The exterior of the newly completed commercial building sitting between a row of conservation shophouses (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
Amid a row of conserved shophouses along Jalan Besar stands a newly completed four-storey commercial building with a six-storey rear extension. The development occupies a freehold plot that once marked the gateway to the former New World Amusement Park — one of Singapore’s most prominent entertainment landmarks for nearly half a century.
New World Amusement Park first opened in 1923, founded by Straits Chinese merchant brothers Ong Boon Tat and Ong Peng Hock, sons of businessman Ong Sam Leong. Spanning a 45,000 sq ft freehold site, it was a major entertainment hub in its heyday, featuring Ferris wheels, carousels, boxing and wrestling matches, variety shows, operas and cabaret shows.
In the mid-1930s, Shaw Organisation entered into a joint venture with Ong Sam Leong Ltd before eventually taking full ownership of the amusement park. New World closed in the mid-1980s, after which City Developments Ltd (CDL) acquired the site in 1987 for redevelopment.
The reconstructed gate at the former New World Amusement Park was relocated to the entrance of City Square Mall and City Square Green (All photos by Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
The reconstructed gate to the former New World Amusement Park was relocated to the entrance to City Square Mall and City Green park
In 2005, CDL launched the 910-unit freehold City Square Residences on the site, alongside the adjoining 450,000 sq ft City Square Mall, which opened in 2009 and is directly connected to Farrer Park MRT Station on the North-East Line. As part of the redevelopment, CDL reconstructed the iconic New World Gate, which now stands at the entrance to City Green, a state-owned park beside the mall.
Following the relocation of the gate, the remaining 3,230 sq ft freehold vacant plot was sold to the current owner in 2018, according to a property title search. The newly completed building on the site was designed by Donovan Soon, founding partner of FDAT Architects.
“Our project pays homage to the strong industrial heritage of Jalan Besar,” says Soon.
Paying homage to Jalan Besar's industrial past, the façade of the building is of rebar-reinforced concrete
Drawing inspiration from the area’s past as a hub for workshops, auto repair businesses and hardware shops from the 1960s to the 1980s, the façade was designed using versatile slotted metal angles to reflect that industrial character.
Deliberately porous, the façade allows light to filter through the building, while reinforcing its raw, utilitarian expression.
Inside, the building was conceived with an open, layered spatial experience. Overlapping plantings, courtyards and a floating staircase introduce light and air into the interior.
Read also: Four-bedder at Holt Residences sold for $2.2 mil profit
The staircase is an architectural feature of the building, which allows light to filter through
“The custom detailing — from exposed bolt connections to precision-welded junctions and staircase railings in steel reinforcement bars — forms part of a cohesive industrial narrative that balances rawness with refinement,” Soon adds.
The first-floor space, approved for F&B use, has been raised to meet the authorities' flood-prevention requirements. Upper levels feature regular office floor plates, with the fourth-floor office opening onto an outdoor courtyard and the sixth floor incorporating an open roof terrace. All the floors are accessible by lift.
The building at 253 Jalan Besar obtained its temporary occupation permit in December 2024 and has a total gross floor area of 9,694 sq ft. Zoned “Commercial” under the URA Master Plan 2019 with a gross plot ratio of 3.0, the development offers flexibility for a wide range of commercial uses, says Sammi Lim, founder and executive director of Brilliance Capital, the exclusive marketing agent.
The fourth-level office opens out to a private courtyard
“It is ideal for a single business occupier seeking a permanent headquarters, while also appealing to investors and family offices looking to secure a strategic freehold building in Singapore’s city fringe,” Lim adds.
Beyond office use, the upper floors are also suitable for dance or pilates studios, as well as other lifestyle-related uses and services.
The property is within walking distance of Jalan Besar MRT Station on the Downtown Line, and is close to Lavender and Farrer Park MRT stations on the North-East Line.
Read also: Four-bedder at Marina Bay Suites sold at $2.1 mil loss
The surrounding neighbourhood is benefitting from new residential developments in the Farrer Park area, including the recently completed 407-unit mixed-use Piccadilly Grand.
View of the surrounding area from the roof terrace
Nearby, a joint venture between UOL Group, Singapore Land Group and Kheng Leong recently won a Government Land Sale site at Dorset Road, which can be developed into a new 428-unit condo. The consortium submitted the highest of nine bids at $524.3 million, or $1,338 psf per plot ratio.
Under the URA Master Plan, the former Farrer Park sports site is also being redeveloped into a new public housing estate comprising about 1,600 HDB flats, integrated with new sports facilities, while retaining heritage elements such as the Farrer Park Swimming Complex.
“The area is being rejuvenated with new residential projects coming up in the Farrer Park neighbourhood,” says Lim.
The freehold commercial building at 253 Jalan Besar has been launched for sale by expression of interest, which will close on March 13. The asking price is $24.8 million, translating to about $2,558 psf.
Check out the latest listings for City Square Residences properties