Pre-war flats @ Tiong Bahru [Archive]

Fairypoint

October 17th, 2005, 04:46 PM

Do you know anything about the Tiong Bahru estate?
Can you please share it here?

Like something about the design or history? :)
Thanks!

Tiong Bahru means 'new cemetery'. It is associated with the colonial government's first housing project and the location of the SIT's satellite town built between 1936 and 1951. The roads are named after prominent Chinese businessmen and philanthropists such as Khoo Tiong Poh, Koh Eng Hoon & brother Eng Watt, Seah Eu Chin, Tan Seng Poh etc.

Postwar, the district model was used to construct housing in British towns such as Harrow to house families displaced by the WWII London bombings.

The architectural feature was aptly referred to as 'aeroplane towers' as they resembled the control tower of the newly constructed Kallang Airport at that time. Postwar flats built in the 50s came with a different feature - which was a spiral staircase serving each 4-storey block.

For more info, look here

Book Antiqua]Portraits of places : history, community and identity in Singapore. 1995. DS599.4 Por HMLMS, CLRBR, CLSMC [/COLOR]
What is the relationship between place and history, community and identity? What is the meaning of place? Find out from this collection of essays written by Singapore's geographers, sociologists and other professionals, and read about the place-making of some of the most captivating districts and neighborhoods in Singapore such as Holland Village, Katong, Tiong Bahru, etc. Edited by Brenda S.A. Yeoh and Lily Kong from the Department of Geography at NUS.

redstone

October 17th, 2005, 04:50 PM

Very interesting info, but I don't see any resemblence to Kallang Airport. :?

Fairypoint

October 17th, 2005, 05:04 PM

Don't see any resemblance either. I think the 'aeroplane towers' only refer to the older 2 storey blocks.

DoorKeeper

October 26th, 2005, 06:04 PM

Block 64 seems to be a popular block... so here goes another shot

http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/815/tiongbahru12oy.jpg (http://img399.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tiongbahru12oy.jpg)

DoorKeeper

October 26th, 2005, 06:06 PM

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/9058/tiongbahru21jj.jpg (http://img360.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tiongbahru21jj.jpg)

redstone

October 26th, 2005, 06:57 PM

I absolutely love those bay windows. :cool:

My dream room! ^ ^

RafflesCity

October 27th, 2005, 10:06 AM

really ah...not a penthouse unit at the top of the Sail? :lol: ;)

j/k

route16

December 1st, 2005, 11:15 AM

Route 6 seem to be staying there . If U happen to be seeing this message . Would you mind sharing what is the experience like staying there ?I heard the population of tiongbahru are changing .

Sorry, to be seeing this message kind of late. I've not moved in yet but I believe there are a lot of young people moving in.

From what I've noticed while house hunting, middle-aged folks are selling units their (late) parents handed down to pretty young people (I'm 29). It's quaint and relatively affordable considering they are considered private so singles can buy without having to fork out a huge sum for a condo in/near town.

hyacinthus

December 9th, 2005, 04:48 PM

From public flats to a boutique hotel
Ageing Tiong Bahru flats to get a rebirth, the area to get more diversity

Friday • December 9, 2005

Jasmine Yin
jasmine.yin@newstoday.com.sg

IT IS an innovative redevelopment project that kills two birds with one stone in land-scarce Singapore.

Two blocks of low-rise housing built in 1949 in Tiong Bahru will be redeveloped into a boutique hotel by Hang Huo Enterprise Group, a Macau-based company.

The redevelopment project will cost $45 million.

More importantly, apart from this new lease of life, the hotel — called Boutique Hotel @ Tiong Bahru — would add to the number of hotel rooms and the diversity of accommodation available to tourists to Singapore, which is gunning to double visitor arrivals to 17 million in the next decade.

This project marks the first adaptive re-use of public housing as a hotel, as well as the first foreign investment from Macau in Singapore's hotel industry.

Hang Huo is a company with "very good contacts" in China and can "lend another perspective" to attracting tourists from the mainland, said the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) chief executive Lim Neo Chian at the site's ground-breaking ceremony yesterday.

"It is a creative conversion of two blocks of old flats into a hotel for visitors.

"Located in one of Singapore's oldest and most charming neighbourhoods, it offers visitors a first-hand and 'Uniquely Singapore' experience of living in the heartlands," he said.

The STB works closely with agencies such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Singapore Land Authority for potential sites that can be developed into hotels island-wide, but Mr Lim did not elaborate on any area that is next up for such redevelopment.

Comprising 78 units of three- and four-room flats, the redeveloped four-storey blocks — Blocks 53 and 54 — will retain their existing façade, under stipulations from the authorities.

The new boutique hotel will have 288 rooms, alongside amenities such as a business centre, a roof garden and local cuisine stalls.

It is expected to start operating next December and will hire 150 employees.

Hang Huo executive director Fiona Ngan said that room rates would range from $100 to $180, so as to cater to the Chinese tourist's preference for mid- range hotels.

Also, the hotel would aim for its employees to be competent in Mandarin to cater to these tourists.

She said: "We have good channels and connections with big travel agents in China, so that would be our advantage in bringing in different kinds of Chinese tourists to Singapore, such as for leisure and also business travellers.

"It's quite unique for them to stay here, to see how old government flats look like, and in an area with a lot of good local food around."

babystan03

December 9th, 2005, 04:59 PM

^ I wonder if it's as classy as Scarlet?? :?

rark

December 10th, 2005, 04:43 AM

^^ I guess it wouldnt be...

Hang Huo executive director Fiona Ngan said that room rates would range from $100 to $180, so as to cater to the Chinese tourist's preference for mid- range hotels.

RafflesCity

December 10th, 2005, 11:10 AM

I read that it will be a mid-range hotel

but the idea of staying in an old area like Tiong Bahru sounds kinda refreshing

babystan03

December 10th, 2005, 11:12 AM

I read that it will be a mid-range hotel

but the idea of staying in an old area like Tiong Bahru sounds kinda refreshing

Yeah they can bring the tourist to coffeshops and other heartland places.....:yes:

ronaldlct

December 11th, 2005, 04:37 AM

I know this is a rather late response to the person who initially opened this forum.

The Tiong Bahru development actually bears close similarities to the early model-housing community projects in Europe and America, like the town of Suresnes just out of Paris and Sunny Side in Queens, NY, USA.

If you're interested in where the many of such ideas came from, I suggest you look at "The Garden City" by Ebenizer Howard, who wrote the book at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the UK and came up with the initial idea that inspired such developments. Many such appartments were designed in response to the polluted city and it was believed that you could house working class people in modern appartments that provided decent sanitary facilities as well as light-filled spaces.

Another interesting feature of these European social projects of the 1930s, also noticeable in Tiong Bahru, is the fact that most of the buildings are designed at a height of no more than 4 or 5 storeys, so that mothers in the kitchen can observe, and call out to their children playing in the central courts (now replaced by carparks).

I'll try to remember what are the other readings relate to the predecessors of Tiong Bahru.

Regards
R

Pengui

December 11th, 2005, 05:11 AM

Welcome to the forum, R ;-)
That was very interesting, thanks :-)

RafflesCity

December 11th, 2005, 11:59 AM

Yes welcome...I believe the first public flats here (and possibly Tiong Bahru), were developed by the British administration in charge of Singapore at the time.

Subangite

December 11th, 2005, 01:27 PM

great pictures, what charming flats!

RafflesCity

January 8th, 2006, 10:34 AM

Walked through the estate recently, and it has a small number of eateries, even a Japanese restaurant.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/tiongbahru.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/rotpics03/tiongbahru2.jpg

The food centre is also going to be completed soon

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/8770/tbfc5zr.jpg

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/4526/tbfc22il.jpg

hyacinthus

January 8th, 2006, 01:16 PM

Hope the food would taste as good as before :)

I haven't eaten the 水晶包 for quite some time.

RafflesCity

January 12th, 2006, 02:51 PM

Was the food good before? :)

Any idea if the food centre is part of an original building or is it a new building pretending to look like the others?

hyacinthus

January 12th, 2006, 03:14 PM

yup. of course, not all stalls.

I only remember it looked like the old Holland Village hawker centre which has also completed upgrading recently.

RafflesCity

January 30th, 2006, 11:41 AM

I only remember it looked like the old Holland Village hawker centre which has also completed upgrading recently.

apparently the food centre is a new building, designed to look like its older neighbours :)

yellow submarine

February 2nd, 2006, 09:51 AM

hi all, i rent a unit in a yellow block along the same row as sunny low dance studio on outram road. my back door, where the winding fire escape stairs is, oversees the future boutique hotel@tiong bahru of block 53 (hope i got the block no. right).

the corner of block 53 used to be a bird arena where the uncles hang their bird cages every day and gets especially crowded on the weekends, both a social space for the birdies and their owners. these uncles hung around even after the government had evicted the residents in those blocks as early as 2000; check out an old 'Jiao Dian' (Focus) Ch 8 documentary where Tiong Bahru residents were featured especially those who owned the shops on ground level of block 53, i remember the auntie hair salon, Heng Heng Seafood Restaurant, etc.

it saddens me that another historical establishment will be turned into a commercial entity. one of my ambitions, whenever i take a smoke at my stairs overlooking block 53, is to start an internet cafe/ beer garden/ laundromat at block 53 when the backpacker lodge comes up, as it will be so convenient for me to walk home to my apartment after i close shop. well, guess that dream will never materialise.

till then, i shall enjoy the construction site that is ongoing since Nov 05 and monitor its progress. been trying to capture some picts on my mobile phone, will try to share after i managed to find a way to download my phone picts, am not very tech-savvy.

till then.

redstone

February 2nd, 2006, 09:57 AM

Hello!

Hope to see you more often here!

Is the dance studio of Sunny Los still in operation?
It's a strange little building stuck between some row buildings. :)

RafflesCity

June 18th, 2006, 03:55 PM

To market, to market

18 Jun 06

The new $16.8-m Tiong Bahru market will whet your appetite. Bright and airy, it houses two levels of hawker and market stalls and a rooftop carpark

IF YOU are one who has misgivings about how some of Singapore's most iconic hawker centres have been given unsentimental makeovers, step inside the new Tiong Bahru market and you might just drop all your grouses.

Opened two weeks ago after a two-year, $16.8-million revamp, the three-storey complex is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

All of its former 340 stalls are now slotted neatly onto two floors, linked by swanky lifts and escalators.

The first floor houses more than 250 wet market and retail stalls, selling everything from clothes and flowers to fresh produce.

The second floor holds 83 hawker stalls, lofty ceilings and airy walkways so wide that you will no longer jab your elbows into anyone's ribs during jam-packed chow hours.

The building is capped by a roof-top carpark, whose 120 lots are much needed in the traffic-choked area.

Outlined like a triangle, it also has a large airwell which allows sunlight to flood the different levels.

Before the revamp, the 50-year-old Tiong Bahru market was as famous for its chwee kueh and pau as it was for its grimy, one-storey ramshackle premises.

'It was the stuffiest place in Singapore,' recalls Mr Koh Kee Teo, 69, who owns the famous pig organ soup stall.

'Everybody bought food for takeaway because there were so few seats and so uncomfortable,' he adds.

Now, there is no reason visitors would not want to dine in.

There are 1,440 seats at the new hawker centre, almost three times more than before.

There are also alfresco dining seats with resort-like umbrellas providing shelter.

Great pains were taken to ensure that the building's architecture blends into the surrounding Tiong Bahru conservation area, says Mr Lee Soo Khoong, vice-president of design firm CPG Consultants.

'The design drew inspiration from the Art Deco architecture of the nearby flats, by employing concrete ledges, rounded corner treatments and circular columns,' he says.

It is one of 51 centres that have been revamped as part of the Government's $420-million move to upgrade all 109 markets and hawker centres here.

During the renovation, most of Tiong Bahru market stalls continued business at a temporary site at nearby Kim Pong Road.

Except for one lor mee stall, all of the stalls have returned to the permanent site.

They include the famous chwee kueh, pig organ soup, pau, Teochew kueh, lor mee and ming jiang kueh stalls.

Best of all, prices have remained the same. Many of dishes remain affordable at $2 per plate.

Long-time regular Lim Cheng Hock, 77, was pleased with what he saw when he checked out the place for the first time last week.

'Tiong Bahru market has the best and cheapest food in Singapore,' the retiree declares.

Housewife Tan Gek Kee, 52, who has frequented the centre since she was eight years old, says the new centre is a vast improvement from before.

'It's brighter and cleaner,' she says. 'Gives you a better appetite.'

tpaulin@sph.com.sg

Here is a pic by teh

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/photobuckettayeh/DSCN1003.jpg

route16

June 20th, 2006, 07:58 AM

Does anyone seen pictures of the old Tiong Bahru market online?

hyacinthus

July 9th, 2006, 04:57 AM

^^ nope.

------------------
Pre-war Flats turned Boutique Hotel => http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=6544920&postcount=48

Works in Progress
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_2302.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_2307.jpg

redstone

July 9th, 2006, 05:16 AM

FINALLY!!!!

Only preserving the facade? :runaway:

RafflesCity

July 9th, 2006, 09:06 AM

Its shocking to see it gutted like that!

But I'm still glad they're attempting to keep the streetscape facade preserved.

I suppose the old layout was not suitable for what theyre developing :)

redstone

July 9th, 2006, 09:32 AM

Can leh.... It's apartments...

RafflesCity

July 9th, 2006, 09:43 AM

Its the developer's choice and $$$

redstone

July 9th, 2006, 09:48 AM

:(

Look at what they did to Fullerton, only preserving the shell. :(

In other countries, the establishment is themed to fit the historic building, not the other way round.

shao_ye

July 9th, 2006, 04:27 PM

very disappointing to see this happenning... just looking like another cathy... :(

if they are doing this, why not just tear all down and rebuilt it? the facade doesnt seem any too complicated... this is just so disappointing...

RafflesCity

July 10th, 2006, 03:35 PM

wonder what colour they'll use for the facade...probably something bright, cheery and happy :D

redstone

July 10th, 2006, 04:07 PM

Maybe 1950s or art deco themed. :D

icemann

July 12th, 2006, 02:32 PM

hey there.. anyone here stays at the old pre-wars .....

route16

July 14th, 2006, 07:50 AM

hey there.. anyone here stays at the old pre-wars .....

Yes, me! Blk 81.

By the way, interesting article in ST today, see below

-------------------------------------------------------------------

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20060713/ST_4428835_13_07_2006t.jpg

July 14, 2006
Celebrating the gems in Tiong Bahru, my home

AFTER five years of working in the conservation division of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), executive architect Kelvin Ang has grown accustomed to being accused of being ignorant or plain callous about the city's heritage.

'Building owners and private-sector architects come up to us and complain that we don't care, or they question why we are not conserving this or that district or building - just because they see us as government people.'

They could not be more wrong about Mr Ang, however. The 34-year-old lives in a conserved pre-World War II flat in Tiong Bahru. At work, he also lives and breathes heritage, researching buildings and districts for their architectural rarity, and importance to the social history and identity of their locality.

In his spare time, he writes articles on heritage for magazines and records the stories of old residents of conserved areas like his own Tiong Bahru estate.

Now, he is rallying newer residents of the 1930s Art Deco-style blocks to run a newsletter and heritage tour of the housing estate.

In the past few months, about 12 of them have had meetings in his flat and things should get off the ground by later this year, says Mr Ang.

They have also been talking to older and some former residents, who are also keen to get involved, he adds.

Mr Ang's own favourite spots will certainly be on the walking tour: the Tiong Bahru market, which was reopened last month after a $16.8 million facelift, and the famed bird corner which is slated to be reinstated after closing in 2000 for redevelopment.

He also hopes to find volunteers to record the oral histories of older residents in the area, because a place is characterised by its community, he says. As a child, he lived in Queensway but made regular visits to his mother's old home in Chinatown.

This architect believes in looking beyond the bricks and mortar, to celebrate 'everyday culture' - the life in the wet markets and community spaces, and of local festivals.

'I get upset when people say there is nothing to see or do in Singapore. We are so blase about our environment, but there is so much diverse culture and history,' says Mr Ang, who spent six years studying architecture in London.

It is the emotional attachment to a place that increasingly mobile Singaporeans need to feel, he notes.

'One can't love a city in the abstract. It's about where you grew up, where you went to school... It's important that we are still able to see it, touch it.'

Putting on his conservation architect hat, Mr Ang sees no conflict between conservation and progress. 'We've always managed to have the best of both or many worlds here.'

That conservation issues stir much debate here is a good thing, he says, as he recalls the uproar over the restoration of Chinatown and the demolition of the old red-brick National Library building in Stamford Road.

'The debate is over how to do conservation, not whether we should do it at all. When people make noise, it means they care.'

redstone

July 14th, 2006, 03:31 PM

KELVIN ANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek2::eek2::eek2:

RafflesCity

July 14th, 2006, 04:05 PM

Thats him?

ok..well I think he's very much at the heart of URA's conservation work...cos I see his name almost everywhere on things regarding conservation :)

I think Tiong Bahru estate is lovely

redstone

July 14th, 2006, 04:10 PM

That's HIM!!! :eek::D

icemann

July 17th, 2006, 05:00 AM

hey , cool nice to see fellow neighbours in here...anyone else... im at 58..
and yeah, kel's really into conservation, he breathes and lives that...and he the man who introduced this quaint little town to me.

redstone

July 17th, 2006, 06:11 AM

Haven't been in contact with him for quite a while now.... hahah....

zphiche

July 30th, 2006, 10:09 AM

For me I think the buildings around Lim Liak Street are much nicer. They are like these old Beach side villas - the and archtiecture seems more open. They are also better preservered & the palms between them make them a very desirable place to live/walk. Does anyone know why they were not included in the protected zone?

I looked up Kelvin Ang, and can't find any info. Who woudl I speak to about these places to see if they will potentially be protected?

thnx z

icemann

August 7th, 2006, 08:11 AM

wat info you looking for =)

Dounut

August 7th, 2006, 10:28 AM

Does anyone know if we can purchase any of these unit as residential & who should we find out from, like other HDB flat around the island ? ?

wangwang

August 11th, 2006, 06:19 PM

hi - you can just buy them! the ones along Lim Liak Street are under HDB rules and (e.g. Married or above 35 if single) while the ones that are conserved are free of HDB restrictions.....

Dounut

August 14th, 2006, 08:21 AM

hi - you can just buy them! the ones along Lim Liak Street are under HDB rules and (e.g. Married or above 35 if single) while the ones that are conserved are free of HDB restrictions.....

Hum, those at Lim Liak Street are under HDB, thus with their rules.

But what about those that are free of HDB restrictions ? ? Who can I find out from & can we buy ? ? :|

wangwang

August 14th, 2006, 04:07 PM

oh yes, those that are already conserved, anyone (citizen and PR) can buy. Short lease though (60 + years). just look up in the Classified Ads, and look for agents who deal with Tiong Bahru....

piers

August 15th, 2006, 09:58 AM

I live in block 78. Its a great area and seems like a fair amount of development going on as some of the apartments are going up for sale. Also its great to see the hawker centre reflect the architecture around it. Hopefully will bring a bit more attention to the area.

Fairypoint

August 16th, 2006, 02:32 PM

RafflesCity

August 16th, 2006, 03:29 PM

^^

That does bear some resemblance to Tiong Bahru flats.

There is also another art-deco building at Prinsep Street (think it used to be a hospital) that looks like the one you posted above.

wangwang

August 28th, 2006, 05:31 PM

RafflesCity

August 29th, 2006, 02:29 AM

^^

oh yes I've seen it....its in a row of diverse-style old buildings...I remember redstone was lamenting that the SIT flats in Little India had been demolished. Perhaps thats the sole remaining block :)

hope that building in Prinsep Street could get conserved

redstone

August 31st, 2006, 01:22 PM

Yes, the one on Prinsep Street - it used to be a Dr Solomon's Clinic that specialised in Maternity and Childbirth - a colleague of mine was born there many years ago. It is still owned by one of his descendants - but so far not conserved yet.....

Look out for another SIT Flat in Madras Street - just one building - it is now the Madras Hotel - with brick faced balconies - very nice!

Ah, that's a nice building. Actually I thought it was Bauhaus.
Any idea when it was closed down? There's an empty plot beside it that looks scary. On older maps it said there was a church there?

route16

September 6th, 2006, 02:46 PM

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,112810-1157320740,00.html?

He wants to put Tiong Bahru on world map

S'porean says small-town charm makes it valuable, like Great Wall and Angkor
By Ng Tze Yong
September 03, 2006

THINK 'Tiong Bahru'. What comes to mind?
Probably 'sleepy old estate'. Or great food.

But if Dr Kevin Tan has his way, Tiong Bahru will become Singapore's next top tourist attraction, on par with places like the Great Wall of China and Angkor Wat.

The president of the Singapore Heritage Society wants Tiong Bahru's pre-war flats and shophouses to be listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Click to see larger image
--Gavin Foo

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) is an agency that conserves sites of world cultural and natural heritage.

Unesco's world heritage sites around the world range from national parks like Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia to cities such as Bath and Edinburgh in the UK.

Said Dr Tan: 'While Tiong Bahru may not be as grand as the Great Wall of China, that doesn't mean that it is not as valuable.

'You cannot compare places of heritage. There is only one Great Wall, and there is only one Tiong Bahru.'

A Unesco world heritage site must be 'of outstanding universal value' and meet at least one out of 10 criteria.

One of these is to be 'an outstanding example of a type of building... which illustrates a significant stage in human history'.

Long before the Housing and Development Board (HDB) was formed in 1960, Tiong Bahru was one of Singapore's first experiments in public housing.

'At a time when Singaporeans lived in kampungs, shophouses and attap houses, the Tiong Bahru flats had proper sanitation, electricity, street lighting and proper urban planning,' said Dr Tan.

Public housing is a field in which Singapore now enjoys international recognition.

'Tiong Bahru was an important step in the history of public housing,' he said.

HOLLYWOOD OF SINGAPORE

In the old days, Tiong Bahru was known as the 'Hollywood of Singapore'.

'When it was built, it was the only place where Singaporeans could see flats, other than in the movies,' said Madam Geraldene Lowe-Ismail, a heritage guide.

Later on, Tiong Bahru acquired a seedier reputation. Towkays from nearby Chinatown started keeping their mistresses there, and cabaret dancers moved in.

'The nights used to be punctuated by the ruckus of angry wives raiding the flats, looking for their husbands,' said Mr Peter Lim, 68, a writer and media consultant who has lived there since he was 3.

Unlike your usual lego-like HDB blocks, the Tiong Bahru flats were built in the Art Deco style of the 1930s, which emphasised sensuous curves and bold lines.

Corner kopitiams with old marble slab tables and mosaic floor tiles have survived here.

Window grilles with meticulous geometric designs complement the original lime green window panes.

In the evenings, neighbours shout to each other by name from the windows to ask them down for tea.

'Tiong Bahru is a world of its own,' said heritage guide Diana Chua.

Built by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) between the 1930s and 1950s, the Tiong Bahru flats were modelled after British towns like Harlow, Stevenage and Crawley.

Among the 20 blocks of flats and 36 units of shophouses, the tallest are only five stories high.

Although they look the same from the outside, the buildings actually contain apartments of various sizes.

This made Tiong Bahru a community of families of different sizes and social classes.

The URA has gazetted the pre-war SIT flats as a conservation area.

This means that the flats will not be redeveloped and any renovations that change their exterior is disallowed.

Living in Tiong Bahru is charming, certainly. But there is a downside too.

There are no lifts and waste disposal systems here.

'The ceiling leaks and there are cockroaches and rats everywhere,' said Mr Chen, a 60-year-old resident who has lived there all his life.

'I would actually be ashamed of taking a foreign visitor here because it is so messy nowadays,' said Mr Lim.

Indeed, at the heart of the Tiong Bahru debate is the direction of conservation and tourism in Singapore.

Said Dr Tan: 'Tourists are becoming more sophisticated nowadays. They don't come here for attractions like VolcanoLand and Tang Dynasty Village any more.'

Both attractions were multi-million dollar projects that eventually went out of business.

'Tourists are more interested in seeing the true Singaporean way of life,' said Madam Lowe-Ismail.

Like Madam Chua, she supports Dr Tan's dream.

But tourism based on conservation brings with it tough questions.

Doesn't the very act of conserving change a building's character? How much of the old should be kept?

For the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), conservation is a tough balancing act.

Said a URA spokesman: 'The general public who visits a heritage area may find it intrinsically beautiful and not want it to be changed.

'But the local community often wants a better living and a more pro-business working environment.'

While the URA recognises the value of Tiong Bahru, it feels that further study is needed to see how it meets Unesco's criteria.

After all, Tiong Bahru isn't the only option.

Mr Joseph Lo Kean-Kim, the culture and development coordinator at the United Nations Development Programme, believes that Singapore's strength lies more in its multi-ethnic culture.

The Singaporean said: 'A Unesco World Heritage Site does not necessarily have to be a physical site. It can be intangible things like performances and folklore.'

Madam Lowe-Ismail has seen many a Western tourist fall in love with Tiong Bahru at first sight.

'For them, it's like stepping back into old Singapore,' she said.

Added Dr Tan: 'We don't always need to travel to Europe to see history and culture. We have got our own here in our backyard.'

Not part of Unesco, so S'pore can't vote on heritage sites

THERE are 191 countries in Unesco.

Singapore is not one of them, so it cannot nominate any places for a World Heritage Site listing.

In 1986, Singapore left Unesco amidst controversy.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Unesco had called for a 'New World Information Order' to counter what it saw as a growing commercialisation of the mass media and unequal access to information.

But its move was condemned by the US, UK and Singapore as an attempt to destroy the freedom of the press instead.

In 1984, the US withdrew from Unesco in protest. The UK followed suit in 1985, and Singapore a year later.

Unesco underwent reforms in the following years. The UK rejoined in 1997 and the US in 2003.

Singapore has had Observer Status for the past two years, which means it can participate in Unesco activities.

'Observer Status is a way for a country to decide if it wants to be a member state of Unesco,' Mr Richard Engelharte, the Unesco regional adviser for culture in Asia and the Pacific, told The New Paper in a telephone interview from Bhutan.

'When we talk about intellectual contribution, size does not matter,' he said. 'Singapore is a powerhouse in generating ideas.'

Singapore may consider reapplying for membership at the next UN General Assembly meeting in October next year.

Said Mr Engelharte: 'Singapore has been participating very actively in our workshops and events. The signs of it rejoining Unesco are good.'

RafflesCity

September 7th, 2006, 04:45 AM

Hopefully there will be more recognition for our extensively preserved historical districts...and this is probably an international formality

S_Q

September 11th, 2006, 08:41 AM

Can't help but to leech on this thread again. Kind of miss the buildings and the food in Tiong Bahru, after lunching there almost weekly for so long. Here's a building around the corner from where I'm staying now which reminds me of TB.

So true! I'm from Melbourne and I'm moving to Tiong Bahru because it reminds me of St Kilda, Elwood and parts of East Melbourne. I guess they were all built around the same time.

I was so excited to find Tiong Bahru, and to find a place there. Glad to see there's a community as excited as I am about this beautiful neighbourhood!

wangwang

September 11th, 2006, 10:59 AM

Hi SQ!

welcome to Tiong Bahru - I only remember St Kilda as a very long road with a nice beach at the end of it....

well, perhaps all those who are excited about Tiong Bahru should meet up....

Too bad that the new owner of the old Temple at the corner of Tiong Bahru and Seng Poh Rd does not feel the same - it seems its days are numbered...

We have been trying to get a heritage group going, but its been a very slow process....

RafflesCity

September 11th, 2006, 05:50 PM

These shophouses taken by hyacinthus were spotted not too far from the Tiong Bahru estate...if restored they would also add some variety and even more excitement to the area :cool:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_2313.jpg

What does the heritage group do?

wangwang

September 12th, 2006, 05:02 AM

The idea is to get a group of enthusiasts who would share and promote the history and architecture of the place - so that the other residents would love the area more - and take care of it better!

Also need to get the other neighbourhood players on board - e.g. it would be great for the new hotel owner along the main Tiong Bahru Road to invite the song bird owners back.... Or persuade the new owner of the Temple site to not demolish everything....

As for this row of shophouses - I hear that the Church of St Matthew is buying/has bought it over - it is not conserved - but maybe the church can consider conserving it?

redstone

September 15th, 2006, 04:25 PM

That block is very very sad. That corner jack roof, you don't see it that often.

Would be great if Tiong Bahru. along with the Bauhaus flats nearby are zoned as heritage sites, more and more of the Bauhaus flats are being demolished. :cry:

RafflesCity

September 23rd, 2006, 04:08 AM

SEAfan

September 23rd, 2006, 09:08 AM

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_2313.jpg

What does the heritage group do?

Let's hope that heritage group will find lots of new enthusiastic members in a hurry so that they can throw up a fight for the survival of this complex! :) It would be an eternal shame if that lovely ensemble were to fall to the wrecking ball :cry: rather than being refurbished & becoming the jewel of the neighborhood, or rather one of many! :angel1:

A belated welcome from me, wangwang! :wave: :cheers:

I thoroughly enjoy what you're saying and approve of it wholeheartedly! :cheer:

RafflesCity

September 23rd, 2006, 12:54 PM

^^

exactly...I do hope the church (probably a private entity) would consider restoring it.

or maybe the conservation authorities could make it a requirement for it to be restored....wonder if that would be problematic...

redstone

September 23rd, 2006, 03:29 PM

The small temple is under demolition???? :eek:

SEAfan

September 23rd, 2006, 08:11 PM

O redstone, I wasn't even aware of that. :cry:

wangwang

September 25th, 2006, 05:27 AM

Yes, the small temple is under demolition as the new owner does not care for it. The temple's foundation stone is being moved to Lam Ann Association.

Pity eh.

Generally, it is really helpful for heritage enthusiasts to write to the authorities to suggest buildings to be conserved, and to share why - feedback is an important aspect of planning work - please dont assume that just because an old building stands on site, it is a conserved building!

it is also important to persuade owners too that they are important players in this field.

boo - hoo - go look at the temple before it is too late - I was told that its location was selected for two reasons - one that a complex junction like that is the focus of bad energy, thus only suitable for temples, and two, because it is able to absorb and dissipate bad energy - the temple, and the gourd shaped incense burner, acts to protect the neighbourhood as it is located at the entrance to the estate.

lets see what the new owner does then.

wangwang

September 25th, 2006, 05:31 AM

Hi!

What a great image of the neighbourhood - notice how the temple is so central... oh well... win some, lose some.

there is an exhibition on at one of the refurbished flats - do drop by - interesting art, and also, a chance to visit an interior of a unit....

Jack Youngblood
Recent Work

Show runs 23 September - 1 October
Opening reception 22 September, 7pm - 10pm
Opening times: Sat, Sun, Wed, Thurs & Fri: 11am - 9pm
Location: 59 Eng Hoon st #03-57, (Tiong Bahru estate)

icemann

September 25th, 2006, 12:27 PM

hey...
if theres a meetup .. do let me know!!
=)

SEAfan

September 25th, 2006, 09:44 PM

@wangwang & Raffi: thanks! :)

wangwang, I don't live in Singapore and take part in what's going on there from afar through what I learn and see and read here in the forum. As you can perhaps tell, I'm totally in love with Singapore and Singaporeans, and I have particular fond feelings for old buildings. :lovethem:

It is indeed a pity that a temple, even a small one, should be demolished! :ohno: I'm not sure whether the owner realizes that this destruction may result in bad enerby as well. :eek:

Making preservation and rehabilitation of that sad-looking corner building in Raffi's photo above part of the requirements before the authorities issue a development & building permit to the owner sounds like an intriguing idea! :okay: Does the agency have such clout? I sure wish it did; in fact, it should have such powers. :yes:

@iceman: forum meets are usually announced in the Kopitiam section (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=401).

RafflesCity

September 26th, 2006, 03:19 AM

Thanks wangwang for the info...I'll try to pop by for more pictures (if they allow photgraphy)

and SEAFan is definitely an ardent fan of heritage...thank you, SEAFan! :) :happy:

In some cases, I think it is possible that before issuing a development approval, the agency (URA) can require the project to preserve part or all of the old building. Its been done before, so no harm if its done here.

and I would love to see mini-models of the Tiong Bahru estate :D

icemann

September 26th, 2006, 03:55 AM

since a couple of us live in the apartments in tb.. wonder if we can do a house hopping tour and tea/ supper/ coffee/ dvd watching/ mj / etc etc =)

wangwang

September 27th, 2006, 06:17 PM

I took a picture of the temple at the corner of Seng Poh Road yesterday, for the record, and today, as I got off the bus coming home...it is gone!

boo hoo....

SEAfan

September 28th, 2006, 04:43 AM

Boo hoo is right, wangwang! :cry:

That must have been a sad sight. :( Do you have the possibility of showing your photo? :)

I'd like to see it although I'm sure it is depressing. :wallbash:

RafflesCity

October 1st, 2006, 02:58 PM

I think redstone might have taken a pic of it before....although I cant be sure...will be interesting to see what the owner does on the site now

redstone

October 2nd, 2006, 12:45 PM

Gosh, just I think a week ago I went there to shoot and passed by the temple, which was a total mess in front, and the wooden structure beside the shophouse had been demolished, the temple compound hoarded up. :cry:

SEAfan

October 3rd, 2006, 08:38 AM

All this sounds like a very, very sad story to me. :cry:

RafflesCity

October 3rd, 2006, 12:51 PM

I wonder what the owner intends to do with his land parcel...

route16

October 4th, 2006, 01:35 PM

There's going to be a big ceremony at the TIONG BAHRU QI TIAN GONG TEMPLE (44 Eng Hoon Street) from 7 October to 11 October 2006 to "celebrate the birthday of Ta Sheng Ye – His Excellence, the Holy King (also known to the West as the Monkey God, who was deified by the Emperor, for bringing the scriptures of Lord Buddha from India to China)," says the PDF I got from a friend.

DATE
7 October 2006 Saturday
(16th day of 8 lunar month)

EVENT
Morning – Taoist Ceremony and Prayer
Evening 5pm – Ceremony for the Jade Emperor of Heaven and Parade for Ta Sheng Ye
Evening 7-10.30pm - Golden Eagle Teochew Opera

Anyone interested to meet up ard 5-6pm?

wangwang

October 6th, 2006, 07:52 PM

Hi!

who would like to meet up?
Let me know and i can arrange for something.... for a meet up at last!

: )

in fact, the celebrations - the arrival of the lion and dragon dance troupes have started tonight......

very colourful and loud!

icemann

October 17th, 2006, 03:36 AM

hey residents =)

got a question.. do u feel its like warm and stuffy in our estate..
and i especially have this prob with my apartment..seems like there's really a lot of heat generated in the neighbourhood.

i wonder if its because of the metal roof that was fitted to the top storeys, does it actually make it worse for the top units because they store heat which is dissipated into the apartments at night?

anyway, i am hoping to find out, if im the only one with a warm apartment at night...or is it cos i installed my false ceiling at too low a height and hence causing my apartment to be warm.. =(

an upset one.... =(

wangwang

October 19th, 2006, 05:11 PM

I was just wondering - sounds silly, but how does one post a picture on this forum?

haze is killing me.....

RafflesCity

October 19th, 2006, 05:40 PM

you may upload the picture from your computer on to websites that give you photo-storage accounts like www.photobucket.com or http://www.imageshack.us/

those websites will provide you the picture-link for you to copy and paste in your post here

post your pics!

jacky lemon

November 21st, 2006, 09:14 AM

very nice pictures of the tiong bahru neighbourhood. the old world charm of this neighbourhood is certainly nostalgic. i like the quaint neighbourhood and of course the hawker style food this place has to offer.

with the injection of new developments, the refurbishment of the newly opened market cum hawker center, tiong bahru is certainly going to be a very different place. this perking up and rejuvanation of the area have brighten things up a lot more. younger people is begining to come back ....

just my 2 cents worth

redstone

November 21st, 2006, 09:55 AM

Hope it does not lose it's charm. It's worthy of a World Heritage Site status, sadly Sg isn't part of UNESCO. :cry:

wangwang

November 28th, 2006, 04:13 PM

Hey ... about Tiong Bahru - we are keen to pursue an idea to collect photos and stories from people who have lived or are living there, and then to scan, and reprint them for display at the local CC....

A kind of community memory wall....

would people on this forum be keen to participate?

: )

redstone

November 28th, 2006, 06:18 PM

personally I'll be most keen!

my email is redstone.st@gmail.com :D

icemann

January 3rd, 2007, 07:39 AM

hey everybody!!

happy new year!! =)

to all who live here.. love this place... who have been around here..
happy new 2007!:)
:banana:

elriph

January 14th, 2007, 04:57 PM

anyone passed by eng hoon street, walking towards the st matthews anglican's church, there's a row of shophouses that has been fenced up, right beside it, there is a small little fortune telling shop?
anyone knows the history of the row of the old shophouses and the abandoned fortune telling shop? though the signboard of the fortune teller is still up, but i heard that he passed away many years ago.

redstone

January 14th, 2007, 06:13 PM

It looks like a little house? Now looks like in a poor state. Used as storeroom? :(

elriph

January 15th, 2007, 02:28 PM

nope, think the one that u refering to is in front of the anglican church.
but the one that i referred to is before the turn to the anglican church.
It is on the same side of the Eng Hoon Mansions actually...:)

redstone

January 16th, 2007, 01:54 AM

I don't think the shophouses are under conservation, i think some of them had been demolished for the condo along the row. Do you know anything about the small 'house' beside the church?

teh

January 17th, 2007, 04:26 AM

You are referring to this ?
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/photobuckettayeh/Image005.jpg
Another view
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/photobuckettayeh/Image008.jpg
It has been like this for quite a while and no further works done on it.

On the Opposite site, there is another single 3-storey Shop unit for refurbishment ???
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/photobuckettayeh/Image007.jpg
The Notice Board says targeted completion date July 2004 ???? and it is still hanging there ???

The nearby Tiong Bahru Boutique Hotel that is supposed to be operational in Mar 2007 ??? as reported in the news last month.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/photobuckettayeh/Image012.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/photobuckettayeh/Image013.jpg
Is it possible to be opeartional in mar 2007. ( The photos are taken today ).

The Hong Kong Valley Cafe next to the proposed Boutique Hotel. Probably looking forward to the Opening of the Hotel to bring in more customers
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/photobuckettayeh/Image015.jpg

Mr Chiang's Porridge Shop along nearby Tiong Poh Rd. Brilliant & mordern looking SHOP NAME OR Title Plate there.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g318/photobuckettayeh/Image016.jpg

RafflesCity

January 17th, 2007, 03:05 PM

The hotel structure still looks far from complete...it would seem quite tight if it were to open in March.

Have they rebuilt the interior already? The last time I saw it, there was only the facade.

teh

January 18th, 2007, 09:03 AM

I will be very amazed if the boutique Hotel @ Tiong Bahru can be completed in March 2007. The interior does not look done either.

In any case, the original design has included an Overhead Bridge / Linkway that joins the 2 blocks across Tiong bahru Rd at Third Level. There is no indication of any work on that. Have they scrapped the Overhead Linkway ???:nuts:

route16

January 18th, 2007, 12:45 PM

Does anyone who's staying in the area want to share broadband cause I'm an infrequent user and don't want to pay $60/mth for it. Please PM me. Thanks

Dounut

January 23rd, 2007, 04:17 AM

Can anyone tell me how big is the house here in terms of sq ft or sq metre & what is the interior layout like ? ? :?

route16

January 25th, 2007, 08:05 AM

Can anyone tell me how big is the house here in terms of sq ft or sq metre & what is the interior layout like ? ? :?

Are you refering to the walk-up apts?

Dounut

January 26th, 2007, 05:48 AM

Are you refering to the walk-up apts?

Yes. There are high rise also? Both then.

route16

January 29th, 2007, 05:57 AM

Hi guys, am wondering if anyone is able to detect WIRELESS@SG signals from your homes in TB? I can't seem to detect it and am wondering if it's my system or because my area is not in the hot zone. thanks!

route16

January 29th, 2007, 06:05 AM

Yes. There are high rise also? Both then.

Erm, is isn't this thread about walk-up flats (which are lowrise)?

Anyway, I believe MOST flats here range from 700+ sq ft to 1300+ sq ft. The buildings go up to 5 floors, and most units have between 1 to 3 bed rooms and some have step down kitchens. Flats in their original condition may also have a cooking area with chinmey. You should contact an agent and go house viewing if interested to see the interiors...

redstone

January 29th, 2007, 10:17 AM

I dream to own a house in these art deco apartments!!!

Dounut

January 30th, 2007, 02:57 AM

Erm, is isn't this thread about walk-up flats (which are lowrise)?

Anyway, I believe MOST flats here range from 700+ sq ft to 1300+ sq ft. The buildings go up to 5 floors, and most units have between 1 to 3 bed rooms and some have step down kitchens. Flats in their original condition may also have a cooking area with chinmey. You should contact an agent and go house viewing if interested to see the interiors...

Flat in their original condition ? ? You mean these flats have been "amended" before by relevant authorities ? ?

Step down kitchen sounds good. I was told that these units are large, compared to those built later in the 60s, 70s & 80s.

I remembered a relative stayed in the area when I was very young, and shifted to somewhere else when I was still very young. So, I don't remember how it look like inside. :ohno:

route16

January 30th, 2007, 08:42 AM

Flat in their original condition ? ? You mean these flats have been "amended" before by relevant authorities ? ?

No, but by their owners.

googoobird

January 31st, 2007, 06:44 AM

Hello TB ppl,

Just wondering how much would a 1300 sq ft place would cost approx?
Also, if anybody can recommend a good agent specialising in this area?

Am house hunting in this area, and would gladly post pics of the houses that I view once i get started!

Thanks in advance..

Dounut

February 1st, 2007, 04:51 AM

Good idea, googoobird

I am also eyeing at this area, but looking at Class Ads, didn't really see unit for sales in this area. :ohno:

googoobird

February 1st, 2007, 06:29 AM

same here didn't see any ads for this area. think will call up random tiong bahru agents to ask them if they have something..
:soon:

route16

February 1st, 2007, 06:37 AM

Try calling PropNex and ask if they have any listings or agents who are familiar with the area. I think the units are fairly in demand so the agents don't get round to listing units for sale in the classifieds.

Dounut

February 1st, 2007, 10:22 AM

Har ? ?

Then how can I find out if there is any seller ? ?

Agents are classified by different areas, not agency ? ?

What is the website that can find out if an agent is representing 1 or more agencies ? ?

Pengui

March 4th, 2007, 05:21 PM

There are not only old flats at Tiong Bahru, there are also cool cars !
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070304_tiong_bahru_mercedes_slk01.jpg

And this one just a corner away:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070304_tiong_bahru_austin_mini02.jpg

RafflesCity

March 5th, 2007, 02:12 PM

2nd pic is definitely retro ;-)

Overview of the Tiong Bahru old flats:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/prl2.jpg

redstone

March 5th, 2007, 03:19 PM

The heritage flats area is getting smaller... :cry:

RafflesCity

March 6th, 2007, 01:17 AM

Which ones are preserved and which ones are not 'safe' ?

The size of the estate and its location is pretty prime I'd say.....and the contrast between the old area and the new highrise density behind it quite stark.

redstone

March 6th, 2007, 02:44 AM

All the bahau-ish and cubic-ish flats are not preserved, only the art deco ones.

RafflesCity

March 7th, 2007, 01:48 AM

oh i see...

Actually what I like about that entire lowrise area is the variety of buildings there, from the art-deco ones, to the simple cubic ones, to the shophouses :yes:

redstone

March 7th, 2007, 02:41 AM

I think a row of them was demolished recently for a small condo project, seen there as the 2 larger buildings behind the rotting corner shophouse

RafflesCity

March 7th, 2007, 02:18 PM

I love how the new Tiong Bahru Market disguises so well with all its older neighbours :happy:

route16

March 26th, 2007, 06:00 AM

STI Home > Life! > Life Design > Story

March 24, 2007
Hip replacement
By Tay Suan Chiang

IT MAY have had a $50,000 makeover to give its interior the sleek lines of contemporary living, but this 60-year-old flat at Tiong Bahru has retained its heart - in more ways than one.

Some original touches have been kept, such as the cabinet doors in the kitchen, which were sanded down and repainted.

There's also an original built-in mosaic window seat that runs along the length of the living room. The owners and friends enjoy watching the bustle of trendy Tiong Bahru from it.

The owners, a young working couple who declined to be named, faced quite a challenge when they bought the flat.

It wasn't fit to be lived in, they recall of the 925 sq ft flat bought 11/2 years ago for about $300,000.

Indeed, the four flights of stairs leading up to it still look every one of their six decades in age.

But step inside, and shabby becomes chic.

While the facade is old, the owners, who moved in last month, said: 'We decided that retro wasn't us and we wouldn't be able to live with it in the long run.'

Major work had to be done, the first of which was the flooring. The flat's old tiles were removed and in their place is cement flooring. As well as giving an edgy, urban vibe, the owners say it is more affordable and easy to maintain.

Small but cosy

The flat also had two bedrooms at the front that have been converted into a bigger living area. A third bedroom nearer the entrance of the flat is now the couple's bedroom.

While the pair love the flat's convenient location, they say there is a downside to living there.

'Space is a real challenge; it is just right for two of us and our small dog,' he says.

So when it comes to buying items for the home, they have to think twice. 'Everything must be small and compact.'

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20070323/ST_LIFE_1_CURRENT_SCTIONG-3SRt.jpg
SPACED OUT: To enlarge the living and dining areas, two bedrooms at the front of the house were knocked down. -- LIM WUI LIANG

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20070323/ST_LIFE_1_CURRENT_SCTIONG-RE8t.jpg
DOUBLE DUTY: The home owners opted for a horizontal commercial fridge which could also act as a counter top. -- LIM WUI LIANG

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20070323/ST_LIFE_1_CURRENT_SCTIONG-MRFt.jpg
AS GOOD AS NEW: An old-style calendar hangs from a restored door of a kitchen cabinet. -- LIM WUI LIANG

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20070323/ST_LIFE_1_CURRENT_SCTIONGt.jpg
TILED TREASURE: A mosaic-tiled seat by the living room window was retained in its original condition, offering visitors a bird's eye view of Tiong Bahru. -- LIM WUI LIANG

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20070323/ST_LIFE_1_CURRENT_SCTIONG-Z9Et.jpg
JUNK FIND: The grilles with heart-shaped patterns were taken from the home owner's former neighbour in Braddell who had thrown it out during his renovation works. -- LIM WUI LIANG

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20070323/ST_LIFE_1_CURRENT_SCTIONG-PBRt.jpg
CLEAN LOOK: White is the predominant colour scheme in the house. -- LIM WUI LIANG

paddington2808

March 26th, 2007, 10:25 AM

wow!! really Cool Picture!
If these flats are so-called prewar and are 60-year old, does that mean they only have 30 over years left ??
Am thinking of buying one of these flats but if thats the case, paying $300k for it maybe too expensive!!

HKM

redstone

March 26th, 2007, 06:55 PM

Wow... my dream housing area... sadly more than 15 years beyond rich.

profkingsfield2004

March 30th, 2007, 11:45 AM

My grandparents lived at #81 Tras Street from 1923 to 1938. The building has been preserved. I got an old 1934 picture of our house then.

I lived in my grandparents ground floor flat at Eng Hoon Street in the 1950s thru 1970s. My grandparents moved into this place in 1938 just after the SIT offered it for rental. My family bought over from HDB in 1966. I am very familiar with the events that took place during my time such as:

1. Bank run at Chung Kiaw Bank branch which lead to United Chinese Bank buying over Chung Kiaw Bank. That was in the early 1960s. The building is still there facing the SHELL Station on Outram Road.

2. Bukit Ho Swee Fire in 1961

3. The Chinese temple at Eng Hoon Street which used to host street wayangs and monkey god sitting on the sedan chair

4. The Seng Poh Road Market which had the old hawker center constructed in 1971.

5. # 6 Hock Lee Bus ran a bus service from Chulia Street (in front of the OCBC Center today) to Tiong Bahru Estate

6. There is a WW2 air raid shelter at Block 81 Moh Guan Terrace (now an arts gallery I was told). My grandfather, uncle and father served in the ARP during the war.

7. Outram Prison (Outram Park) was the place they hung the Japanese POWS convicted in the "Double Tenth Trial" of April 1946.

I am salvaging many of my grandparents photos taken of the interiors, the front and our furniture between 1938 and 1975.

Pengui

March 31st, 2007, 06:01 AM

If you don't mind scanning and posting some of your old photographs here, I think everyone would be grateful :-)

lieblingsg

April 3rd, 2007, 05:06 PM

icemann

April 4th, 2007, 03:25 AM

the diff with those big windows one and the art deco one are..

1) hdb lease
2) non conserved...

whats the pricing like i wonder.. are they cheaper or more expensive?
markets crazy now. owners are asking for ridiculous amounts.. or is it agents playing up the market? :ohno:

lieblingsg

April 4th, 2007, 03:36 PM

I will let you know after I have viewed them. The HDB ones may be cheaper, probably around $300k to $350k bracket. The art deco ones are asking for $400k and above.

I have a friend who stays at the HDB one. I think the lay out is not too bad. There is a lot of light from the windows. I hve not seen the art deco types so I cant comment as yet.

jt88

April 4th, 2007, 05:20 PM

in 2005 I viewed 5 art deco units. was told that almost every unit has different layout. the only unit I like was in original condition, cement flooring, has spiral staircase at the kitchen and even a chimney! I think this unit is at blk 78 Moh Guan Terrace. The block is shaped like a horse-shoe. very unique. the other units I've seen were all renovated and I didnt like it :)

I like the nostalgic feel of the estate very much. the most expensive one were just $320k (10xx sqft) ... that's in Sep 2005 - lah :)

route16

April 5th, 2007, 04:26 AM

I am also looking for a flat in Tiong Bahru. But the one I came across which is being offered for sale is asking for $420,000! That is way too much for a very old flat! Any luck anyone with finding one? What about the ones which are under HDB located behind the Tiong Bahru market? Are those available for purchase? They dont have art deco styles but they have large windows. I will be viewing some soon. If anyone has info on available flat, pls do tell.Thx.

Yes, I saw that unit too. I believe it's Blk 81? The agent says it's renovated but I could hardly describe it as being so. A lot of work needs to be done... The laminate flooring has gaps and if you'd noticed, it gets a lot of afternoon sun at the balcony which is pretty bad for a bedroom if you ask me.

lieblingsg

April 5th, 2007, 07:25 AM

Has anybody been to the HDB ones behind the market? I think if you get a corner flat, it is potentially nice with lots of light. If the art deco ones are too expensive, the hdb ones will be a better option. I will viv\sit a friend who stays in one of these and will report.

redstone

April 6th, 2007, 04:07 PM

My dream house, a dream 10 - 20 years away.. :(

spikeshamz

April 14th, 2007, 02:55 PM

Any news about the tiong bharu hotel? I heard it has been opened and it consist 288 rooms.

RafflesCity

April 15th, 2007, 02:45 PM

^^

didnt come across any article...where did you hear it from?

but I think it should have opened by now :)

spikeshamz

April 17th, 2007, 12:04 AM

It was on CNA.

howe

April 17th, 2007, 01:33 PM

hi there, The Wife and i bought one of the HDB flats and paid 298K for it. at 947sqft, it's abt 315psf. that was in dec '06, and 20K above valuation.
recently our agent informed he closed another deal at 330K. so i think you'd have to be prepared for at least 320K for a unit. do expect to pay more for corner units.

route16

April 19th, 2007, 07:38 AM

^^

didnt come across any article...where did you hear it from?

but I think it should have opened by now :)

But half the building is still under construction!! How can it be considered "open"??

RafflesCity

April 20th, 2007, 03:49 AM

But half the building is still under construction!! How can it be considered "open"??

oh I dont know as I havent seen the site recently. I was referring to spikeshamz's post above mine. ;-)

SonofaDude

April 24th, 2007, 05:24 PM

oh I dont know as I havent seen the site recently. I was referring to spikeshamz's post above mine. ;-)

Far from open although they claim that it's only a matter of a couple of week before the doors are open to public. I was just at the market yesterday and managed to get a look at the hotel. Looks like quite some work to be done.

Managed to peek into the lobby and it looked empty, as in no fixed furniture yet.

sotongmama

April 25th, 2007, 08:48 AM

Hi! I work for the hotel. It's call Link Hotel. We are not opened as of now. Will keep the forum update if you guys are interested!

This website has lots of interesting information about Tiong Bahru houses, which I never knew prior to working for Link.

Thanks for providing the interesting info!

redstone

April 25th, 2007, 10:46 AM

It's a case of facade preservation and demolishing all but the wall.

RafflesCity

April 25th, 2007, 11:55 AM

Thanks for the update SonofaDude :-)

@redstone, it was bizarre to see how they demolished the interior but preserved the external wall - cant wait to see it restored though

SonofaDude

April 25th, 2007, 05:23 PM

Thanks for the update SonofaDude :-)

@redstone, it was bizarre to see how they demolished the interior but preserved the external wall - cant wait to see it restored though

No problem boss.

Looks like sotongmama can give us the 'inside' scoop? :colgate:

RafflesCity

April 26th, 2007, 03:19 AM

yah...it will be good to hear about "the Link", sounds funky :happy:

Kampung Girl

May 8th, 2007, 05:34 PM

I'm so glad to have found this thread!

Greetings to all from a wet & cloudy Vancouver.

Wish the thread was around when I lived in TB. Looking at all the pictures & reading your stories have made me go teary...but in a good sense.
Still TB was the best place I've lived in. The sense of community & kampung was everywhere. Prob because we were all walkups and the street scene was up close & sometimes quite personal. Unlike living on the 18th floor (where I am now) where everything seems so far away.

Anyhow, I was was wondering if anyone knows what the going price of a flat is nowadays? I'm looking for a good realtor to help me sell mine. Really loathe to be selling it because it's a corner flat (so there's privacy), great views with access to the roof. But since I not living in S'pore anymore, no point holding on to it.

Thanks!

kurakura

May 8th, 2007, 11:34 PM

icemann

May 9th, 2007, 10:08 AM

ScaniaLuver

May 9th, 2007, 11:27 AM

tis is a conserved area.. there is no chance for enbloc i tink..enbloc requires a tearing down for new development that maximises the potential of a land... and in tb, the gazetted status does not allow for that...

too bad the "rainbow" flats at outram park weren't conserved . They are pretty buildings . Sigh .:ohno:

RafflesCity

May 15th, 2007, 02:54 PM

closeup of the estate
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/tbscene2.jpg

proximity to the city
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/tbscene.jpg

redstone

May 15th, 2007, 06:08 PM

The "bauhaus" flats are not preserved... :cry: A batch of them at Kg Bahru had been announced for SERS demolition in like 7 years time or so... Hope TB ones get preserved.

The new market blends in very well!

shctaw

May 16th, 2007, 02:40 AM

I think URA only preserve old historical building, shophouse etc.

redstone

May 16th, 2007, 10:33 AM

I think URA only preserve old historical building, shophouse etc.

Govt must relax its definition of heritage and historical building. The blockish flats date back from the 1950s. There's only a few batches of 50s flats left, and many had been demolished.

50s flats can be found in TB, Old Airport Road, Bukit Merah, Windsteadt Road, Kg Bahru...

sotongmama

May 17th, 2007, 11:35 AM

Does anyone know whether the ah peks still go to the bird-singing place at Tiong Bahru?

I'm also wondering what nice food there is at Tiong Bahru. In preparation for my future working there. :nuts:

kurakura

May 19th, 2007, 01:40 AM

Does anyone know whether the ah peks still go to the bird-singing place at Tiong Bahru?

I'm also wondering what nice food there is at Tiong Bahru. In preparation for my future working there. :nuts:

theres one food court like 5-7 minutes walk from the mrt station that has decent food. i dun remeber the name. its like a market and has bad air ventilation. thats all i can tell u.

maybe others can contribute?

SonofaDude

May 19th, 2007, 10:42 AM

Does anyone know whether the ah peks still go to the bird-singing place at Tiong Bahru?

I'm also wondering what nice food there is at Tiong Bahru. In preparation for my future working there. :nuts:

I believe there is a food court above Tiong Bahru market. It's pretty close to the hotel i think.

Andrew

May 19th, 2007, 01:19 PM

There's a good Japanese ramen restaurant in the shopping mall above the MRT station and there's a place that does hot pot there as well.

sotongmama

May 20th, 2007, 09:27 AM

Ooo... It all sounds good! Thanks guys~ :)

lieblingsg

May 22nd, 2007, 06:17 PM

Hi all

I viewed a couple of the art deco ones recently. Very interesting lay out and you can do wonders with ID. But the price was still a bit crazy. So I have settled on a HDB one instead. I just bought a corner 4th floor unit in Block 17. From the flat, you look down to the Tiong Bahru mkt and you get a view of the skyline in Tiong Bahru. From the kitchen window you see the greenery enclosed by the U-shaped building.

I will have a lot of fun ripping the apartment up and transforming it to something beyond recognition. Currently, the owner has partitioned up the flat into four segments and lease them out to China foreign workers. So watch this space as I will post pictures of the extreme makeover.

lieblingsg

RafflesCity

May 23rd, 2007, 03:19 AM

Hi lieblingsg, glad you found this thread...hope to see your pics :)

SonofaDude

May 31st, 2007, 02:52 PM

yah...it will be good to hear about "the Link", sounds funky :happy:

Here's an exterior view of The Link. Sotongmama, can we get a sneak peek of the interior?

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa291/sonofadude/CIMG4383.jpg

redstone

May 31st, 2007, 03:00 PM

RafflesCity

June 2nd, 2007, 07:12 AM

Here's an exterior view of The Link. Sotongmama, can we get a sneak peek of the interior?

http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa291/sonofadude/CIMG4383.jpg

Cool shot!

It actually looks so light & refreshing :happy:
Will it have any stuff on the rooftop?

elriph

June 16th, 2007, 05:57 PM

heya! anyone has any idea that for those apartments that are under conservation and free from HDB governing now, does that mean they are like considered private properties and the HDB and CPF ruling does not apply to them?
For example:
1. One person can own a HDB and own one of those apartment at the same time?
2. No more CPF housing loan rate for first time buyer.
3. Singles under 35 also can purchase?

Thanks so much to any kind souls who can help me clear my doubts!
...~~ fell in love with that old charm of that place..

ScaniaLuver

June 16th, 2007, 08:34 PM

closeup of the estate

proximity to the city
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/tbscene.jpg

If only the Outram HDBs weren't demolished , otherwise you would have seen the buildings towering next to the cylindrical shaped building (i cant rmbr the name of the building) . The big patch of grassland you see in the pic , next to the cylindrical building , is where Outram HDB and Outram Prison used to stand .

forest

June 18th, 2007, 05:40 AM

I have been thinking of buying a place there for years why I havent tried harder I dont know. I just LOVE the area the hwole village community. So for all those who have moved in please let me know if you hear of any that are available for sale the agents that I have spoken too all say that hardly any comes up! I am a very desirable neighbour!:-) In hope ....

icemann

June 20th, 2007, 05:24 AM

title says it all :banana:

sotongmama

July 6th, 2007, 10:00 AM

SonofaDude! I think the photos you took of the exterior is gorgeous! Has a feel of the old and the new! Maybe we should get you as our photographer! :banana:

sotongmama

July 6th, 2007, 10:02 AM

May I just say that the interior is gorgeous? Haha.. It's not a sales pitch. The photos say it all!

http://www.linkhotel.com.sg/photos/images/room7.jpg
http://www.linkhotel.com.sg/photos/images/room6.jpg
http://www.linkhotel.com.sg/photos/images/room2.jpg
http://www.linkhotel.com.sg/photos/images/room1.jpg

For more information, you can visit the website: www.linkhotel.com.sg (http://www.linkhotel.com.sg)

Any feedback welcome!

sotongmama

July 6th, 2007, 10:09 AM

Cool shot!

It actually looks so light & refreshing :happy:
Will it have any stuff on the rooftop?

Actually there will be something on the roof.

route16

July 6th, 2007, 11:41 AM

ahsoh@heart

July 6th, 2007, 03:44 PM

This agent seems to specialise in the area: http://www.alvinyeo.com/index.aspx?pid=11698

There's a 1278sqft ground floor unit on Guan Chuan Street asking $788k Negotiable, well renovated.

and a 1005sqft Eng Hoon Street unit asking $590000 Negotiable

and a few others listed on the web site

I'm a newbie here & found this site by accident. It's a great site with so much info/update which I need and miss. I have a unit on Tiong Poh Rd and split my time between Tiong Bahru & the US. I miss the fish porridge, lor mee, chwee kuey; the kopi tiam breakfast with my newspapers; the slow walk and chat with grocery stores' towkays...
Thank you for posting all those lovely photos.

The above prices shocked me. How do you get a valuation to ascertain a unit's price?

redstone

July 9th, 2007, 12:26 PM

My dream place! Unfortunately maybe 20 years away. :cry:

RafflesCity

July 9th, 2007, 01:04 PM

Lovely interior pics there, very clean and simple looking :)

Passed by last night and it looks like its all ready and waiting for tenants to move in.

Dounut

July 10th, 2007, 05:05 AM

This agent seems to specialise in the area: http://www.alvinyeo.com/index.aspx?pid=11698

There's a 1278sqft ground floor unit on Guan Chuan Street asking $788k Negotiable, well renovated.

and a 1005sqft Eng Hoon Street unit asking $590000 Negotiable

and a few others listed on the web site

Hi, I am eyeing at HDB Flat in this area. But looks like the price has skyrocket so much that I might not be able to afford it anymore.

Care to share with us how is life living there & is there any problem related to pluming, hygiun, etc etc ? ?

sotongmama

July 12th, 2007, 06:50 PM

The hotel will be opened in a few more days guys! Can start your reservations now!

I'll try to take some shots from the rooftop and share.

Really nice place.

teh

July 13th, 2007, 03:17 PM

route16

July 17th, 2007, 05:40 AM

The hotel will be opened in a few more days guys! Can start your reservations now!

I'll try to take some shots from the rooftop and share.

Really nice place.

Will there be any worth shouting about restaurants in the hotel?
What's going to be on the ground floor of the hotel? Looks rather bare now...

sotongmama

July 20th, 2007, 06:14 PM

The Hotel is named "Link Hotel". I wonder when the Link will be ready. I supposed the Link refers to the overhead bridge linkway that links one block across Tiong Bahru Rd to the other block opp. So far, I have not seen a single work done on the Link yet.
The bridge is up! With the MRT line running below the hotel, it does take a lot of planning to get things done. So most things are still crawling along. Slow, but definitely crawling. :)

sotongmama

July 20th, 2007, 06:16 PM

Will there be any worth shouting about restaurants in the hotel?
What's going to be on the ground floor of the hotel? Looks rather bare now...
At the ground floor, there will most probably be 3 shops and 2 restaurants. The lobby lounge will most probably be ready soon! :banana:

gohst

July 22nd, 2007, 07:41 AM

I have spoken to Alvin and he is really helpful.
I recently bought one of the pre-war flat but not thru Alvin but he was nonetheless helpful and sincere.

Dounut

July 24th, 2007, 08:29 AM

I have spoken to Alvin and he is really helpful.
I recently bought one of the pre-war flat but not thru Alvin but he was nonetheless helpful and sincere.

Can share what is the price range like & which agent did you deal with?

tbird

July 27th, 2007, 10:56 AM

Hi, I am hoping to (landlord is still contemplating our proposal) set up one of the restaurants in the new Link Hotel. We are thinking our restaurant should be modern, yet "sensitive" to the area's heritage... Would appreciate any feedback or ideas any of your Tiong Bahru-ites have.

gohst

August 3rd, 2007, 03:31 PM

Can share what is the price range like & which agent did you deal with?

Around $500k, I would recommend Alvin.
My agent was just lucky to have a unit.
Heard that prices have gone up in the last 2 months.

forest

August 9th, 2007, 10:00 AM

cant afford over 500K anybody with any leads. Commission given!! :)

kopiluver

August 11th, 2007, 06:32 AM

Hey pls let me know if u neighbour is selling... then we can me it the nicest units in the block...

Seriously... Im looking for 1 to do up myself... any leads?

Pls email roxpat@singnet.com is so... thanks!

sotongmama

August 13th, 2007, 04:34 AM

Hey guys!

The hotel's lounge is operational. Here's a peek at the inside:
http://bp3.blogger.com/_OWsJEFBBowQ/Rr_CE3xzLhI/AAAAAAAAAEc/G91s3a7GQDc/s320/Lobby+Lounge.JPG

http://bp0.blogger.com/_OWsJEFBBowQ/Rr_CFHxzLiI/AAAAAAAAAEk/YjKbnfMGuQY/s320/Lobby+Lounge+(2).JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5098006696449748514

For those interested in getting houses in the area, Home and Decor magazine is doing a feature on Tiong Bahru in the Sep issue. They will also be featuring the hotel. Best of luck to the real estate hunt!

redstone

August 14th, 2007, 09:59 AM

I'm interested to see what an airwell looks like in there.

sotongmama

August 15th, 2007, 03:36 AM

I'm interested to see what an airwell looks like in there.

By airwell you mean? Maybe I can get some pictures for that.

redstone

August 17th, 2007, 07:28 PM

By airwell you mean? Maybe I can get some pictures for that.

Yup, a shot of a big airwell.Thanks! :)

I know there are mini airwells here and there.

A side personal comment:

My dream home (seriously)! But I'm only 20 and it's like a dream 20/30 years away. :(

kopiluver

August 21st, 2007, 10:15 AM

Sorry, don't know how to delete this post when pic didn't show up...

kopiluver

August 21st, 2007, 10:21 AM

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc219/kopiluver/P1000918.jpg

Yahoo! I got it now...

The above pic was taken from a place related to this post... its a short walk from MRT and the Expressway is just beyond the tress... can u guess?

kopiluver

August 21st, 2007, 10:25 AM

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc219/kopiluver/harting12_small.jpg A place called: Harting

http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc219/kopiluver/P1000912.jpg

Hmmm, can some1 here teach me to shrink the 2nd pic so its the same size and easier on the eye?

It's non photoshopped and taken with a Lumix FX01 cam....

RafflesCity

August 21st, 2007, 02:35 PM

You may wanna use some photo-editing software and go for a resize.

Are you having trouble with the picture posting?

forest

August 29th, 2007, 12:23 PM

Hi Kopiluver

Do you know if Blk 81 Tiong Poh Rd is noisy as its quiet close to the expressway?

forest

August 29th, 2007, 12:29 PM

I'm a newbie here & found this site by accident. It's a great site with so much info/update which I need and miss. I have a unit on Tiong Poh Rd and split my time between Tiong Bahru & the US. I miss the fish porridge, lor mee, chwee kuey; the kopi tiam breakfast with my newspapers; the slow walk and chat with grocery stores' towkays...
Thank you for posting all those lovely photos.

The above prices shocked me. How do you get a valuation to ascertain a unit's price?

Hi Ah Soh? You said yr unit is in Tiong Poh if its block 18 do you find it noisy since its the expressway is at the back?

Valuation you will have to check with a bank.

kopiluver

August 29th, 2007, 03:26 PM

Hi,

Why did you ask? Is there a unit there for sale?

kopiluver

August 29th, 2007, 03:29 PM

Hi Ah Soh? You said yr unit is in Tiong Poh if its block 18 do you find it noisy since its the expressway is at the back?

Valuation you will have to check with a bank.

Usually comes out very low like $350K

Hi Kopiluver

Do you know if Blk 81 Tiong Poh Rd is noisy as its quiet close to the expressway?

Yes, it's very near the CTE... can be noisy unless you double glaze the windows which can be quite costly too!

ahsoh@heart

September 1st, 2007, 12:50 AM

Hi Ah Soh? You said yr unit is in Tiong Poh if its block 18 do you find it noisy since its the expressway is at the back?

Valuation you will have to check with a bank.

Actually my unit is not noisy at all. I have a ground floor unit and redid my back area with transparent roofing. I guess that cuts out/down the noise level. The only time I hear "traffic" is late at night when an ambulance siren is on.
And I hear the church bell on Sunday mornings :angel: which does not bother me.

ah soh

route16

September 3rd, 2007, 06:53 AM

Those interested can check out "Home and Decor" magazine which has a feature story on Tiong Bahru this month. But note: it listed prices for HDB units on Lim Liak and Tiong Bahru Roads (Blks 20 and 30 something) and erroneously noted them to be "conservation flats."

http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/tbahru.htm

kopiluver

September 3rd, 2007, 08:21 AM

Wats the listed price my fren?

If they don't conserve, then it'll be good to make it open space as green lung between the all SERs pt blocks and the market thus buffering the conserved ones.

But I bet lieblingsg will kill me for even thinking that!

Cos I know where he's staying!

Eager to see his progress build tho.

Cheers!

route16

September 4th, 2007, 09:59 AM

http://www.alvinyeo.com/projects.aspx?pid=24906&style=1
Click Tiong Bahru HDB Transacted Prices

route16

September 7th, 2007, 03:34 AM

From blogger Yawning Bread (http://www.yawningbread.org):

Rock, jazz and songbirds silenced
http://www.yawningbread.org/arch_2007/yax-789.htm

John Malathronas' new book Singapore Swing has a rather disconcerting tale about the loss of the bird-singing corner of Tiong Bahru. He had found the place on his first visit and thought it very charming. Page 97:

I knew that bird singing contests were common in South East Asia, but nothing had prepared me for the scale of the spectacle in the Bird Arena Café: a roof of railings with hooks on which dozens of identical 20-inch round bamboo cages were hanging, one bird per cage; competitors, almost exclusively male, sitting in a row of chairs parallel to the line of cages above, sipping a mug of coffee; waiters bringing drinks, collecting dishes and taking orders; judges walking around making notes; and spectators sitting at tables...

[snip]

But my overwhelming memory is of the aural tapestry by the birds themselves -- seemingly shamas on my Sunday -- caressing my eardrums and imprinting their love songs into my unconscious.

On his second visit slightly over a year later, page 159:

Yes, one of the first things I did is return to the Bird Arena early on my first Sunday morning, before the nightlife devoured me, as is its wont. This time, I knew something about the suburb itself: it was the first public housing project in Singapore, the brainchild of the Singapore Improvement Trust which operated until 1960 when the Housing and Development Board, the HDB, took over. Despite the lack of maintenance, there is something earthy and liveable in those three- and four-storey houses that still stand -- most noticeably in Seng Poh Road and Eng Hoon Street -- compared with the later Gotham City tower blocks of the HDB. The pavements may be cracking and the smell of mold spores might permeate the air, but the curves, the lines and the dimensions are more agreeable and convivial.

Huh?

I stop and look at my map. Was it here? Yes, it was, but --

The old cafe is no more. A high fence informs us of 'Danger/Keep out/Bahaya Jangan dekat' and in a few more alphabets I can't interpret. The block of flats next to it has been covered with green netting as if ready-wrapped for a take-away. I know where to look: up, where a wiry old signboard is only just discernible: 'Tiong Bahru Bird Arena - Mata Puteh'. I shake my head. It cant' be! Tourist leaflets are still advertising the song contests! They just can't demolish it!

They most certainly did. And so another bit of Singapore is thrown away. The blocks nearby have been converted to a new hotel.

It's possible that the bird corner has merely been relocated -- perhaps some readers might know the answer? -- but it's doubtful if one can recover the ambiance of old in a brand new location.

Living in a city that is always on the go has its price. Everything competes for space; sentiment has to fight relentlessly with utility.

We are doing a reasonable job of marking out and preserving some old buildings, but our choices tend to be influenced by our politics. We choose to preserve our grand buildings, especially those of governmental significance; governments generally have a high opinion of themselves. Particularly in Singapore's case, with our foundational narrative lauding the British colonisers, grand colonial buildings get first-class treatment. The other politically-influenced aspect comes from our tendency to see race and religion as building blocks of society. Thus temples and buildings of communal significance are also valued. It's funny how some of these are quite obscure, yet are elevated into national monuments.

We seem not to be able to grasp the significance of places that are of popular significance: places that ordinary people have grown accustomed to having around, and which connect them to a sense of home.

The old National Library was torn down to make way for a pointless little road tunnel. The National Stadium was recently terminated with extreme prejudice. Years earlier, the National Theatre was also razed -- in its place today stands an empty field. You'd notice they were all called "National" this and that. Didn't save them at all. What chance did the un-national Bird Arena have?

kopiluver

September 8th, 2007, 04:14 AM

I've good news for Route16 and yawningbread.

I called URA to enquire about that Bird Corner and/or where it's moved to (I grew up in a family of Bird lovers and for the record, my Uncle used to have over 200)

It's temporary shut (due to Link Hotel) but will be spruced up and reopened later...

Further enquiry: If the authorities, change their mind about reopening it? Can I suggest another spot to relocate the structures?

To block 935 Yishun (facing KTP Hospital site) where an existing bird shop is (lots of open grassed area - good ventilation) and behind at block 934 a very large aquarium (so family members not interested in birds can go look at fish)

The responses I got(from HDB, town council, URA etc) alluded to the Bird Flu(maybe bcos hospital opposite).. noise to the residence(too near the HDB blocks) ... so looks like that remains the only corner that might exist but only in the unknown future...can Sotongmama confirm above fact?

Hope it opens soon... I used to go for a cuppa sometimes when I feel stressed and let the songbirds sooth me.

forest

September 15th, 2007, 03:53 AM

Do you work for them. My husband stayed there recently and said he will never ever go back again!! The staff were absolutely hopeless.

For those interested in getting houses in the area, Home and Decor magazine is doing a feature on Tiong Bahru in the Sep issue. They will also be featuring the hotel. Best of luck to the real estate hunt![/QUOTE]

kopiluver

September 15th, 2007, 04:33 AM

forest

October 7th, 2007, 05:56 AM

kopiluver

October 8th, 2007, 04:14 AM

We can .. but its a a challenge when a hotel's original plan was to go budget than changes its direction to a 4 star it doesn't quite make the cut! The name's terrible and the graphics awful! I'm just disappointed that the owners didn't have the foresight to develop a hotel that was in keeping with the whole area! There was so much opportunity to do something unique and interesting! Its the same way other F&B outlets that have opened up in the area without giving much thought to the design and concept we don't need another Mohammed Sultan or Clarke Quay ..or a Disney-fied copy! We need to fight o keep the village feel and create a community with a heart and more importantly soul!

On the countary...

4 star
I don't think we need another budget hotel... Im sure they did their analysis and found that the shortage IS in 4-star hotel rather than in 2hr joints

name's terrible and the graphics awful!
The name makes perfect sense in that they had to link two existing buildings across Tiong Bahru Rd... at first I thought the bridge was terrible and the slant was aesthetically HORRIBLE.. being a sucker for symmetry.. I would have preferred it to cut across perpendicularly by extending the building on the right a bit.. but after they cladded it... I felt it was OK.

Did you mean the letterings to the Name or the logo design? Perhaps not bold & daring (too skinny) but I certainly dont want a huge "MOTEL" billboard over the entire building... that would be too LAS VAGASish...

a hotel that was in keeping with the whole area!
The windows and general design wasn't too LOUD and JARRING so I think it does keep in general to the whole art deco conservation area... although I disagreed with "HDB Tai Tai" that commented that the windows were the orig restored ones(they're obviously new ones and hinged in a very different manner).

In fact it was precisely becos of The Link that I wanted a unit in Tiong Bahru...

..or a Disney-fied copy!
Care to explain? I don't see ANY similarity to Disney (charaters) nor themed park nor something that Shouts of over-commercialization... just a modest hotel tucked in a quiet corner of the fringe of the CBD that provides functiona rooms in a room-shortage industry.

The only comment I have is that the Malay & Indian themed rooms dont look very Malay or Indian to me! I also recognise quite a bit of Ikea decor like carpets stuff tho.