The Ministry of National Development is "seriously considering how to create townships for foreign workers which are sustainable and self-contained". Foreign Minister George Yeo said this to reporters at a community event on Sunday. Foreign workers come under the spot light, after an announcement of plans to turn the former Serangoon Gardens Technical School in Burghley Drive into a hostel for 1,000...
General
Building an Icon British-based Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid is a force to reckon with. From the DNA-inspired sci-fi futurism of Singapore’s Biopolis to the deconstructionism of Cincinnati’s Contemporary Arts Centre, Hadid has created sculptures out of buildings. So when CapitaLand announced in July 2008 that the renowned architect will be designing its seven 36-storey apartment blocks worth S$3 billion...
DESPITE the sluggish economy, downtown office rentals show no sign of budging from high, with multi-nationals seemingly largely unfazed by top dollar demands for prime space. Yesterday, office landlord CapitaCommercial Trust (CCT) announced that mining giant BHP Billiton had renewed its lease at Capital Towers, while JPMorgan Chase expanded its premises by one-and-a-half floors in the same...
Singapore's first heritage house, showcasing Peranakan lifestyle and culture, officially opened its doors Thursday evening, and gracing the occasion were President S R Nathan and Mrs Nathan. The 150-year-old Baba House was previously home to highly-respected Peranakan community leader, Tan Cheng Lock, who was president of the Malayan Chinese Association from 1949 to 1958. It was acquired by the National...
Australia's James Cook University opened its US$3.5 million campus at Upper Thompson on Thursday. It has plans to double its student enrolment in Singapore to more than 2,500 students by the end of next year. When James Cook University first opened in Singapore in 2003, it had 50 students. Now, it has 1,200, of whom about 60 per cent are foreign. This stands as a stark contrast to the University of New...
But analysts divided over 2010 ‘nightmare scenario’ DESPITE healthy profits reported for subsales in the first seven months of the year, there seems to be an uneasy air looming over the property market - in particular, the slowing mid- and high-end residential segments - these days. The coffeeshop chatter found its way into public discourse last month when Wing Tai Holdings’ chairman Mr Cheng Wai...
Revamp of Jurong East could translate into high resale prices for property there UNLIKE Jurong West, which boasts over 70,000 homes, Jurong East has always been viewed as a rather sleepy estate with just over 22,000 homes. Even neighbouring Bukit Batok and Clementi have over 32,000 and 24,000 homes respectively. Other than the Singapore Science Centre and Chinese Gardens, there was not much going for...
The National Development Ministry has said the location of temporary dormitories is limited by the available choices of vacant state buildings. It tries to avoid housing foreign workers in residential areas and seeks residents' understanding and support if some dormitories are located near their homes. The ministry said this in response to Channel NewsAsia's query after residents of Serangoon Gardens...
Foreign Minister George Yeo said the temporary dormitory proposal at Burghley Drive, where Serangoon Garden Technical School used to be located, is at a preliminary stage. Mr Yeo, who is also an Aljunied GRC MP, was speaking to Serangoon Garden residents at a dialogue on Wednesday. He said the residents' concerns are legitimate and he will pass their feedback to the Ministry of National Development and...
Where the present exudes a seamless flow of indomitable class, its sense of legend to its past is a continuum of prestige. While the transformation breathes new life and style, the Butterfly House still retains its most endearing expressions. This unique historical and architectural interest, designed by Regent Alfred John Bidwell with a "butterfly" style was an artistic innovation. Like his other...