A visit to Arab Street - Page 11

RafflesCity · March 16th, 2009, 06:44 AM

Arabian magic for Muscat Street in S'pore

16 Mar 09

MUSCAT (OMAN) - : Arabian nights will come to life in Singapore's Muscat Street - with Oman helping to create the magic.
Recent plans by the two countries to rejuvenate the architecture of Muscat Street along traditional Omani lines received a boost yesterday with the inking of a Memorandum of Intent to develop the street.

The idea is to bring a little of the real Muscat - the Omani capital - to the historic road behind the Sultan Mosque in the Arab Street area.

A flavour of Oman will be evident in the architecture and the lighting, for instance, and also in the street life.

Re-enacting the story of Sinbad the sailor and his legendary voyages is one possibility. The birthplace of Sinbad is the small fishing port of Sohar in Oman.

Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed told reporters: 'More than infrastructure, we also hope to bring in cultural groups.

'We will bring Muscat Street to life.'

The memorandum was signed by him and Oman's secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Bedr Al-Busaidi.

Oman has a long civilisation and rich culture. Singapore and the sultanate are mindful of the wealth of cultural links that may be formed, partly because the Republic has a long-time connection to the region through Singaporeans of Arab descent.

On another front, a Memorandum of Understanding on education was inked by both countries.

This is a broad agreement to intensify cooperation on education through exchanges of information and experiences. Training programmes and visits are also covered by the pact.

On behalf of the Education Ministry, the memorandum was signed by Dr Lee Boon Yang, the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts.

These signings were witnessed by President SR Nathan, who last Thursday embarked on a fortnight of state visits to Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

LEE SIEW HUA
Straits Times

xtemujin · March 16th, 2009, 10:18 AM

This is like deja vu, was it the same agreement last year ?

RafflesCity · March 16th, 2009, 10:23 AM

There was? I didnt come across any news on this, which specifically refers to Muscat Street. The article is quite specific on the ideas that they have...

xtemujin · March 16th, 2009, 12:32 PM

Yeah, this is like a cut and paste article as I remembered about the lighting and Sinbad.

RafflesCity · April 11th, 2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xtemujin

Hi Rafflescity,

I'm asking about this hotel which is near the Sultan Mosque.

image hosted on flickr

An update from today. Not quite open yet.

And how it used to look:

RafflesCity · April 11th, 2009, 04:02 PM

Another look at the new Hotel 81 along Jalan Sultan:

Along the same row, these shophouses have been sold and await restoration:

Pengui · April 11th, 2009, 06:42 PM

Haha, the picture with Marilyn is so cool ^ ^
Good to see this district coming back to life, though.

RafflesCity · April 12th, 2009, 09:51 AM

LOL...here is a 'similar' angle, taken along the stretch of textile shops:

RafflesCity · April 12th, 2009, 09:52 AM

More streetscape

Some pretty shophouses

xtemujin · April 12th, 2009, 11:30 AM

RafflesCity,

Nice photos and thanks for the update bro.

Nothing much is really happening with that hotel except that the wooden windows are staining the white walls.

My Kampong Glam Flickr album.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtemuji...7603744262285/

RafflesCity · April 13th, 2009, 03:29 PM

No worries, I see that in your collection you have captured every single detail of the restoration efforts. Very rare and inspiring

It'll be weird if they left the building completely white, maybe one good thing about the staining is it helps to give a more 'aged' look

It's also nice to see that they have retained what must have been the original shop engravings on the facade:

image hosted on flickr

However this may not be the final colour...

xtemujin · April 14th, 2009, 04:12 PM

Yeah, it might not be white in the final colour.

There's no information about when the project will end.

Many thanks for the kind comments.

redstone · April 14th, 2009, 05:47 PM

I wonder would it had been better had the area been allowed to develop naturally (but conserved).

ddes · April 15th, 2009, 08:47 AM

How can you "develop naturally" but keep it "conserved". It's an oxymoron.

The "natural" succession of events, would have seen developers flattening them for better use of the land. Once you have some place of 'control', it's no longer organic in its development.

redstone · April 15th, 2009, 09:28 AM

What I mean is, conserve all the buildings, BUT do not use land acquisition to acquire properties and re-sell them like what they did in Chinatown and parts of Kg Glam.

This would only destroy the original charm of the area.

A good way I think would be the option of people wanting to sell their properties (as opposed to being forcefully acquired), to sell to the URA and URA would initiate the redevelopment and zoning, etc for these properties.

Development in this context doesn't necessary have to be redevelopment, physical rebuild, but an organic, natural change of use. At least this would be more subtle.

Rekarte · April 18th, 2009, 09:53 AM

Arab immigrants have in Singapore?

Simon91 · April 18th, 2009, 04:08 PM

I believe there is quite a decent Arabian expat community here, but Arab Street is mostly to preserve the heritage of colonial times and mixture of Malay and Arab traders.

I'm sure the descendants of Arabs are still living here, although majority of people here were mixed with other races generations before.

xtemujin · August 19th, 2009, 01:30 PM

The toy store has repainted it's building.

300609(Tue)

image hosted on flickr

190809(Wed)

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

It's going to be the second Hari Raya and the hotel is still not ready.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

No worries, I see that in your collection you have captured every single detail of the restoration efforts. Very rare and inspiring

It'll be weird if they left the building completely white, maybe one good thing about the staining is it helps to give a more 'aged' look

It's also nice to see that they have retained what must have been the original shop engravings on the facade:

image hosted on flickr

However this may not be the final colour...

RafflesCity · August 20th, 2009, 03:43 AM

I like the new shophouse colour! (although it is a bit garish)

Has that bungalow-hotel at Jalan Kubor been completed?

xtemujin · August 21st, 2009, 02:40 AM

Second Hari Raya and the hotel is still not yet finished.

However, the new hotel behind it is already completed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

I like the new shophouse colour! (although it is a bit garish)

Has that bungalow-hotel at Jalan Kubor been completed?

March 16th, 2009, 10:18 AM	#202
xtemujin Ahmoi with Matador Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapura, Singapore Posts: 448 Likes (Received): 0	This is like deja vu, was it the same agreement last year ? __________________ http://xtemujin.wordpress.com/

March 16th, 2009, 12:32 PM	#204
xtemujin Ahmoi with Matador Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapura, Singapore Posts: 448 Likes (Received): 0	Yeah, this is like a cut and paste article as I remembered about the lighting and Sinbad. __________________ http://xtemujin.wordpress.com/

April 12th, 2009, 11:30 AM	#210
xtemujin Ahmoi with Matador Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapura, Singapore Posts: 448 Likes (Received): 0	RafflesCity, Nice photos and thanks for the update bro. Nothing much is really happening with that hotel except that the wooden windows are staining the white walls. My Kampong Glam Flickr album. http://www.flickr.com/photos/xtemuji...7603744262285/ __________________ http://xtemujin.wordpress.com/

April 14th, 2009, 04:12 PM	#212
xtemujin Ahmoi with Matador Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Singapura, Singapore Posts: 448 Likes (Received): 0	Yeah, it might not be white in the final colour. There's no information about when the project will end. Many thanks for the kind comments. __________________ http://xtemujin.wordpress.com/

April 14th, 2009, 05:47 PM	#213
redstone The Uninspired Architect Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 14,068 Likes (Received): 0	I wonder would it had been better had the area been allowed to develop naturally (but conserved). __________________ http://redstonean.deviantart.com/

March 16th, 2009, 06:44 AM	#201
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 2	Arabian magic for Muscat Street in S'pore 16 Mar 09 MUSCAT (OMAN) - : Arabian nights will come to life in Singapore's Muscat Street - with Oman helping to create the magic. Recent plans by the two countries to rejuvenate the architecture of Muscat Street along traditional Omani lines received a boost yesterday with the inking of a Memorandum of Intent to develop the street. The idea is to bring a little of the real Muscat - the Omani capital - to the historic road behind the Sultan Mosque in the Arab Street area. A flavour of Oman will be evident in the architecture and the lighting, for instance, and also in the street life. Re-enacting the story of Sinbad the sailor and his legendary voyages is one possibility. The birthplace of Sinbad is the small fishing port of Sohar in Oman. Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed told reporters: 'More than infrastructure, we also hope to bring in cultural groups. 'We will bring Muscat Street to life.' The memorandum was signed by him and Oman's secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sayyid Bedr Al-Busaidi. Oman has a long civilisation and rich culture. Singapore and the sultanate are mindful of the wealth of cultural links that may be formed, partly because the Republic has a long-time connection to the region through Singaporeans of Arab descent. On another front, a Memorandum of Understanding on education was inked by both countries. This is a broad agreement to intensify cooperation on education through exchanges of information and experiences. Training programmes and visits are also covered by the pact. On behalf of the Education Ministry, the memorandum was signed by Dr Lee Boon Yang, the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts. These signings were witnessed by President SR Nathan, who last Thursday embarked on a fortnight of state visits to Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. LEE SIEW HUA Straits Times

March 16th, 2009, 10:23 AM	#203
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 2	There was? I didnt come across any news on this, which specifically refers to Muscat Street. The article is quite specific on the ideas that they have...

April 11th, 2009, 04:02 PM	#206
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 2	Another look at the new Hotel 81 along Jalan Sultan: Along the same row, these shophouses have been sold and await restoration:

April 11th, 2009, 06:42 PM	#207
Pengui Tallest on his iceberg Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Singapore / Paris Posts: 3,628 Likes (Received): 1	Haha, the picture with Marilyn is so cool ^ ^ Good to see this district coming back to life, though.

April 12th, 2009, 09:51 AM	#208
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 2	LOL...here is a 'similar' angle, taken along the stretch of textile shops:

April 12th, 2009, 09:52 AM	#209
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 2	More streetscape Some pretty shophouses

April 13th, 2009, 03:29 PM	#211
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 2	No worries, I see that in your collection you have captured every single detail of the restoration efforts. Very rare and inspiring It'll be weird if they left the building completely white, maybe one good thing about the staining is it helps to give a more 'aged' look It's also nice to see that they have retained what must have been the original shop engravings on the facade: image hosted on flickr However this may not be the final colour...

April 15th, 2009, 08:47 AM	#214
ddes Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5,237 Likes (Received): 30	How can you "develop naturally" but keep it "conserved". It's an oxymoron. The "natural" succession of events, would have seen developers flattening them for better use of the land. Once you have some place of 'control', it's no longer organic in its development.

April 15th, 2009, 09:28 AM	#215
redstone The Uninspired Architect Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 14,068 Likes (Received): 0	What I mean is, conserve all the buildings, BUT do not use land acquisition to acquire properties and re-sell them like what they did in Chinatown and parts of Kg Glam. This would only destroy the original charm of the area. A good way I think would be the option of people wanting to sell their properties (as opposed to being forcefully acquired), to sell to the URA and URA would initiate the redevelopment and zoning, etc for these properties. Development in this context doesn't necessary have to be redevelopment, physical rebuild, but an organic, natural change of use. At least this would be more subtle. __________________ http://redstonean.deviantart.com/ Last edited by redstone; April 15th, 2009 at 10:15 AM.

April 18th, 2009, 09:53 AM	#216
Rekarte Libertarian Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 19,816 Likes (Received): 749	Arab immigrants have in Singapore? __________________ Libertários

April 18th, 2009, 04:08 PM	#217
Simon91 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: People's Republic of Singapore Posts: 1,416 Likes (Received): 13	I believe there is quite a decent Arabian expat community here, but Arab Street is mostly to preserve the heritage of colonial times and mixture of Malay and Arab traders. I'm sure the descendants of Arabs are still living here, although majority of people here were mixed with other races generations before.

August 20th, 2009, 03:43 AM	#219
RafflesCity By Spirit Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S I N G A P O R E Posts: 26,215 Likes (Received): 2	I like the new shophouse colour! (although it is a bit garish) Has that bungalow-hotel at Jalan Kubor been completed?

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