As part of URA’s conservation guidelines, all front exteriors of the conserved building are under the purview of URA Conservation and any addition of permanent structures within the courtyard areas are governed by URA’s guidelines. All conserved buildings are further regulated by envelope control, as to the overall allowable height of the building. Within the Emerald Hill Estate a Traditional Paint scheme governs the exterior painting colours of all conserved buildings.

Through the efforts of EHCA and URA Conservation, The Emerald Hill Estate introduced in 2017 a gazetted traditional paint scheme, for the exterior facades of its conserved buildings. This scheme allows owners to interpret the colour hues of their homes, within a paint scheme inspired by the history of the Estate.

Emerald Hill Estate is the first and currently the only Heritage District to have a gazetted consistent overall paint colour scheme in Singapore. The scheme is administrated by URA Conservation. The Traditional Paint Scheme requires owners to register with URA Conservation and have URA Conservation’s approval prior to painting / re-painting their conserved building. If this procedure is not followed the owner will be required to repaint their conserved building in line with the approved colour scheme.

Traditional Paint Scheme

The maintenance of such traditional / distinctive colour schemes is often undertaken in preserving the historic character of similar districts regionally and internationally. It not only establishes a sense of community, but also has been shown to increase the economic and liveability value of the areas involved. In the Emerald Hill estate, traditional paint schemes and colours are used to recall the historic streetscape. The base colour of the conserved building is to have a pastel hue from the approved colour range. Here is the chart of acceptable paint colours. Darker or lighter shares should be used to highlight selected features or decorative ornamentations. The approved colour range is also available for viewing at the URA Center at 45 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069118.

Proposed paint schemes that do not fall within the approved range of colours are unlikely to be approved. While an appeal can be made to reconsider the proposal, it should come with substantive historical research to justify the scheme. This will be reviewed together with EHCA.

Buildings in Singapore have to be repainted within every 5 year cycle.

• White as a base colour is not within the approved colour range but can be considered as part of selected features or ornamentations

• The use of bright neon colours is also not allowed as it is not compatible with the historical character of the shop or terrace house

• Darker or lighter shades, should be used to highlight selected features or decorative ornamentations. White can also be used

• The use of darker shades, except black, for windows, doors, and pintu pagar, is allowed

• Painting over the entire facade, including the windows and decorative mouldings, in shades of black and/or white is not allowed as this hides the architectural details

• Original painted frescos and cut-tile decorations where present are not to be removed or painted over

• Exposed timber surfaces for windows, doors, and pintu pagar are allowed. However, please ensure that the timber surface is treated and maintained to prevent degradation

• Glossy paints are not allowed for walls. Only metal or timbre surfaces can be painted in glossy paint. Murals and stickers are not allowed on the end gable or sidewalls

• Textured paint or the application of textured finishes are not allowed

• For further enquiries, please contact the URA Conservation here.

The URA Guidelines: