Travel Singapore : HOME

From a quiet fishing village to an established entreport under the British colony; with the changes of time - the economy grew. It boomed. That was somehow the equation; Boomed economy equals increased population.

It all started with the people, transients who became immigrants and eventually stayed and made Singapore their home; home sweet home.

One fine showcase of earlier living conditions in Singapore is displayed at the HDB Gallery at Toa Payoh Town Centre. (HDB; the acronymn for Housing Development Board) Prior formation of HDB, SIT - Singapore Improvement Trust was formed in 1927 by then British Colonial Government as to overcome the housing shortage.

In the HDB Gallery, we see replica of a squatter's kitchen that used charcoal stoves and meat cupboards. See picture below:

Let's go back in time. In the beginning housing at that time were in crowded slums and squatters settlements with no proper ventilation, no sanitation, no water, no electricity/lighting. I cannot imagine myself living in such condition. The comfort and ease living that we have now is way beyond words.

Prior to squaters settlements and in between the public housing start up, it was the shophouses which built on long and narrow design.A good place to see this old housing - Chinatown Heritage Centre located at 49, Pagoda Street, Singapore 059207.

Click link: http://www.chinatownheritagecentre.sg

Over here, I personally liked the Cubicle Living gallery on level 2.
Sections of rooms were created on the 2nd level of the 3 stories shophouse in Chinatown. The transients occupant of these rooms were the coolies (odd jobs labourers with long cuetails),the shoe seller, the seamstress, the Majie (maids with cuetails that vowed celibacy) and the Samsui women (female contruction workers with their signature red headgear that shared same vow as Majie)

Amazing fact: Samsui women helped build the many first of Singapore's public houseing flats.

I noticed that the only thing that divide the rooms and somehow equally spaced in portion among these occupants were walls made of thin wood planks. Each room was sized to an approximately measurement of 54 inches × 75 inches ; equalavent to a double bed mattress! Well based on the description headcount in this gallery, there was an average of 3 person to a room. That doesn't leave any room to move about at all, don't you think so? Oh my!

The public housing of 1970s'

Now,let's move forward to the last quater of 20th century, where these occupants moved out and settled down in housing estates. The Toa Payoh New Town was the many first satelite town. The housing estate itself is self contained and had a town centre. Interesting fact about the town itself ; Payoh originated from the Malay word,"PAYA" which means swamp. Toa means "BIG" in Chinese. Prior resettlement into public housing/flats - the earlier dwellers were infact farmers and pig rearers! Now, we don't see these dwellers anymore as Singapore advances herself into the contemporary world. Another interesting thing is that majority of the flat owners are privately owned,thus making this very unique from world's public housing projects. If you like to see how everyday locals run their daily errands, here is the best place to see it all. The MRT station (Toa Payoh station) is up close, so does the central bus station, the library, the shops and supermarkets and eateries surrounding the vicinity. It's really so convinient!

Now, in the 21st century, we see the mega project of public housing and the apple of the Singapore skyline bordering Chinatown and the Central Business District - The Pinnacle@Duxton.

Born out of the first international design competition for public housing, it is also the first in the world with 2 unique skybridges linking the 7 blocks at the 26th and 50th storey. The skybridges create possibly the longest continuous skygardens in the world, offering panoramic views of the city skyline.

This paragraph excerpted from http://www.pinnacleduxton.com.sg/about.php

That's really an architecture to marvel at! I have yet to go up the skybridges at the Pinnacles@Duxton. Heard that que numbers are given out and advance reservations required through online with an admission fee SGD5 but let me find out for you.

If looking you are up for viewing venue of Singapore's skyline with unobstructred view; recommended places to visit are:

* The SkyPark,Marina Bay Sands on the 57th floor

* The Singapore Flyer (the world's largest observation wheel - taller than London Eye)

and..

* Swisshotel The Stamford (tallest hotel in Singapore)
I like The New Asia Bar on the 70th floor and go as early before 6pm to
get seats and of course,don't forget to see the light up of the city
state as the evening draw closer.

Housing is definately the safety neccessity. Comfort of living and sustainable living for all is the way to go. Not just here but in all corners of the earth.But you know, Carrie Underwood must have sing it better: Where we live is just a Temporary Home.

Note: Photos taken from HDB Gallery Hub, admission is free
For more details, please visit http://www.hdb.gov.sg

p.s: My camera's battery went flat during my recent visit to Chinese Heritage Centre, admission is SGD10 per adult and do visit their website for opening hours. The classic transient to immigrant stories are found here.

p.p.s: I am not paid for this write up, just wanted to share the places that I've visited lately , hence this blog - desvfashion : up and about in Singapore!