Forfar House Explained

Forfar House
Location:Queenstown, Singapore
Address:48 Strathmore Avenue, Singapore 140048
Status:demolished
Completion Date:24 October 1956
Demolition Date:Early 2000s
Floor Count:14
Building Type:residential

Forfar House was a 14-storey Housing and Development Board (HDB) block in Queenstown, Singapore. At the time of the building's opening, it was the sixth tallest building in Singapore and the tallest public residential building in Singapore.

Description

Forfar House was 14-storeys tall and rose 130 ft above ground level.[1] The building was built in a unique "zig-zag" shape, which provided wind pressure resistance. The building was constructed with a reinforced concrete frame where the building's foundation of strip footings ran across the building and was held by longitudinal beams. Each of the building's units had a modern sanitary system and built-in rubbish chutes. The building had 106 apartments, four stores and two lifts.[2] Water supplied to the building was pumped to tanks on the roof and were supplied to each of the building's flats through gravitational force.

History

Forfar House was officially opened on 24 October 1956 by then-Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing Abdul Hamid Jumat.[3] At the time of the building's opening, it was the sixth tallest building in Singapore and the tallest public residential building in Singapore.[1]

The selection of the building for the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme was announced on 30 April 1996. Residents of the building were offered new flats in Blocks 181 to 184 on Stirling Road. The building was demolished and later replaced by the Forfar Heights cluster.[3]

References

1.294°N 103.8056°W

Notes and References

  1. News: 4 November 1956. Forfar House is the SIXTH highest. The Straits Times. Singapore. 17 July 2022.
  2. Web site: Queenstown Heritage Trail: 10 Things Learned Rediscovering Singapore’s First Satellite Town. Lee. Alfreda. 22 April 2015. TheSmartLocal. 17 July 2022.
  3. Web site: Former Forfar House. . Roots. National Heritage Board. 17 July 2022.