Bukit Timah Railway Station restoration in Singapore receives top Heritage Award

Landscape architect Grant Associates is part of a multi-disciplinary team led by Kay Ngee Tan Architects to have been honoured with the top award in Singapore’s 2024 Architectural Heritage Awards (AHA) for its work restoring the historic Bukit Timah Railway Station.

The Architectural Heritage Awards were established in 1995 by Singapore government’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to recognise exceptional restoration projects which enrich Singapore’s built heritage landscape.

Minister for National Development Mr Desmond Lee conferred 5 awards, with the restoration of Bukit Timah Railway Station singled out for the top Distinction Award thanks to its integration of heritage, nature, and community. The jury acknowledged the landscape’s pivotal role in creating a cohesive, spatial experience.

From a landscape design perspective, the project brief challenged Grant Associates to harmonize heritage with nature. Throughout the design and construction, the approach was both aspirational and pragmatic, carefully curating existing planting and introducing native vegetation to complement the heritage architecture. The goal was to frame perspectives and to create lush green backdrops with the green edges defining an enchanting central open space for the community. The project embodies ‘Heritage in Nature’—a living expression of Singapore’s vision for ‘a City in Nature’.

Wherever possible, existing plants were preserved, regardless of species or form. At the entrance a horizontally growing Acacia intertwines with other trees, creating a rustic, welcoming entrance. Near the Old Railway Staff Quarters, a majestic Ficus drapes its roots over old bricks and tiles, naturally screening the building from a nearby condominium. Existing Oil Palms add texture and contrast, and a lone coconut palm stands charmingly out of place among a row of Terminalia catappa, one of which has a noticeable tilt. These unique imperfections bring richness and authenticity to the landscape.

Some plants naturally re-emerged after selective clearing during construction. Alocasia, a spontaneous addition, was preserved or transplanted to suitable spots

Grant Associates also introduced new native species to fill gaps, with 1950s-60s era flowers gracing the Staff Quarters’ front garden. A spice and herb garden was added at the rear, while further from the heritage buildings, a native planting palette enhances the natural aesthetic and biodiversity.

Stefaan Lambreghts, Associate Director at Grant Associates, comments:

“The continuous vegetation unifies the site, evoking past memories, while diverse textures, green hues, accents, and plant groupings bring spatial variation and depth. We did not seek to recreate a strict historical planting scheme at Bukit Timah; instead, we curated and enhanced the existing landscape, achieving a rustic charm. The result is an ‘instant landscape’ that has grown even wilder and more vibrant over two years.”

Bukit Timah Railway Station continues to attract a diverse mix of visitors: heritage enthusiasts, nature lovers, community groups, fitness fans, photographers, café patrons, and more. The seamless harmony between heritage and nature at Bukit Timah Railway Station is designed to captivate all visitors, offering a unique experience that deepens appreciation for each heritage building and structure.

Ends

Editors notes

Grant Associates is a pioneering international landscape architecture practice, whose work reconnects people with nature in insightful, delightful and distinctive ways whilst addressing the global challenges of urbanisation, the climate crisis and biodiversity extinction. Grant Associates’ design process is underpinned by a knowledge of human behaviour, nature and ecological science combined with innovative design technology. The practice combines original thinking, creative collaboration and regenerative design to breathe new life into our cities and landscapes.