Location:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/sophia.gif
Above image sourced from SLA's Streetmap@Singapore - http://www.map.gov.sg


Mount Sophia was originally named Bukit Seligi or Seligi Hill, and can be seen in Lt. Philip Jacksons sketch of 5 June 1823, one of the earliest drawings of Singapore, and J.T. Thomson's 1848 Survey Map. Captain William Flint, who occupied the hill with his family in later half of 1823, was linked to Raffles through Flint's marriage to Raffles' favourite sister, Maryanne (b.1789 - d.1837). Flint was appointed by Raffles as Singapore's first Master Attendant. Captain Flint grew spices on this hill for some years. Mount Sophia was apparently named by Flint, in honour of Raffles' second wife, and also after his own daughter, Mary Sophia Anne (b.1823 - d.1858). It was also known as Sophia Hill.

Mount Sophia was one of the earliest middle-class residential districts. Besides Flint, it was home to prominent businessman Eu Tong Sen. Others include August Behn, V. Lorenz Meyer and F.A. Schreiber (of Behn, Meyer & Co.) who were listed as the hills residents in 1842. In the early 1880s, the hill boasted of grand houses. On 6 June 1885, the Children's Home opened in Sophia Road. Sophia Flats, built in the 1930s, stands at the entrance to Mount Sophia. There are suggestions that the hills name was attributed to other Sophias - Sophia Blackmore who came to Singapore in 1887 and Sophia Cooke in Singapore in 1853. This is rather unlikely as maps from late 1823 had already shown the existence of this hill and it being named Mount Sophia. The two unrelated Sophias were missionaries who established schools for girls on the hill, namely, the Methodist Girl's School (MGS) and St. Margaret's. Both institutions were to gain recognition in Singapore as premier girls' schools. Sophia means "wisdom" in Greek and is an appropriate reference to the proliferation of educational institutions on that hill. These include Trinity College, and the Nanyang Academy (of Fine Arts or NAFA) which moved to Mount Sophia in 1983. The College has since moved to Upper Bukit Timah while NAFA to Bencoolen Street.

The Methodist Girls's School has relocated and in its place was once occupied by the Singapore Hotel Association Training & Educational Centre (SHATEC) and St. Francis Methodist School. SHATEC has since moved to Bukit Batok while St. Francis Methodist School to Upper Bukit Timah. At the foot of Mount Sophia is Selegie Road and once stood Singapore's first skyscrapper, Cathay Building and cinema. The building was opened in 1939 but Cathay shut down its business in 2000. A new 15-storey shopping-office-cum-cinema complex is expected to replace it by the end of 2005.

Variant Names

Chinese names:
(1) In Hokkien, ji-ong sua kha ti tek-kha khior.
(2) In Cantonese, yi-wong shan-keuk yau chuk-tsai keuk hui which literally translated means "foot of Governor's hill going up from Tek Kha where Tek Kha refers to the Selegie Road neighbourhood.


Author
Vernon Cornelius

Article Source: http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_482_2004-12-27.html
----------------------------------

Now, what's at Mount Sophia?

We discovered many interesting places...

Trinity College?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3488.jpg

across the street is 8@Mount Sophia under construction...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3485.jpg

next to 8@Mount Sophia are:

a childcare centre?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3491.jpg

its back...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3494.jpg

great views from there...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3495.jpg

... and a newly painted art-decor building.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3502.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3501.jpg

Do you know there is a nice quiet park on top?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3504.jpg

A "bus-stop" like structure with this thing on it... hmmm...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3506.jpg

Opposite the park, there's a sikh temple...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3510.jpg

closer...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3508.jpg

and a scary looking house...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3511.jpg

closer...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3512.jpg

Nomu can be seen clearly from Mount Sophia too

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3497.jpg

Hangout@Mt Emily!
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3518.jpg

http://www.hangouthotels.com/

Its restaurant http://www.wildrocket.com.sg

Sunken Shophouses
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3482.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3483.jpg

A small apartment with an interesting carpark system for max of 4 cars?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3462.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3463.jpg

I can even see City Square construction from Mount Sophia!
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3520.jpg

Some other buildings at Mount Sophia
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3484.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3503.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3472.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3470.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3475.jpg


looks like a distorted building
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3525.jpg

and here's some info about it
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3523.jpg

OMG! What's happening to the row of shophouses?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3532.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3529.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3533.jpg

The answer is here...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3535.jpg

This is how the apartment and conservation of shophouses looked from the front.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3536.jpg

Great place!!!

Wait.... isn't Cathay Apts under demolition???

Wait.... isn't Cathay Apts under demolition???

Don't think so. Look at point 1 & 2 on their specifications.
http://www.sinhengchan.com.sg/Nomu/Spec_r5_c2.gif

Did you take a pic of St. Margaret's Primary School? :)

Don't think so. Look at point 1 & 2 on their specifications.
http://www.sinhengchan.com.sg/Nomu/Spec_r5_c2.gif

Nomu is a reclad of Cathay? :?

Hyacinthus, you should take the lift up to the roof top terrace of Hangout@Mt Emily to take some pics of the surroundings. From there, you can also get some fantastic views of a huge (abandoned) hilltop mansion. I believe it's Eu Tong Seng's mansion situated next to Hangout. It looks really eerie at night.

Eu's mansion was demolished in the 1980s. Really a beauty, now gone. :(

Eu's mansion was demolished in the 1980s. Really a beauty, now gone. :(

If Eu's mansion was already demolished in the 80s, then whose owns that huge hilltop mansion on Mt Emily, next to Hangout hotel and the park? All along, I thought that's Eu Mansion.

Did you take a pic of St. Margaret's Primary School? :)

No.

It's just next to Istana. Don't want to be mistaken for terrorist. :D

RafflesCity may have a picture of it.

Hyacinthus, you should take the lift up to the roof top terrace of Hangout@Mt Emily to take some pics of the surroundings. From there, you can also get some fantastic views of a huge (abandoned) hilltop mansion. I believe it's Eu Tong Seng's mansion situated next to Hangout. It looks really eerie at night.

It's for hotel and restaurant guests. Restaurant was closed for private function. So, no chance.

RafflesCity took a picture of a mansion under reno. But, it's not Eu Tong Seng's Mansion.

That
s the former campus of NAFA. ;)

What renovation? :eek:

It's for hotel and restaurant guests. Restaurant was closed for private function. So, no chance.

RafflesCity took a picture of a mansion under reno. But, it's not Eu Tong Seng's Mansion.
That restaurant's really popular although rather pricey. Its called Wild Rocket@Emily. Patrons cannot dine without an appointment, which should be made at least 2 days in advance or else there are no tables for them. It's opened by a fellow schoolmate of mine (from what I heard), who gave up his lawyer's career to be a chef-owner of that restaurant.

A few months back, I explored the building and went up to the roof terrace to enjoy the amazing scenery since security is pretty lax as it is not a proper hotel but rather a youth hostel. Maybe you can try.....

That
s the former campus of NAFA. ;)

I c.... what was it before NAFA used it? Some eminent fellow's home?

The palatial Eu Villa, a victim of overlooking heritage:
http://202.172.245.30/picas/data/tn_pcd/19980006567-8105-3181-0775/img0116.jpg
http://202.172.245.30/picas/data/tn_pcd/19980005122-8073-3222-4726/img0019.jpg

Former NAFA, before it was NAFA:
http://202.172.245.30/picas/data/tn_pcd/19980005821-8106-3181-7911/img0061.jpg


Any idea if this is still around? :
http://202.172.245.30/picas/data/tn_pcd/19990007462-0004-3012-3018/img027.jpg
http://202.172.245.30/picas/data/tn_pcd/19990007462-0004-3012-3018/img036.jpg

and a scary looking house...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3511.jpg

closer...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3512.jpg

What a huge mess! :(
But looks like it's constantly maintained...

No.

It's just next to Istana. Don't want to be mistaken for terrorist. :D

RafflesCity may have a picture of it.
noteds. :D

Thank you hya for that very fine tour!

But looks like it's constantly maintained...

no...it was rotting quite badly and the grass was overgrown


That
s the former campus of NAFA. ;)

What renovation? :eek:

The white mansion next to Hangout was undergoing some renovation

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sophia1.jpg

Overall the Mt Sophia area (continuous with Mt Emily) seemed like a curious mix of small private apartments, abandoned buildings, as well as some fine historical architecture...but the atmosphere seemed kinda gloomy...although there is more of a 'buzz' nearer the Niven/MacKenzie Rd side...

An abandoned building next to the abandoned church in hya's first pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sophia2.jpg

A 50s/60s looking church at the entrance of Mt Sophia

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sophia3.jpg

Some artists got a grant to renovate the former NAFA building. Unfortunately, novel ideas but no money.

This building used to be the Japanese Consulate during the war.

What is going to happen to the mansion?

^^

no idea...but it looked like it was being done up...so it should be safe from demolition...the compound is also quite large

During my younger days when I was still a volunteer, we have been to this place called Wilkie Road Children Home. iirc, it is right at the end of Upper Wilkie Road, probably next to the unit number '10A' on the map below. I fondly remember Mt Emily Park.

Location:
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/sophia.gif
Above image sourced from SLA's Streetmap@Singapore - http://www.map.gov.sg

What is going to happen to the mansion?

In Jan this yr, I called up the URA regarding 10A (which is the white mansion) cos I had the intention to rent since it was vacant. Apparently, it has been so-called rented out for temporary use for arts purpose, perhaps that's the reason for the recent reno. Before that it was 1 of Nafa's campus until their new campus was built.
Hyacinthus, nice pics you've taken. I've seen that eerie abandoned house beside Istana when I drove to view the showroom for Parc Emily. I saw an old man locking up the place...was so tempted to ask him why the condition was such... I did some research on mt sophia cos I was considering to buy a unit at Parc Emily. Apparently, the site where the showroom for Parc Emily was used to be, is going to be Wilkie Apartment, also under CDL but it's been pending to be launched for a long time. It's very strange if a new apartment is going to sit between Hang-out at Emily and that eerie house! Anyone knows if CDL has bought over that scary unit? Maybe I should go wait for that old man and ask him :lol:

Its actually no.11 Upper Wilkie Road.

It is conserved for art purposes. Some studies were done and an initial scheme was presented to the Arts Council but dropped. Some artists were still interested in the building, turning it into their workspace/gallery. But with lack of funding, I'm not sure how far they can go from here.

In Jan this yr, I called up the URA regarding 10A (which is the white mansion) cos I had the intention to rent since it was vacant. Apparently, it has been so-called rented out for temporary use for arts purpose, perhaps that's the reason for the recent reno. Before that it was 1 of Nafa's campus until their new campus was built.
Hyacinthus, nice pics you've taken. I've seen that eerie abandoned house beside Istana when I drove to view the showroom for Parc Emily. I saw an old man locking up the place...was so tempted to ask him why the condition was such... I did some research on mt sophia cos I was considering to buy a unit at Parc Emily. Apparently, the site where the showroom for Parc Emily was used to be, is going to be Wilkie Apartment, also under CDL but it's been pending to be launched for a long time. It's very strange if a new apartment is going to sit between Hang-out at Emily and that eerie house! Anyone knows if CDL has bought over that scary unit? Maybe I should go wait for that old man and ask him :lol:

Where's the abandoned house? :eek:

oh ya @kit's rite, 10a is Hang-out @ Emily.
@redstone, I think the unit no. of the scary house is 6a.

Before the youth hostel building was NAFA, it was the campus for Nan Hwa Girls High School....the precursor to present-day Nan Hua Pri Sch and Nan Hua Sec Sch. My mum, aunts... went to school there there.

Before the youth hostel building was NAFA, it was the campus for Nan Hwa Girls High School....

Thanks for the lead.

Pictures are from http://schools.moe.edu.sg/nhss/AboutUs/Heritage/heritage.htm

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/MWSnap046.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/MWSnap047.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/MWSnap048.jpg

I find the design interesting...

... and a newly painted art-decor building.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3502.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3501.jpg

^^

This building appeared in todays paper as a building that a heritage group would explore suggesting for conservation. It certainly looks quite well-kept from its facade, although the grounds were a little derelict.

Anyway it's one of my favourite buildings up there

^^

This building appeared in todays paper as a building that a heritage group would explore suggesting for conservation. It certainly looks quite well-kept from its facade, although the grounds were a little derelict.

Anyway it's one of my favourite buildings up there

I saw it too... it's former NAFA campus.

Yup...it was NAFA's from 1984...I wonder what it was originally built for...it certainly looks like it couldve been a school...

I do hope Mt Sophia would not be turned into a condominium enclave. Such gorgeous buldings and architectures, they should be preserved and since its close vicinity with the arts, educations, entertainment and shopping districts, lets do a petition to be the next Montmarte of Singapore. A place where artists could hangout, sip coffees along the hills and houses filled with art activities, studios, galleries and cafes. - better if they are run by students or young entrepreneurs and not by some rich millionaires tycoons. It would really enchance the link between Orchard and Serangoon Rd as well

Govt is selling land on the slopes of Sophia... commercialization takes place over charm. :(

What about Mount Emily? What's the story?

Its actually no.11 Upper Wilkie Road.

It is conserved for art purposes. Some studies were done and an initial scheme was presented to the Arts Council but dropped. Some artists were still interested in the building, turning it into their workspace/gallery. But with lack of funding, I'm not sure how far they can go from here.

Its in today's Life section.

Emily gets a new home

22 Feb 07

It won't be lonely at the top anymore when five arts groups known collectively as Emily Hill take up residence in a colonial bungalow

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20070221/ST_IMAGES_LIFEMILY-WYYt.jpg

A HISTORIC bungalow perched vacant for almost three years at the hilltop of Upper Wilkie Road has come alive again.
Emily Hill, which is the name of a collective of five arts groups, rented the white colonial bungalow and its surrounding structures from the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) in May last year.

All the groups were looking for a home, and decided to join forces to form a mini-hub.

The National Arts Council offered the space.

When it opens at the end of the year, three art galleries, two studios, a theatre group and a bar - the latter has already started business - will fill the 20,000 sq ft space.

It joins other arts groups such as Sculpture Square in the Bugis/Bras Basah Area, which the Urban Redevelopment Authority had set aside in 2003 to develop as an arts and cultural hub.

Sculptor Sun Yu-Li, one of Emily Hill's members, says: 'There's a good mix of people from both the visual and performing arts. Hopefully that'll spark off new collaborations.'

He moved his studio and gallery from a terrace house in Racecourse Road in July last year to the Upper Wilkie Road bungalow.

His new gallery now takes up three out of four rooms in the bungalow.

The other Emily Hill members fill up the five two-storey blocks next to it.

They are the Theatre Training & Research Programme, a school run by Theatre Practice, Monsoonasia Gallery and glass artist Tan Sock Fong, who owns glass gallery Solideas, also situated there.

The property is on a three-year lease, renewable for another two terms every three years, for an undisclosed rent.

The National Arts Council says that the rent is at market rate as the house is not covered under the Arts Housing Scheme, which subsidises up to 90 per cent in rent.

Knight Frank director Nicholas Mak estimates that rent for commercial space is about $4 to $4.50 per sq ft in the area.

Emily Hill has already found four other tenants, including the T'ang Quartet and a traditional Chinese medicine outfit, which plants herbs in a plot behind the house.

But one prominent tenant who will pull in the crowds is Wo or Wild Oats, which is run by Mr Willin Low, owner of the popular restaurant Wild Rocket. Wo started business last week.

Mr Low, who spent $140,000 renovating the 800 sq ft bar on the bungalow's ground floor, says: 'This is a quaint spot with such character. It's perfect for a quiet bar.'

The Emily Hill members agree.

'It's in the middle of the city, yet it's quiet, and such a witness of history,' says Ms Tan, 40.

Indeed, the bungalow has seen some colourful occupants come and go.

Although it is not known when the house was built, the earliest record of its use was as the Japanese General Consulate in the late 1930s.

Then it became a home for wayward girls in the late 1960s, an orphanage in the 1980s and eventually the campus for the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1997.

But the spot lay vacant for almost three years before its latest occupants found their way in.

And to add a dash of kampung spirit to the place, the newcomers also planted sugarcane, banana and mango trees in the garden in front of the house.

Says Ms Tan: 'We're planting our roots here. Hopefully, it'll be a vibrant home for us and an iconic place for the arts.'


By Adeline Chia, ARTS REPORTER

Nice photo tour there, although I have no clue where it is lol.

I think it's right at Mt Emily hilltop, next to Hangout@ Mt Emily.

Nice photo tour there, although I have no clue where it is lol.

yup, cool picture. Looks like it's a great place to hang out with friends.
Can anybody tell me more about emily hill? Is it open to the public?

There is a park atop Emily Hill. Very peaceful.

really? A Park? Sure looks to be in my list of place to go. But what about the emily hill mansion, any infor about the place, or website?

really? A Park? Sure looks to be in my list of place to go. But what about the emily hill mansion, any infor about the place, or website?

Emily Hill mansion? You mean the mansion next to Hangout Hotel and the Mt Emily park that was just mentioned here?

yup. Do you have any clue?

Hyacinthus, thanks for the pics! What's the name of the modern looking building you photographed on Mount Sophia road - there is one with a contemporary looking glass front (Emily Residences?) and another one with curved green glass and terraces...

Hi everyone,
Does anyone know the history of Niven Road (near Mt Sophia/Emily). I'm looking at buying an apartment there but would love to know more about the history of the shophouses in the area.

Hyacinthus, thanks for the pics! What's the name of the modern looking building you photographed on Mount Sophia road - there is one with a contemporary looking glass front (Emily Residences?) and another one with curved green glass and terraces...

erm... not sure which were the ones referring to...

Mt Emily Park

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/surfers_/Parc%20Emily/05052007012.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/surfers_/Parc%20Emily/05052007013.jpg

Sophia Flats is now restored and looks very refreshing.

ahhh the little park...maybe it wont be as deserted now with more developments around the hill :)

Old MGS may be new arts haven

15 May 07

For a school that boasts Abigail Sin, a 14-year old prodigy on the piano as a past student, it is apt that the former Methodist Girls' School (MGS) site may soon be a haven for the arts.
.
A group of professionals have submitted a plan to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to transform the site into a "cultural village".
.
Led by architect Andrew Lau, they want to turn the existing buildings into space for performing arts groups, as well as studios and exhibition galleries.
.
The Mount Sophia Cultural Village is being inspired — on a modest scale — after the Cité International des Arts (International Arts City), in Paris. The latter is a foundation which administers two sites in Paris inspired by the artists' communes of the early 20th century. Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali worked in such communes.
.
A spokesperson for SLA confirmed to Today that it is evaluating the proposal. It is understood that the lease will be for three years — until 2010 — and monthly rent will be $28,900.
.
The 15,633 sq m site (about one and half times the size of a standard football field) is also within walking distance from the upcoming School of the Arts, which will enrol 13- to 18-year-olds from next year.
.
Lau said the village will have a "bohemian" feel, explaining that tenants will have the freedom to do whatever they want with the space they rent.
.
A photo studio and a music school have confirmed their intentions to move to the village, he said. There are also plans for living quarters for artists in residence.
.
"I know the village will not be a money-spinner," said Lau. "But art and culture is difficult to measure in money terms. At the end of the day, arts shouldn't be about money."
.
An old girl of the school, Doris Lim, was happy to hear of the plans.
.
"MGS has all along specialised in music and drama, so an arts and culture village seems to suit it. It's better than turning it into a commercial place," said the 49-year-old, who was at the school from 1971-1974.
.
MGS was started by Australian missionary Sophia Blackmore in 1887. In 1992, the school moved to its present premises at Blackmore Drive. The site has been vacant since 2000 after the Australian International School and hotel and tourism school Shatec moved out.


Juliana June Rasul

Taken on 30th April from Look Out at the rooftop terrace of Hangout @ Mt Emily.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/789/cimg2642zc9.jpg

http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/715/cimg2641kb1.jpg

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5601/cimg2646bi6.jpg

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/2305/cimg2644hy8.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3765/cimg2649zq9.jpg

^^ Singapore is really clean.....

What's on the rooftop? A Café? A restaurant? How did you get allowed there?

Real clean indeed, btw what's that uber white building on the fourth pic?

Real clean indeed, btw what's that uber white building on the fourth pic?

it is Peace Centre! as it is facing istana, this face have to less windows and seal off.

i have one photo of this building too:

http://www.pbase.com/gomus/image/78879905/original.jpg

As there was a private party, we were stopped from going up.

Thanks for sharing Maverick! :)

Oh, I see, thanks. Looks so clean, and futuristic.

Real clean indeed, btw what's that uber white building on the fourth pic?

Last time it was coffee brown! :ohno: :lol:

Last time it was coffee brown! :ohno: :lol:

this building is calling for enbloc soon...history soonnn

this building is calling for enbloc soon...history soonnn

Makes me wonder how tall they can build, with Istana so near.

What's on the rooftop? A Café? A restaurant? How did you get allowed there?

There is a tiny swimming pool a jacuzzi pool, deck chairs, landscaping etc. on the Look Out roof terrace. One side has a tall wall to prevent people looking in at the Istana nearby.

I walked in to the lobby and took the lift to level 7. None of the staff or receptionists stopped me as they were busy.

Makes me wonder how tall they can build, with Istana so near.

if they reconstruct the Peace Centre, I dont think they can build to such height any more...currently there is no window opening to Istana, if it is not wrong.

What the hell? It's so new and cool..

As there was a private party, we were stopped from going up.

Thanks for sharing Maverick! :)

You are most welcome! This was my 2nd trip up and I still love the view.

Here's a pic of Peace Centre during repainting in February 2005. It's anything but new ;-)

http://ssc.singapenguin.net/05/050218_peace_centre01.jpg

The old shopping mall still has the 1970-ish feel to it. ^ ^

Is the GFA of Peace Centre plot lower now?

Great views from up there & great weather too :)

The old shopping mall still has the 1970-ish feel to it. ^ ^

Is the GFA of Peace Centre plot lower now?

i think it is plot ratio is still 4.2......

[QUOTE=hyacinthus;10704327]Do you know there is a nice quiet park on top?
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3504.jpg

A "bus-stop" like structure with this thing on it... hmmm...
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3506.jpg

hi i'm sorta new here. would like to continue the conversation on my favourite neighbourhood.

thought i'll share a bit. there used to be a swimming pool which also served as a reservoir to the kandang kerbau area in that park.

and that bus-stop like structure was in fact the entrance to the pool.

kinda hard for me to imagine a pool there cos the park's terraced. but well, there you go, that's what the older folks who knew the area told me.

^^

This building appeared in todays paper as a building that a heritage group would explore suggesting for conservation. It certainly looks quite well-kept from its facade, although the grounds were a little derelict.

Anyway it's one of my favourite buildings up there

and this building was, in the 1970s, san shan primary school. it was also, for a short time, the holding school for mgs, before nafa took over and it became one of their campuses. it is a beautiful building, isn't it?

... and a newly painted art-decor building.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3502.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3501.jpg[/QUOTE]

oops, not very good with this thing. just realised the pictures didn't show up. i meant this building in the earlier post.

Thanks for updating on the history. Do you live around there? I read that the original MGS was located there, but in which building, I have no idea. Do you know?

An abandoned building next to the abandoned church in hya's first pic:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sophia2.jpg

yes, this picture which you posted here some time ago is in fact a picture of the former mgs campus. this was the site of the school for many decades before it moved to blackmore drive in bukit timah in the early '90s.

the building in the centre (with the letter 'a') is the oldest building on the grounds. it was named the olsen building after one of the principals of the school.

the building on the left which you can't really see is the newest building to come up. it was completed in 1983 and was called the ellice handy building, also after one of the former principals of the school.

this is not, however, the original site of the school. the original site is a shophouse in either short street or middle road, and i think it moved a few times before ending up at mount sophia.

the grounds was used to house shatec for a while after mgs moved and now, they're planning to turn it into an arts enclave.

i'm not yet a resident in the area but will be when parc emily 'top's. i did grow up in the jalan besar area and attended the school, hence a little knowledge of the background of the area.

Thanks for sharing :)

Looking at the design of the building, I am guessing it was built close to WW2.
Right now, it is quite drab and gloomy further up the hill with all the abandoned old buildings.

As many of these belong to the government, hopefully, they can also put them up for arts-related uses. It is near the 'arts' area too.

one thing at a time, i guess. there's lots of potential and i hope the plans to turn the area into an arts enclave will take off. i understand that a number of the older buildings are gazetted for preservation.

this is not, however, the original site of the school. the original site is a shophouse in either short street or middle road, and i think it moved a few times before ending up at mount sophia.


hello, i did further research and realised the above info isn't entirely accurate.:)

mgs was founded in 1887 by the australian missionary, sophia blackmore. it began in a shophouse at short street for nine little indian girls but by 1925, its enrolment had reached 150 and so the school moved to bigger facilities at mount sophia.

No wonder the road serving the present MGS campus is now named after the founder.

Anyway, I thought Selegie Rd & Niven Rds at the foot of Mt Sophia/Emily are also quite interesting in character. Theyre quite rich with historical buildings:

The historical street edge of Selegie
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/selegie1108.jpg

Its proximity to Little India can be sensed in the shops
http://i13.tinypic.com/63smpvr.jpg

Looking down at the row of shophouses along Niven Rd
http://i12.tinypic.com/5xq6mwh.jpg

just wondering if the opening is for the condo residents???

just wondering if the opening is for the condo residents???
Looks like it. Maybe part of the condo land.... ex-shophouse side alley.

yes, it is the pedestrian entrance to parc emily from niven road.

hopefully no shophouse was destroyed just for that (although I doubt it)

A similar case is happening for City Square, where a service lane is being created on an empty drainage next to a shophouse, as an access direct to Jalan Besar.

^^

as you can see from the pic, i think there use to be an old shophouse there.
perhaps the farcade of the walk way will be built to compliment the rest of the shophouses and wont be an eyesore, at the same time providing conveniences to parc emily residents..

i'm not sure but it is possible that there might not have been a shophouse there before. i used to live in a shophouse in jalan besar and there were these alleys in between shophouses which allowed for access to the next street.

i'm curious what stood on the parc emily site before.

Here is an overview of the area at the junction of Niven/Mackenzie Roads.

I notice the used-car centre has been around for a very long time. There's also an interesting new condo in the front of the pic, which is integrated into the shophouses along Mackenzie Rd.

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j67/RCSSC/sophiaoverview.jpg

There used to ba an ultra grand mansion Eu Villa there, demolished in the 1980s:(

*cancelled*

i'm not sure but it is possible that there might not have been a shophouse there before. i used to live in a shophouse in jalan besar and there were these alleys in between shophouses which allowed for access to the next street.

i'm curious what stood on the parc emily site before.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2125/2130473500_c6b90f7a76.jpg?v=0

this is not clear but to the right of the picture, sticking out above the zinc covering is the remnant of a pillar. there used to be another one on the left. maybe, it's still there but my camera didn't capture it.

i think these pillars marked the entrance to an alley that led to whatever used to be the parc emily site.

i could be wrong but what do y'all think...?

There used to ba an ultra grand mansion Eu Villa there, demolished in the 1980s:(

yes, sad, sad. they should have kept it. it really was valuable for the history it represented.

Understand the strong presence of Jews that once resided along Wilke Rd bungalows before making way to the apartments bldgs

With the rapid redevelopment, any invasion of the massive condo project up the hill will literally caused an imbalance of the natural landscape that offer an atmosphere of tranquility there.

The former MGS bldg, without a impressive architectural might is potentially on the next URA site ripe for harvesting, considering it has the rich recipe for good sizeable land which offers panoramic views that commands $$$

After conquering the Cairnhill's Hilltop, this Mt Emily Hilltop is already on SC Gobal radar sight, aptly named "Mgstop Residence"

There used to ba an ultra grand mansion Eu Villa there, demolished in the 1980s:(

I think what is on site is now the white boxy condominium, Adis Villas?

Understand the strong presence of Jews that once resided along Wilke Rd bungalows before making way to the apartments bldgs

With the rapid redevelopment, any invasion of the massive condo project up the hill will literally caused an imbalance of the natural landscape that offer an atmosphere of tranquility there.

The former MGS bldg, without a impressive architectural might is potentially on the next URA site ripe for harvesting, considering it has the rich recipe for good sizeable land which offers panoramic views that commands $$$

After conquering the Cairnhill's Hilltop, this Mt Emily Hilltop is already on SC Gobal radar sight, aptly named "Mgstop Residence"

hopefully, not for the next few years...

Creative ’school’ of thought
October 27, 2007 ·

Old School building and a bungalow near the city centre now house art galleries, studios and other such businesses

‘CREATIVE clusters’ was a term first used a few years ago to encourage synergies between artistic creativity, entrepreneurship and technological innovation. Today, it’s happening in the physical space as well.

Creative hubs are popping up along the fringes of the city centre: a photography studio opens next to a graphics design outfit, a fashion designer is a few doors down from an architectural firm, or an events management company is a stone’s throw from a cult fashion house.

One interesting cluster is taking shape at Mount Sophia, among the newest spaces that is being transformed by the creative arts. The venue is the former Methodist Girls’ School (MGS) building at 11 Mount Sophia - now simply known as Old School. Its tagline explains its new use: digs for new school thinkers. The most obvious physical change to the school is a spanking new coat of white paint, but the overall look of the 1920s building is still reminiscent of the time it operated as MGS.

The former school has been leased from the Singapore Land Authority by 11@Mount Sophia Pte Ltd, whose directors are entrepreneur (and comic lover) Ken Chong, architect Andrew Lau and another businessman who prefers to remain anonymous. Because of the three business partners’ passion for the arts, they’ve sub-leased the six blocks to over 30 companies comprising art galleries, creative studios, artists’ studios, a couple of eateries, and even an art film theatre.

Appealing space

On the fine arts side, there are studios for artists like Lim Poh Tek, Baet Yeok Kuan and cultural medallion winner Chua Ek Kay. Then, there’s the international Osage gallery group (Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai) which will have an 8,800-square-foot showroom there.

Among the commercial arts tenants are graphic arts, interior design and architectural firms, with advertising agency Saatchi Lab taking up the entire second floor of one block. There are also a few photography studios, and digital-imaging companies like Infinite Imaging. One of Singapore’s most famous fashion designers, Wykidd Song, has located his new made-to-measure business there.

Most of the tenants seem to have found out about Old School through the grapevine, as Tjin Lee of Mercury Marketing & Communications relates. ‘We’d heard about the space and inquired about it, but it was only when a photographer friend recommended us to the landlord that the doors magically opened to us,’ she quips.

A former MGS girl herself, she feels it’s a bit ‘weird’ to be going back to her alma mater, but at least the two classroom spaces she has taken won’t be filled with desks and chairs. ‘We know the photographers who have studios there, so it’ll be fun to be neighbours with them. We’re looking forward to working at a place with creative buzz,’ adds Ms Lee.

Old School’s setting - with its open, green spaces - is what appealed to Saatchi Lab. ‘This place is quite different, not so commercial - which is what an advertising agency looks for. Here, we get to look out of the window and see trees, and squirrels and birds,’ says Doris Tan, the agency’s general manager. The ‘charming’ space appealed to fashion photographer Wee Khim, who was previously based at Henderson Industrial Park. ‘I was looking at Dempsey at first, until this came up,’ he says. His studio occupies the school’s former hall. ‘It’s a bit of a dream studio for me,’ he says. This is the first time he’s had a space like this, working alongside creative neighbours in a green, open setting. ‘The environment is certainly more conducive.’

Wykidd Song thinks Old School is a great idea as creative companies like to be in a more relaxed, unconventional environment. He says he can ‘feel something happening here’. Then, there are the practical pluses. ‘It’s having the luxury of space, while being close to the city, at a less costly rent.’

He’s taken up two classrooms, or 1,400 square feet of space, for his showroom, lounge area and workshop - a far cry from the time he started Song + Kelly in a 500-sq-ft room in an HDB estate in Chinatown.

Over at Mount Emily - within walking distance - another creative cluster has sprung up, next to the Hangout Hotel.

Emily Hill, a stately conservation bungalow, represents a spontaneous gathering together of artists and businesses that want to work with the arts, explains Emily Hills’s spokeswoman.

The founding members who got together to lease the bungalow from the National Arts Council are glass artist Tan Sock Fong, Solideas, a new art glass studio of which Sock Fong is co-founder, renowned sculptor Sun Yu-li, art gallery Monsoonasia Gallery and Theatre Training and Research Programme.

‘The first concern was simply working space. None of us could take this whole place on our own, but we all loved it and wanted to work here. So that’s the first reason for this creative cluster. Also, members found ourselves already working together in various ways, and went forward with the idea of facilitating collaborations between arts and business,’ she says. ‘One important part of that is to build capacity in the arts sector, which Emily Hill has started doing through its Art WORK series of workshops, including topics like ‘The Art of Negotiation’, ‘Introduction to Intellectual Property’, etc’.

While the founding arts members occupy about 80 per cent of the space at Emily Hill, the other tenants are Showtime Productions, run by jazz musician Jeremy Monteiro; Colin K Okashimo & Associates, a landscape architecture firm which has retained its main office elsewhere, but rented a studio here ‘for contemplation and inspiration’; TeamAct EduServices, a company providing educational experiences for young people; and Oakdale, a visual communications company.

The only F&B outlet is Wild Oats bar and cafe, owned by former lawyer Willin Low, who first opened the Wild Rocket restaurant at the hotel next door. ‘The creative cluster makes sense to us simply because all the tenants are open to the idea of collaboration and are keen to work together,’ says the spokeswoman.

Will such creative clusters work in the long run? As long as the balance between businesses and the arts is maintained, reckons Ho Kee Lam, the CEO of Traffic Pte Ltd which manages Red Dot Traffic, a colonial building in Maxwell Road which used to be the Traffic Police’s headquarters until 1999. ‘The anchor tenant for this building is actually Red Dot Museum, the second in the world after the first one in Germany. ‘We decided to create a cluster of creative businesses around the museum and the design awards we have, as we hoped it would stimulate the product design sector,’ Mr Ho explains.

Red Dot Traffic opened in 2005, and put the spotlight on building clusters of creative companies. Its 30-plus tenants are advertising agencies, schools and design studios. ‘We also wanted to offer these creative companies a chance to have their office situated closer to the city centre,’ he says.

But Red Dot Traffic’s hope is that it will draw more product and industrial design tenants in the future. ‘It could be because we didn’t market this strongly enough. And secondly, a number of creatives still don’t see the value of being situated in the city,’ says Mr Ho. Red Dot Traffic is keeping the balance at 80-20, with a minimum 20 per cent of its tenants having to be from the creative industries.

With rents for office space sky-rocketing, it also helps that places like Old School are offering rental rates that are 20 to 30 per cent below market rate for the area. That’s certainly an attractive carrot for key creative businesses to relocate there.

It definitely looks like creative clustering in unconventional spaces is the new school of thought these days.

Source: Business Times 26 Oct 07

[QUOTE=oolingo;17307602]hopefully, not for the next few years...

Only another prolong recession will slow the acceleration pace of urban redevelopment.

It is akin to the demise of the once famous Yaohan's an-pan to the emergence of BreadTalk's porkfloss, yet both offered an oven baked freshness.

Merry Christmas.

^^
whatever will be, will be. blessed christmas to you too.

Former Christian college born again as arts complex

5 May 08

National monument site in Mount Sophia will house creative and artistic ventures

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20080505/ST861847101_01_0001.jpg

THE winds of change have breathed new life into the old premises of the Trinity Theological College in Mount Sophia, which will reopen this month as a creative arts complex.
The site, designated a national monument in 2001, has been vacant since the college moved out that year.

At that time, the Government had acquired the locale for the development of the North East Line. It finally put the leasehold site up for tender in August last year.

In February, private school owner Jimmy Tan became the highest bidder for the site, which covers close to 80,000 sq ft.

Mr Tan, who has yet to come up with a new name for the complex, intends to bring in tenants from artistic and creative fields such as dance, music and design.

He said he saw it not only as a good business opportunity, but also as a way to express his personal interest in the arts.

'There are art schools and galleries in the Middle Road area and the School of the Arts and the Singapore Art Museum nearby. So it fits in with this area, which has been designated an arts and creative hub,' said Mr Tan.

It follows in the footsteps of another school site just next door, which was also turned into an arts centre. The old site of Methodist Girls' School now houses art galleries and offices for creative businesses and is known as Old School.

Six tenants are set to move into the Mount Sophia complex this month, when internal renovations are complete. They include a digital animation studio, a major advertising agency, an artists' lodge, a photography studio and a video production house.

The distinctive Art Deco church sanctuary, which features graceful sweeping arches, will be the new office for Union, an architecture and interior design collective.

Mr Mark Wee, one of the three directors of Union, plans to hold monthly design talks and workshops so that the public will have the chance to explore what he calls 'a beautiful historical building'.

The non-denominational college was set up at 7 Mount Sophia in 1948 by the heads of the Methodist, English Presbyterian and Anglican churches, who had been interned together in Changi Prison during the Japanese Occupation. The Lutheran Church joined the fold in 1963.

Reverend Ngoei Foong Nghian, an alumnus of the Trinity Theological College who became its principal in 2001, said he was heartened that the college was being put to good use again.

'It's a sacred place. The arts is something that touches the inner soul and stability of man, just like what faith tries to do,' said Rev Ngoei.


By Tessa Wong

Since when was it a National Monument? It's not in the official list

I was also puzzled when the article reported that...could it be a mistake? Here is a look at it again from a pic posted earlier:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3488.jpg

In any case, at least its being reused...the area there was so spooky!

I was also puzzled when the article reported that...could it be a mistake? Here is a look at it again from a pic posted earlier:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h204/hyapic01/DSC_3488.jpg

In any case, at least its being reused...the area there was so spooky!
Only the main church building with sloping roofs look iconic. The rest of the boxy 70s style buildings look quite common.

^^

yup I also notice that lately the focus has shifted to buildings of this age, there are quite a number of churches in this style I think.

The church itself is not from 1930s, yes its from the 1970s/60s era. It's more of Modern than Art Deco. Come from the same era as Niemeyer, perhaps partly inspired by his usage of freeform structural concrete?

I think Eu Villa was on the site.