Origins of ICOMOS Singapore

The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) was founded in 1965 at Warsaw (Poland), one year after the signature of the International Charter on the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites, known as the "Venice Charter". ICOMOS is an association of over 10 000 cultural heritage professionals present in over 100 countries throughout the world, working for the conservation and protection of monuments and sites – the only global non-government organisation of its kind. It benefits from the cross-disciplinary exchange of its members – architects, archaeologists, art historians, engineers, historians, planners, who foster improved heritage conservation standards and techniques for all forms of cultural properties: buildings, historic towns, cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, etc. ICOMOS is officially recognized as an advisory body to UNESCO, actively contributing to the World Heritage Committee and taking part in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention.

On 14th May 2014, a National Committee for Singapore was officially sanctioned by the ICOMOS Executive Committee. In the spirit of ICOMOS and other international heritage bodies, ICOMOS Singapore seeks to establish the National Committee as a separate stand-alone non-governmental organization. ICOMOS Singapore welcomes all existing members of ICOMOS residing within and without Singapore, as well as other heritage professionals from the private industry and government service.

ICOMOS Singapore consists of professional heritage practitioners who have for many years worked closely with government and non-government projects pertaining to Singapore's heritage and sites.

About Our Logo

Designed by Dr. Lai Chee Kien, the logo is made up of black graphic letters for the word ICOMOS, contained within symbolic brick outlines, and underscored by the word SINGAPORE in red. The use of bricks as a graphic motif draws inspiration from two periods in Singapore's early history: the Majapahit era during which historic brick structures found on Fort Canning were first erected, and early British colonization when brick buildings were mandated by law to commence construction of a permanent township. The staggering of the ‘bricks’ suggests the layers of history and heritage over time, which forms the focus of this organization.