Heritage

Restoring St James Power Station, one brick at a time

Built and opened in 1891, and subsequently upgraded over the years, the Bukit Timah Waterworks contains a subterranean clear water tank, which has magnificent brick columns and arches that have been seen by few.

135-year-old Bukit Timah Waterworks: Heritage board assessing its national significance

Third-gen owner Edmond Wong is not concerned about “vanity” metrics, and instead aims to “sustain a good business”.

Profit with purpose: Kim Choo Kueh Chang’s pivot from public listing to protecting heritage

The psychedelic interiors of The Peranakan Club.
DINING OUT

Heritage food and high drama at The Peranakan Club

URA says shophouse sales in Kampong Gelam have declined by 60% to an average of six transactions per year from 2023 to 2025.

Shophouse sales in Kampong Gelam have ‘declined sharply’ in recent years, most buyers local: URA

Heritage businesses, particularly those defined by the traditional nature of their offerings, face not only the broad challenges affecting all retailers, but also the struggle to stay relevant.
BRUNCH

Tradition under pressure: Heritage businesses strive to stay relevant

The entrance of Gilmore & Damian D'Silva at National Gallery.
DINING OUT

Cooking a grandfather’s story at Gilmore & Damian D’Silva

Fauzia Rani (left), the first woman to be involved in running VSS Varusai Mohamed & Sons, joined her father Haji V Syed Mohamed in 2007 to help run the family business.

Keeping quality high for over a century: VSS Varusai Mohamed & Sons fends off cheaper competition

From left: Jill Koh, Ryan Toh and Charmaine Toh are the third-generation owners of Cathay Photo.

Cathay Photo bets on e-commerce to keep 66-year-old family business clicking

For Halijah Travels general manager Haffidz Abdul Hamid, Singapore’s role as a Haj transit point is an important piece of heritage that he hopes to keep alive – which is why he applied for the SG Heritage Business Scheme.

Haj-travel specialist Halijah Travels aims to stay relevant in a ‘dying’ industry