Dr Imran Tajudeen sought to keep to the original design of the house, down to the types of wood used.SINGAPORE – The National Parks Board will be rebuilding and restoring vacant kampung houses on Pulau Ubin, and developing a suite of programmes there for students over the next decade.
Four houses, including a former bicycle rental shop, have been earmarked for rebuilding or restoration from 2025, and three of these were demolished earlier in 2024.NParks is also rolling out a new initiative called Ubin School in partnership with Outward Bound Singapore and various primary and secondary schools, for students to go through experiential learning and environmental education programmes on Pulau Ubin. It is starting with seven programmes and hoping to engage 250 students a year.
The plans were developed by the Friends of Ubin Network – a group of villagers, academics and nature and heritage enthusiasts – together with the Ministry of National Development and NParks. The Ubin Project was started in 2014 by Fun with the aim of preserving natural and cultural heritage on the island.
As part of the Ubin School initiative, NParks and the Fun educator workgroup will work with teachers to create lesson plans, and get more schools to participate in its programmes. For example, lesson plans on biodiversity conservation could include an introduction to the Chek Jawa Wetlands – one of Singapore’s richest ecosystems – and native orchids.
Dr Imran Tajudeen, senior lecturer of Malay studies and architecture at the National University of Singapore, had previously helped to restore a Malay kampung house on the island together with the Siglap Citizens’ Consultative Committee. He started by documenting the architectural details of the house, which was chosen for restoration in 2017.
Madam Rugaiyah Kasah, the sister of the former owner of the house, said she was moved when she saw the restored house.