Monday, September 14, 2020

Asia Insurance Building

Once a mighty giant dotting at the waterfront now had been dwarfed by others within the vicinity, Asia Insurance Building was once the tallest building standing at 18 stories which surpassed the Cathay Building after much discussion with the Singapore Municipal Commissioner regarding the height of the said building which they finally agreed and was completed in 1955 at that time Asia Insurance Company one of the first local insurance company and back then I was only 7 years old. Being the tallest building back then when they saw a sharp rise of people leaping to their death which are similar to the Upper Pickering Housing Flats and in 1960 the top balcony was eventually closed to the public to prevent further tragedy. Then in 2016 is was acquired by the Ascott Group and renamed to Ascott Raffles Place and turned it into a service apartment than in 2007 the URA officially gazetted the building for conservation.