National Aerated Water Company Factory

The National Aerated Water Company Factory is a factory which belonged to the National Aerated Water Company. The building was integrated into the Jui Residences condominium.[1]

Architecture

The design of the factory was inspired by Art Deco.[2] The factory was two-storeys tall and occupied an area of roughly 6,555 sq ft.[1] It was L-shaped.[3]

The factory features a Saw-tooth roof structure and was designed to allow daylight into the building, thus minimising the reliance on electricity.[4] It also features a signange tower, a balcony with fair faced brick parapets, timber transom panels and a sun-shading ledge made of concrete which spiralled out of a circular window.[3] It has been considered "one of the last few vestiges of Singapore's industrial past".[5]

History

After National Aerated Water Company obtained the franchise for Sinalco in 1952, it was decided that a new factory would be built.[2] The National Aerated Water Company moved into the factory after its completion in 1954.[3] The factory was designed by architect K.K. Tan. It could produce 48,000 bottles in a day, which was twice the number of bottles the company's previous factory could produce in a day. However, after losing a breach of contract suit in 1999, the National Aerated Water Company ceased production and the factory was closed.[2]

The factory was sold to Selangor Dredging Berhad for $47 million in December 2016. In response to the sale of the factory, a Facebook page called "Save The National Aerated Water Company Building" was set up.[4] The Urban Redevelopment Authority announced on 15 December 2017 that the factory would be gazetted for conservation.[6] The conservation gazetting of the factory received support from Selangor Dredging.[7] However, one of the corners of the factory were demolished to allow for vehicular access to the rear of the site.[8] It was put up for sale in August 2021. However, despite receiving multiple bids, none of them were up to expectations.[9] It was relaunched for sale in April 2022.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b Lim, Janice (5 April 2022). "Historic National Aerated Water Building on sale for S$18.9m". The Business Times. Singapore. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Former National Aerated Water Company Factory". Roots. National Heritage Board. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Kamil, Asyraf (15 December 2017). "National Aerated Water Factory in Serangoon Road to be conserved". today. Singapore. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b Zaccheus, Melody (16 December 2016). "Old bottling factory may be conserved, says URA". The Straits Times. Singapore.
  5. ^ "Passing on the past to the future". The Sunday Times. Singapore. 17 December 2017.
  6. ^ Zaccheus, Melody (16 December 2017). "Part of National Aerated Water Factory will be conserved". The New Paper. Singapore. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  7. ^ Zaccheus, Melody (15 December 2017). "Old National Aerated Water Co building in Serangoon will be conserved, says URA". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  8. ^ Lim, Kenneth (15 December 2017). "URA to gazette National Aerated Water Factory building for conservation". The Business Times. Singapore. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  9. ^ Leong, Grace (29 April 2022). "National Aerated Water building relaunched for sale at $18.9 million". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  10. ^ Lim, Janice (5 April 2022). "Historic National Aerated Water Building on sale for S$18.9m". The Business Times. Singapore. Retrieved 15 October 2022.

1°19′34″N 103°51′51″E / 1.3262°N 103.8643°E / 1.3262; 103.8643