Heritage

ARTS & DESIGN

Documenting yesteryear’s retailers

American travel and documentary photographer, Steve Golden, captures shops of the past

Inside St James Power Station, a new central atrium was also created to allow natural light to flow in.

Restoring St James Power Station, one brick at a time

The conservation building is one of this year’s architectural heritage award winners

The Battersea Power Station recently reopened to the public.
DESIGN

London’s Battersea Power Station regains its energy

The iconic UK power station gets a new lease of life

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

Despite decades of history, firms dealing in traditional goods face a precarious future amid foreign competition and shifting demand

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

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

Singapore’s culinary historian serves up family history at his new National Gallery restaurant

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

Founded to supply pilgrimage necessities, the Kampong Glam business has diversified into perfumes while resisting pressure to cut corners

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

Its third-generation leadership hopes the SG Heritage Business scheme will provide guidance on operation and transformation

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

The family business is the only tour agency among 42 companies recognised as a SG Heritage Business

Fong emphasises that she is not the boss – the company is still owned by her aunts – even if, as chief operating officer, she has spearheaded several initiatives to modernise the family business.

Appeal to the young, don’t intimidate the old: Tong Heng’s fourth-gen heir on reinventing a 90-year-old bakery

Famous for its diamond-shaped egg tarts, the family business is one of 42 newly recognised SG Heritage Businesses

Ernest Ting, the third-generation owner of traditional dimsum restaurant Swee Choon, hopes to formalise franchise plans by next year.

Swee Choon plans Philippines expansion in push to be dimsum’s quick-service king

Having built a strong base of Filipino customers in Singapore, the family business is looking into franchise partnerships