BUGS Member Spotlight: Eugene Tan‘s lost pieces of Singapore’s iconic Haw Par Villa
Haw Par Villa is one of Singapore’s most distinctive cultural landmarks, known for its colourful statues, Chinese mythology and the famous Ten Courts of Hell. But the park we see today is very different from the Haw Par Villa of the past.
A unique LEGO model offers a glimpse into that lost history, recreating three prominent features that have disappeared over time: the original mountain landscape, the main villa and the Crab Lady pool.
The model was created through a collaboration between Studio Lapis, architectural conservationist, Jerome Ng (Paper Artist) and BUGS member Eugene Tan.
From Singapore to Venice
The model was created for Singapore’s pavilion at the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, held in 2021 after the exhibition was postponed from 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 exhibition was titled “How will we live together?”, bringing together architects and designers from around the world to explore how architecture shapes communities and the way people share spaces.
Singapore’s pavilion, “to gather: The Architecture of Relationships,” explored the ways people and communities come together in Singapore. The Haw Par Villa project formed part of this broader exploration of Singapore’s built environment, culture and heritage.
Rebuilding a Lost Haw Par Villa
What makes this LEGO model particularly special is that it does not simply recreate the Haw Par Villa that exists today.
Instead, it looks backwards.
The original main villa no longer survives, with only traces of its foundation remaining. The model also brings back the large mountain landscape and Crab Lady pool, allowing visitors to imagine elements of Haw Par Villa that have been lost over the years.
Through LEGO, these forgotten elements are given a new physical form.
The project is a wonderful example of how LEGO can be used beyond traditional models and displays — becoming a medium for architecture, heritage and storytelling.
For Singapore, it also provides a fascinating connection between a much-loved local landmark and an international architecture exhibition.
From Haw Par Villa to Venice, this model brings a piece of Singapore’s architectural heritage back to life — one LEGO brick at a time. 🧱🇸🇬
