GROUP 5 KKL

JOO CHIAT KATONG

TIONG BAHRU
SINGAPORE RIVER
PROFILE OF JOO CHIAT
SINGAPORE
• The Joo Chiat/Katong neighbourhood, located on
the Eastern side of the island is known for being
one of the first heritage towns in Singapore.
• The locals would reveal that the neighbourhood
has always been synonymous with the Peranakan
(Straits-born people with Chinese and Malay or
Indonesian and European heritage) culture.
• Now, the condition of Joo Chiat is a mix of old and
new. From traditional heritage shophouses to
hipster bars and shops, this is definitely an area not
to be missed when you are visiting Singapore.
Here is the ultimate walking guide for you to uncover the
best gems hidden in this neighbourhood
THE UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT
JOO CHIAT/KATONG

Visit Hindu and Budhist Temple

Shop in Joo Chiat Complex
There’s a Kuan Im Tng Temple and Sri
An old-school shopping mall, the Joo
Senpaga Vinayagar Temple in Joo Chiat.
Chiat Complex separates itself from the Perfect Your OOTD Shot with an Insta-
rest by offering a plethora of fabrics and worthy Background
textiles, Malay traditional clothing, food
One of, if not the most representative icons of Joo
and jewelry
Chiat would be these colourful Peranakan
shophouses along Koon Seng Road. Built in the
1920s, these two to three storey residential
houses are distinct due to their pastel hues and
nicely designed exterior. Upon inspection, you
would realise that there are recurring uses of
flowers patterns, tiles and intricate detailing on its
facade.

Revive Traditional Peranakan Crafts

Try Traditional Food/Snack You can sign up for the beading classes here and you’ll walk away a Peranakan craftsman. Beading is a
You can try traditional food such as roti proud artistic tradition of the community that involves embroidering hundreds of tiny, coloured beads
prata and kaya toast at Chin Mee Chin onto shoes, bags and other accessories. You can find it at Rumah Bebe, Rumah Kim Choo, etc.
Confectionery or other restaurant.
JOO CHIAT KATONG CONTRIBUTION
IN SINGAPORE DEVELOPMENTS
• Katong is relatively quiet as compared
to other heartland malls such as JEM
and Junction 8. It is, however, a
notable attempt at commercialisation.
Other nearby areas have also been
contracted for further development,
such as Katong Village and the ‘Red
House Bakery’, with these
constructions proposed as additions
to the pre-existing sites rather than
replacements of them (Figure 3A).
This is reassuring as it allows for the
preservation of such heritage sites
while at the same time stimulating
economic growth and development.
DEVELOPMENT PLANS STILL
ALLOW FOR HERITAGE
CONSERVATION
• The bulk of URA’s redevelopment plans
revolves around conserving the distinctive.
Eurasian and Peranakan influenced terrace
houses and shophouses found in Joo Chiat.
These colonial buildings definitely hold
historic value, yet we noticed that many of
them give off an ‘abandoned’ vibe as they
are obviously run-down and not well-
maintained, creating a general sense of
dullness in the area.
• Furthermore, only a handful of shophouses
function as heritage sites that allow for
leisurely visits and observation. As Joo Chiat
is home to a variety of ethnic enclaves,
many of the traditional ethnic buildings
have retained their original, very specific
commercial functions that cater mostly only
to those native to the area, which may
deter both locals and tourists from
frequenting the area. Joo Chiat, then,
appears to be attractive only as a heritage
site, for people to observe the traditions
and cultures of the different ethnicities that
it comprises, and does not hold much
appeal for the general public otherwise.
PROFILE OF TIONG
BAHRU
Tiong Bahru is a housing estate with architectural, cultural and historic significance. Tiong bahru located within
the Bukit Merah Planning Area, in the Central Region of Singapore. Tiong Bahru was constructed in the 1920s
by the Singapore Improvement Trust, the predecessor to the Housing Development Board and an entity of the
British colonial authority providing mass public housing in Singapore and is the oldest housing estate in
Singapore. The main estate consists of 30 apartment blocks with over 900 units of two to five rooms. There are
also high-rise Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats and condominiums along Boon Tiong Road, Jalan
Membina and Kim Tian Road which surround the main estate
The name of the estate is derived from the Hokkien word “tiong”, meaning “to die” or “in the end”, and the
Malay word “bahru”, meaning “new”. When put together, the term “Tiong Bahru” was used by the locals to
refer to the “new” cemetery beside the Heng San Teng Burial Ground or the Old Chinese Burial Ground located
at the present site of the Singapore General Hospital. According to then Municipal Engineer WT Carrington, the
Tiong Bahru burial ground was probably established in 1859, about 30 years after the Heng San Teng Burial
Ground was established
There are facilities of the estate is shopping centre, the Tiong Bahru Plaza. Other facilities include a community
centre opened in 1948; the 3.3 hectare Tiong Bahru Park and Zhangde primary school. Alexandra Primary
School and Singapore General Hospital are nearby. A number of cafes, restaurants and boutique shops cater to
western Ex-Pats and Singaporean hipsters. These compliment the traditional Kopitiams and Hainanese
restaurants. The Qi Tian Gong temple on Eng Hoon Street is dedicated to the Monkey God.
UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT
TIONG BAHRU
In 1945, two house shops were sacrificed to build a wet market on the Tiong Poh
Road. The market was named after the Fujian merchant and shipping magnate,
Khoo Tiong Poh (1830 – 1892). However, the space in the market was too small to
accommodate all the hawkers who desired a space. The market was constructed
of stalls with a simple wooden frame and zinc pitched roofs. Meats were hung
without refrigeration.

In 1927, 70 acres of land were acquired by Singapore

Improvement Trust (SIT) as a test case for public housing
estate. This style incorporated curved horizontal lines that
embodied the machine age of automobiles. As a result, many
settlers regarded the buildings as ‘fei ji lou’, or aeroplane flats
in Chinese. the design was the first time the climate was taken
into consideration as it include tropical elements such as higher
ceilings, large windows, and balconies.
 TIONG BAHRU'S CONTRIBUTION IN
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SINGAPORE
• The architectural identity of Tiong Bahru is visually
determined by its architectural characteristics which
are a blend of the development of the 'Streamline
Moderne' before the war and the post-war
'International Style' flat. This architectural style also
combines other features such as a five foot walk,
back stairs and a climate-appropriate layout in
Singapore, which is a forerunner of the important
style of HDB flats.
• Tiong Bahru has a rich history, unique architecture,
and familiar street views, so it is well liked by the
people of Singapore. A total of 20 pre-war flat blocks
and 36 shop houses have been preserved so that
Tiong Bahru can continue to evolve with the
assurance that the identity and charm of the region is
always maintained. This is perhaps the only complete
public housing scheme from the period that can be
found in Southeast Asia today
• Based on this, Tiong Bahru contributed in preserving
one of the heritage areas in Singapore
 PROFILE OF
SINGAPORE RIVER
• The Singapore River was where modern Singapore
began as a British trading centre in 1819.
• Today, the Singapore River no longer functions as a
harbour for regional trade, but it continues to flow
past many landmarks, buildings and
neighbourhoods that were integral features of the
riverine landscape.
• The Singapore River runs for about three
kilometres from its headwaters near Kim Seng
Bridge to its mouth, flowing beneath Anderson
Bridge and into Marina Bay.
 The Rhythm of the night
UNIQUE THINGS ABOUT
SINGAPORE RIVER
From its origins as a fishing village known as Temasek, to its role as a
trading port under the British Empire, the Lion City’s history has
been inseparable from that of the Singapore River.
During the colonial era, the Singapore River became a flourishing
hub of commerce, with dock hands toiling along its dusty banks, and
flotillas of boats docked along its three quays.
The Singapore River is a beloved nightlife district and tourist hotspot,
Riverside Restaurants and Global Dining with buzzing bars, eclectic eateries and iconic clubs spread across
Robertson Quay, Boat Quay and Clarke Quay.
Traveling around Singapore with the Singapore River Cruise by Water B.

To expand culinary horizons, take a stroll down the Singapore River,
and experience flavours from all over the globe. Other dining
establishments along the river include Tomo Izakaya—which boasts a
menu of diverse Japanese small dishes—and Wings Bar, a 1940s
aviation-themed eatery.
There are various interesting tourist attractions in Singapore, one of the
most popular tourists is the Singapore River Cruise by WaterB. By
sailing around the most famous river in Singapore, you can enjoy and
see the magnificent skyscrapers which are none other than the central
office in Singapore (CBD Singapore) but also will be presented with a
variety of famous landmarks here.
 The river-port’s waterways and quays were hubs of economic
activity as flotillas of boats plied its waters, loading and
unloading their goods for import or re-expor

the Singapore River is the venue for many public

events and activities, including the Singapore River
Regatta (since 1983) River Nights Heritage
Festival, and the Singapore River Festival (since
2008).

Singapore’s free port status and strategic location attracted all types of sailing
craft, especially those plying the trade routes between India and China. From the
beginning, the Singapore River had been the focal point of trading activities. The
river’s calm waters served as the harbour for the growing settlement