Bukit Timah Railway Station Receives URA Heritage Award (Distinction)
Last Friday, the historic Bukit Timah Railway Station was honoured with the prestigious URA Heritage Award (Distinction) by Minister Desmond Lee, celebrating its remarkable integration of heritage, nature, and community.
Grant Associates served as the landscape architect in a multi-disciplinary team led by Kay Ngee Tan Architects, and the jury acknowledged the landscape’s pivotal role in creating a cohesive, spatial experience that distinguished it as this year’s top award recipient.
The project brief challenged us to harmonize heritage with nature. Throughout the design and construction, our approach was both aspirational and pragmatic, carefully curating existing planting and introducing native vegetation to complement the heritage architecture. Our goal was to frame perspectives and to create lush green backdrops with the green edges defining an enchanting central open space for the community. This project embodies ‘Heritage in Nature’—a living expression of Singapore’s vision for ‘a City in Nature’.
Wherever possible, we preserved existing plants, 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.
We 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.
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 captivates all visitors, offering a unique experience that deepens appreciation for each heritage building and structure.
