Hexagonal Starpoint Bungalow on Pasir Panjang Road to Be Voluntarily Conserved Under URA Master Plan Amendment

Starpoint, a three-storey bungalow at 319 Pasir Panjang Road designed by pioneer architect Lim Chong Keat in 1974, is planned to be listed as a voluntarily conserved building to affirm its historical, architectural and social value. URA published the 2025 Master Plan amendment on its website on Friday (Jun 19) detailing the proposal.

Starpoint is one of the representative Modernist architecture projects of post-independence Singapore. It comprises an 11-storey tower block and a three-storey bungalow, and uses an uncommon hexagonal geometric design. The project was designed and developed by Lim Chong Keat himself, and he lived in the bungalow until 2006.

This freehold private residential project was sold in November 2025 for about S$53.1 million to Stalford International Education. The buyer at the time planned to redevelop the site into a hotel, student hostel or serviced apartments, and may have been able to build a structure of up to five storeys on the rest of the site if conservation approval is granted.

A URA spokesperson said on Saturday (Jun 20) that Lim Chong Keat is an important figure in local architectural development, and the bungalow has been used over many years for various art and cultural activities, giving it social and cultural significance. The developer proposed to conserve the bungalow and build up to five-storey residential on the rest of the site. URA supports the proposal while maintaining development flexibility for the remaining portions of the land.

If the bungalow is listed as a conserved building, its exterior appearance must be protected and cannot be altered at will. The developer may, with relevant approvals, carry out restoration and repairs, and integrate the building with future development projects or repurpose it for other uses.

Professor Yang Zhishen from the Singapore University of Technology and Design noted that this case is significant because the developer proactively proposed conservation combined with a development compromise. He observed that there is a growing trend locally of conserving early post-independence Modernist architecture as its value becomes increasingly recognised. However, since such buildings are mostly located in high-value areas, they often face collective sale pressure.