap in the architectural field by successfully marring the tenets of the Modern Art Deco Movement with local influences.
The building has a L-shaped facade with rows of windows, and a concrete crown on the tip of the building. The tripartite division of the façade features the atrium base, the main levels and the concrete crown. The Art Deco-style skyscraper was clad in travertine and topped by a crown. The building's three-tiered stainless steel crown is designed to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953.
Other distinctive architectural features include a brass mail chute where mail could be dropped at a high point and collected at a central depository, a mosaic staircase with timber railing, a black granite five foot way around the perimeter of the building, and two Nero Portaro black granite Colonnades at the front. All these features, including the building façade and crown, will be conserved at a cost of S$60 million with the development of Ascott Raffles Place. Hirsch Bedner Associates, a hospitality design firm is commissioned to design the interior of the suites.
Restoration and Conservation
The building was gazetted for conservation on 18 April 2007. New owners, Ascott Group recognised the potential of the building to be conserved and turned into upscale serviced suites. URA worked with the project architect to determine how the building could be reconfigured and additional spaces added at the roof without detracting from the original architecture.
The restoration kept many of the original design features such as the original travertine stone cladding, antiquated window frames, brass mail chute and ornamental staircase railings. A significant portion of the facade that are cladded with Italian Tavertine have been pin-strengthened and restored to recapture as much possible the creaminess and tonality of the original stone. The existing Italian Nero stone along the five footway that has undergone significant fading over the decades have been diamond-poloshed to regain the deep black richness of the original stone. The corner pinnacle at the very top of the building that is made of stainless steel has been repolished to recapture its gloss. The antiquated window frame with brass handles that required sensitive repair and restoration were replaced with modern, high-performance glass.
The careful and elegant restoration of the structure gives exuberance to this elegant building. This suggests show thoughtful conservation efforts can give old buildings a new lease of life with a sustainable future.
Media
The building was featured in the Singaporean TV Series 'Listen to our walls' in 2009 on Channel 5.
References
- "Singapore Infopedia: Asia Insurance Building". National Library Board. Archived from the original on 4 July 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-29.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - Tay Suan Chiang (28 July 2007). "Relive the style of a bygone era". The Straits Times.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "GAGAL HOME AND HOSPITALITY SERVICE LLP". Gagal Home. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-14.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - "The Ascott Group Boosts Singapore Presence with Two Citadines and a Luxurious 'All Suites' Ascott". Ascott Group. Archived from the original on November 19, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-28.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)
