Chee Guan Chiang House, also known as the Wellington House, is an abandoned bungalow on Grange Road in River Valley, Singapore. Built in 1938 for Chee Guan Chiang, the son of Chee Swee Cheng, it served as a guest house for several years before it was left vacant.
According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, the bungalow, which was designed in the Art Deco style, is "an excellent example of the 1930s Modern style in reinforced concrete - straightforward in character and pleasantly proportioned." [1] It was built with a "stylish, streamlined aesthetic." [2] The authority further states that the building is "noted for its generous and dramatically curved plan and walls", which are "juxtaposed" by both its roof, which is flat and made of concrete, as well as an additional service block at the back of the bungalow, which is "orthogonal" in shape. Aspects of the design may have been inspired by the De La Warr Pavilion in East Sussex, England. A garden, complete with a pavilion and planter boxes, was placed on the roof, making the bungalow an early example of a building in Singapore with such a feature. [1] The estate is around 100,000 sq ft large. [3]
The building features many windows, which curve along the building and are made of green-tinted and embossed glass to prevent the interior from being too bright and warm. The interior features a lot of terrazzo, which was a common feature of the interior of the buildings in Singapore at the time of the bungalow's construction, as well as a grand staircase. The ground floor features verandahs, which curve along the bungalow and are accompanied by decorative balustrades made of iron. The Urban Redevelopment Authority notes that these balustrades, which can also be found at the staircase, are "unusual", as they are "more reminiscent of the 1920s Art Noveau [ sic ] style." [1] According to the Singapore chapter of Docomomo International, the windows along the building's curve "form an undulating periphery so that each room could enjoy the fresh air and generous views of the garden." [2] The balustrades at the verandah feature the letters "WH", as does the grand staircase. The letters stand for the bungalow's name, Wellington House. [3] Another building on the estate, which is smaller in size, features a similar design to the bungalow but with timber flooring and walls made of concrete instead. [1]
The bungalow was completed in 1938 for Chee Guan Chiang, the son of banker Chee Swee Cheng, the first chairman of the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation, on land that was previously owned by merchant Low Kim Pong. [3] While the main building was under construction, Chee stayed in the smaller building. [4] It was designed by Ho Kwong Yew, who was "one of the leading architects of the Modern Movement in Singapore during the 1930s." [1] According to Docomomo, which listed the structure on its Modernist 100 list of "significant modernist buildings in Singapore", the bungalow was one of Ho's "definitive works." The listing further notes that it was "designed in anticipation of frequent parties with its grand staircase, splendid halls, and manicured lawns." [2] Allegedly, Chee named the Wellington House for "wealth and good luck." However, he was unable to move into the residence as he had suffered a stroke. He and his family fled Singapore soon after in 1941 due to World War II. [3]
The bungalow later served as a boarding house. In 1964, it was renamed the New Leonie Guest House. It became dilapidated not long after. In 1973, three of the buildings on the property, including the main bungalow, were acquired by Lee Tat Development, while the last was acquired by the Grange Heights condominium, whose contractors began using the bungalow's road to access the building it had acquired. This led to a legal dispute, in which Lee Tat Development claimed that the contractors did not have the right to use the road, which lasted several decades. Although it was initially ruled in the contractors' favour in 2005, an overturning of the ruling in 2008 led to Lee Tat Development winning the case, after which they unsuccessfully appealed for compensation from the contractors. [5] The case set a record with six decisions from the Court of Appeal of Singapore. [6] Sometime after 2015, iron gates and warning signs were installed around the property to prevent trespassing. In 2007, it was reported that the property was worth around $425 million. It was gazetted for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority on 23 May 2008. [1] According to architects Ho Weng Hin, Dinesh Naidu and Tan Kar Lin, the bungalow is a "popular haunt for photography buffs." [7] Time Out writes that the interior is "overrun by trees and graffiti." [8]
The Housing & Development Board, is a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development responsible for the public housing in Singapore. Established in 1960 as a result of efforts in the late 1950s to set up an authority to take over the Singapore Improvement Trust's (SIT) public housing responsibilities, the HDB focused on the construction of emergency housing and the resettlement of kampong residents into public housing in the first few years of its existence.
The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), also known as the Singapore National Trades Union Congress (SNTUC) internationally, is the sole national trade union centre in Singapore. NTUC leads the labour movement of Singapore, comprising 59 affiliated trade unions, 5 affiliated trade associations, 6 social enterprises, 6 related organisations and other enterprise partners.
The Singapore Conference Hall, formerly the Singapore Conference Hall and Trade Union House, is a multipurpose building in Shenton Way, Singapore. Designed in modernist style, the SCH is five stories tall and capped with a cantilevered V-shaped roof. The SCH houses the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO); the concert hall has a capacity of 831 people. It was the first post-colonial building to be gazetted as a national monument.
Bukit Ho Swee is a subzone within the planning area of Bukit Merah, Singapore, as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Its boundary is made up of the Alexandra Canal in the north; Kim Seng Road and Outram Road in the east; Zion Road and Jalan Bukit Ho Swee in the south; Delta Road and Lower Delta Road in the west.
Chee Hong Tat is a Singaporean politician and former civil servant who has been serving as Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance since 2024. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Toa Payoh West–Thomson division of Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC since 2015.
38 Oxley Road is an eight-bedroom two-storey bungalow located near Orchard Road, Singapore. The house was built in the late 19th century and was the residence of the first prime minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, from the 1940s until his death in 2015. The first meeting of the People's Action Party (PAP) occurred in the basement.
Chee Swee Cheng was a prominent Peranakan businessman and banker in Singapore and North Borneo.
Singapore Council of Women's Organisations Centre, also known as 96 Waterloo Street, is a historic bungalow on Waterloo Street in downtown Singapore. It currently houses the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations.
The Great Madras, formerly the Grand Madras Hotel, is a boutique hotel in Singapore. Initially a Singapore Improvement Trust block, it became the Grand Madras Hotel in 1990s.
Inverturret, also known as 7 Gallop Road, is a historic bungalow in the Gallop Extension of the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Previously the residence of the Air Officer Commanding the Far East Air Force and the residence of the French consul-general, the bungalow currently houses the Botanical Art Gallery.
733 Mountbatten Road is a bungalow on Mountbatten Road in Marine Parade, Singapore.
124 and 126/126A St. Patrick's Road are two bungalows on Saint Patrick's Road in the Frankel subzone of Bedok, Singapore. The two bungalows were integrated into a condominium complex in 2006.
Temasek Shophouse is a building on Orchard Road in the Museum Planning Area of Singapore. Completed as a townhouse in 1928, it presently serves as a "social impact hub".
Fairfield Methodist Church, formerly the Metropole Theatre or the Jing Hwa Cinema, is a building at the junction of Tanjong Pagar Road and Maxwell Road in Chinatown, Singapore. Formerly one of the "three famous cinemas" of Chinatown, it presently serves as a Methodist church.
2 Cable Road is a bungalow on Cable Road in Tanglin, Singapore. Completed in 1913, it was built for Municipal Commissioner Mohamed Namazie.
25 Chapel Road is a bungalow on Chapel Road in Katong, Singapore. Completed in the 1900s, the building later received a "crudely attached" extension as the number of occupants increased. Following the bungalow's conservation, the extension was removed as part of the bungalow's restoration and a new wing was added.
Andrew Fong Sip Chee, PJG was a Singaporean former politician. A member of the People's Action Party (PAP), Fong served as the Minister of State for Culture from 1981 to 1985, the Member of Parliament (MP) representing Stamford Constituency from 1963 to 1976, and the MP representing Kampong Chai Chee Constituency from 1977 to 1988.
Trinity Theological College Chapel is a building and former chapel in Mount Sophia, Singapore. Completed in 1969, it served as the chapel for the Trinity Theological College, which moved elsewhere in 2001. The building was later conserved and integrated into a condominium.
Sea Breeze Lodge is a historic bungalow in Marine Parade, Singapore. Completed for businessman Choa Kim Keat in 1898, the building initially stood along the seaside. It is the last remaining bungalow along Marine Parade Road to have been built before reclamation works shifted the shore away from the road.
Meyer Road is a primary access street in Katong, Singapore. Named in 1921 after Sir Manasseh Meyer, it stretches from Tanjong Rhu Road to Tanjong Katong Road at a length of 1.4km. It is connected to many prominent past and present landmarks such as Katong Park and formerly the Crescent Flats and Meyer Flats as well as Katong Park Hotel. It is nicknamed "the Little India of East Coast" due to the large number of Indian residents living there.