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SINGAPORE: Singapore's 20 year conservation programme by the Urban Redevelopment Authority or URA has received international recognition.

It has been conferred the Urban Land Institute's Excellence Award for the Asia Pacific at a ceremony in Tokyo.

Also clinching the award is CapitaLand's Glentrees Condominium at Mount Sinai Lane.

Conservation has been the URA's guiding principle in its 20 year programme which has transformed districts like Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India.

As a result, more than 6,500 buildings have been conserved.

"There are still many places and areas in Singapore; we have to continue our study, identify and at the right time consider them for conservation. But we know that URA as a planning authority, we have to continue to maintain the balancing act. The challenge is always how to strike a good balance between conserving those heritage areas of cultural value and at the same time cater for enough land for economic growth and redevelopment," said Koh-Lim Wen Gin, Chief Planner, Urban Redevelopment Authority.

"Each time we receive negative feedback, we ask ourselves how do we come up with adequate facts and figures; how do we come up with explanations so that they can understand why we are doing things in a certain way and why are we conserving the area, why the guideline is formulated, what is the objective and the goals. It is a continuous journey of education, promotion, seeking understanding, seeking buy-in and working in collaboration," added Koh-Lim Wen Gin.

One example of Singapore's successful conservation programme is a row of shop-houses at Boat Quay.

Not only have they proven to be economically viable, they have also been instrumental in rejuvenating a dilapidated area into a thriving district for business, leisure and tourism.

URA says so far the majority of pre-World War 2 buildings have been protected.

It is now identifying post-World War 2 and modern buildings built during the 1960s and 1970s, like the old Jurong Town Corporation headquarters which are symbolic of Singapore's early nation-building years.

Another Singapore winner for the Urban Land Institute's award this year is the Glentrees condominium project at Mount Sinai Lane.

Property developer CapitaLand says the apartment's balcony gardens represent a new interpretation of condominium living.