27 Turf City heritage structures could be kept, including two grandstands

Studies done to redevelop site sensitively; most of the two forested areas there to stay

- Ng Keng Gene

One building has stood the test of time, surviving World War II in the 1940s and hosting Queen Elizabeth II in 1972.

The other is an icon of post-independence architecture in Singapore, its striking cantilevered roof the largest of its kind in the country.

Once holding up to 60,000 spectators in total, the 1933-built South Grandstand and the 1981-built North Grandstand which stand in stark contrast beside each other at the former Bukit Timah Turf City could together be the centrepiece of a neighbourhood in a future housing estate at the old racecourse.

On May 23, National Development Minister Desmond Lee announced at the launch of an exhibition featuring plans for the Bukit Timah Turf City estate that the authorities will study retaining and adaptively reusing 27 heritage buildings and structures grouped in five clusters on the site - including the two grandstands.

The study follows a heritage impact assessment (HIA) that was carried out as part of planning processes for the site. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) was also conducted.

The studies were done so that the site can be redeveloped sensitively, said Mr Lee, adding that most of two forested areas near the former racecourse - Bukit Tinggi and Eng Neo Avenue Forest - will be retained.

The HIA, conducted by the National University of Singapore's Department of Architecture and heritage consultant Purcell, found the two grandstands to be of exceptional significance, indicating that they each make a major contribution to the overall significance of the former racecourse.