The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has proposed the conservation of Villa Haji Kahar, a two-storey bungalow at 1 Bedok Avenue, to preserve a significant historical marker of the old Kampong Bedok. Owned by HR Property Development, the site is slated for premium private landed housing, with the URA seeking to integrate the historically and socially significant villa into future development plans.
Did You Know?
Villa Haji Kahar was built in the 1920s by Kahar Abdul Ghani, a businessman who arrived in Singapore from Palembang, Sumatra, in 1882. Starting as a garbage collector at age 20, he eventually became a successful barter trader and a local dealer for His Master’s Voice gramophone records.
Architectural and Historical Significance
The URA describes the villa as an architectural fusion of traditional and imported styles, serving as a reminder of Singapore’s early history as a melting pot of cultures. According to Imran Tajudeen, a senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore, the villa is a prime example of a “compound house.” This structure acts as a two-storey equivalent to the raised-floor Rumah Limas form, featuring a walled-up undercroft that provides ancillary spaces while the upper level remains the primary residence.
Beyond its architecture, the site is linked to notable figures including Singapore’s first female doctor, Lee Choo Neo, and her husband, Teo Koon Lim. The villa also reflects the status of Kahar, who was widely known as the “King of Bedok” and a Quran teacher at the existing Al-Taqua Mosque.
Expert Insight: Balancing Heritage and Growth
The proposed conservation represents a deliberate strategy to retain physical links to Singapore’s colonial-era trade history. By adapting the bungalow for potential use as a private residence or a clubhouse within a new strata landed housing project, the URA is attempting to resolve the tension between land scarcity and the need to preserve “overlooked histories” that exist outside of dominant urban sites. This approach suggests that developers may increasingly be required to integrate historical assets into modern high-value residential projects.
What Happens Next?
The project remains in the planning and development stages. While the URA has proposed conservation for the main villa, a spokesperson noted that the site’s owner may redevelop other existing structures on the 5,963.2 sq m plot, such as a kampong-style house, for new landed housing. The final outcome will depend on the owner’s specific proposal for the site, which was reportedly sold to HR Property Development in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the conservation proposal issued?
The URA issued the proposal on June 5 following a development application received for the site, as part of an effort to safeguard the bungalow’s historical and social significance.
Who owns the site?
The site is owned by HR Property Development, which is a company wholly owned by Hong Realty, a member of the Hong Leong Group.
Can the other buildings on the site be demolished?
According to a URA spokesperson, the site’s owner may redevelop other buildings on the site, such as the kampong-style house, for conventional or strata landed housing, provided these areas fall outside the proposed conservation zone.
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