REThink Old vs New
In Singapore’s early years – as the country was grappling with urban renewal and economic growth – conservation had to be balanced against the pressing needs of development and modernisation.
Today, conservation has however grown beyond its role in preserving history and heritage. The adaptive reuse of old buildings, for example, now plays a dual role in sustainability as well as placemaking, and presents itself as an alternative to tearing down and rebuilding anew.
What then is the trajectory for the future? What are the economics that underpin conservation, and how will best practices and social objectives evolve going forward?
On 21 March 2025, we invited industry experts to deep-dive into this topic.
Speakers
Tan Huey Jiun | Director, Conservation Planning, Urban Redevelopment Authority
Ho Puay Peng | Professor of Architecture, National University of Singapore
Teoh Hai Pin | Director, DP Architects
Joseph Ooi | Co-Director, IREUS
Carrie Wong | Director, Land Operations, Business Planning & Development, Singapore Land Authority
Clemence Lee | Executive Director, Capital Markets, CBRE Singapore
Panellists
Mok Wei Wei | Managing Director, W Architects
Darren Teoh | Director, Sustainability Strategy, Warburg Pincus
Tan Szue Hann | Head of Sustainability (Real Estate) & Deputy General Manager, Sustainable Urban Renewal, Keppel
Ashish Manchharam | Founder & Managing Partner, Elevate Capital
Hosts / Moderators
Professor Khoo Teng Chye | Chairman, Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies (Host)
Professor Qian Wenlan | Director, Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies (Host)
Leslie Yee | Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies (Moderator)
