The past and future of Choa Bungalow, a ‘last reminder' of Marine Parade's former shoreline

Straits Times

3 days ago

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SINGAPORE - Nestled between the soaring condominiums, ever-evolving malls and sleek, new Thomson-East Coast MRT line in Marine Parade lies a relic of a bygone era – a weathered bungalow that once stood just 5m from the sea.
Little remains of the seafront life that once defined the area, swept away by land reclamation efforts from the 1960s to the 1980s.
The peculiar presence of the property, known as the Choa Bungalow or Sea Breeze Lodge, in a neighbourhood characterised by rapid development, has not gone unnoticed.
Fringe interest has resurfaced of late, with curious netizens taking to heritage groups on social media to discuss its history.
On May 29, Facebook user Stanley Cheah asked on the Heritage SG Memories page if anyone had any personal experiences with the Choa family during their time at the villa. It sparked a lively discussion as people shared various memories – from those who visited it as children during Chinese New Year, to those who admired it from afar for years.
In July 2024, popular local artist Lee Xin Li even revived the villa in a nostalgic illustration, and a Wikipedia page on the house emerged soon after.
Its future, however, is still unclear, although real estate and heritage experts called for a proper and careful decision on the historic building, which can become an asset to Singapore's cultural legacy.
Located at 37 Marine Parade Road, the one-storey bungalow was built in 1898 by influential tin businessman Choa Kim Keat, who died in 1907 and whom Kim Keat Road in Balestier is named after.
In 2009, the building was gazetted for conservation as part of the larger Katong and Joo Chiat conservation area, said the Urban Redevelopment Authority, adding that this was also done 'in recognition of its interesting hybrid architecture' typical of colonial-era bungalows.
Two years later, the 47,400 sq ft property – comprising the conserved bungalow and a separate three-storey block – was acquired by Far East Organization for $104 million.
As at 2025, the company said it retains ownership of the site and has no immediate plans for its development. The three-storey block, which was built to house British officers after World War II and was not conserved, has since been demolished, and in its place is a temporary sales gallery.
Because of the bungalow's status as a conserved building, any development of it, including restoration or repair works, must be approved by URA.
Far East added that the bungalow receives regular maintenance to preserve its condition, though it appeared visibly worn during recent visits by ST.
Because of the bungalow's status as a conserved building, any development of it, including restoration or repair works, must be approved by URA.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
'Untouched' for 14 years
In a country where untouched land is a rare sight, curiosity surrounding the Choa Bungalow's lack of development and restoration have naturally risen.
Real estate and urban studies experts told ST that Far East may be taking an approach of 'land banking', which is the process of buying land and holding it without immediate development, and instead waiting for the right time to build or sell.
Said Realion chief researcher and strategist Christine Sun: 'Some (developers) may allow specific sites or projects to be undeveloped or vacant or to stagger their development works, especially if they have sufficient landbank, cashflow or holding power.'
Developers may also hold land to wait for surrounding areas to mature before launching a project, or to accumulate neighbouring parcels in order to build larger-scale developments, said Professor Joseph Ooi, co-director of the Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies at the National University of Singapore.
Checks by ST showed that Far East also owns the former Paramount Hotel, which borders the Choa Bungalow and has been renamed Katong Village Hotel.
Dr Victor Choa – Mr Choa Kim Keat's great-grandson – said that his family decided to let go of the property in 2011 as it was too big, and were comforted by the fact that it had already been conferred conservation status.
'Marine Parade... the whole stretch was very old. It's all old bungalows. One by one they were gone and ours was the last house standing. The rest were all demolished. We are lucky they conserved it,' he said.
Dr Choa holds fond memories of the bungalow, which still carries his father's name, Eric Choa, etched on a gatepost. The elder Choa was a well-known lawyer who had lived in the house until his death in 2009 at 93.
The bungalow which still carries the name of Eric Choa etched on a gatepost.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
'That beach was very popular. A lot of courting couples would go there to jalan-jalan (stroll), and it was a good memory. It was a very quiet place and people came to see the seaside,' the 84-year-old Dr Choa said.
He recalled that much of his childhood was spent swimming and canoeing with friends who came for weekend sleepovers – including notable Singaporeans such as former prime minister Goh Chok Tong and former Ayer Rajah MP and Progress Singapore Party founder Tan Cheng Bock.
In 2020, Mr Goh penned a Facebook post about his 'nostalgic return' to the house after a lunch there hosted by Far East chief executive Phillip Ng.
The Marine Parade area, said heritage blogger and author Jerome Lim, by and large was an exclusive one because of its proximity to the sea.
'You needed to be someone of status to own a home there,' he said, adding that the neighbourhood was relatively out of town and that frequent travel in and out was not affordable for most who worked in the city.
Preserving a cultural legacy
If properly planned and developed, Professor Qian Wenlan, Ng Teng Fong Chair Professor in Real Estate at the NUS Business School, believes the Choa Bungalow will contribute meaningfully in the placemaking of Marine Parade.
'However, we need to be mindful that any proposed repurposing of the bungalow ought to also make a compelling business case for the current landowner.'
The restoration of the Choa Bungalow can help preserve Singapore's cultural legacy amid rapid urbanisation.
'Architecture can tell us about the history of the place, the memory of the people,' Prof Ooi said, adding that cultural and heritage building can add colour to the cityscape.
Whatever the outcome, Mr Lim hopes the Choa Bungalow will ultimately be accessible to the public, so its story as a 'shining example of what life was like along the East Coast' is not lost.
'It's really a marker of the past, of what that whole area was like... maybe one of the last reminders of that,' he said.