Before the heritage trail , i have never stepped foot at Joo chiat area and it was technically my virgin trip to Katong and Joo Chiat Road. I was mesmerized by the beautiful and ancient looking shophouses along East Coast Road where most of the old shops have been teared down to give way to new shops. One example would be the Perenakan Shop Rumah Bebe , which was built on the ground of former Tay Buan Guan Shop. The Icon of the Tay Buan Guan shop left a faint mark on the pillars guarding the entrance of the current Rumah Bebe shop. As we walked further down along East Coast Road, we passed by a Katong Antique house which has a huge collection of perenankan clothings, cutlery, pottery, accessories , furnitures, portraits and etc. As a fan of peranankan culture, I'm totally fascinated by the interior of the shops and it make my heritage trial all the more fulffilling.
After a short stroll along East Coast road, we decided to settle down at 328 katong laksa eating house. Prior to the heritage trial, I was looking forward to eating the famous Katong Laksa and I was elated to try it on that day. The Katong Laksa exudes a unique peranakan flavour which is absent in most laksa, which lives up to its reputation as one of the most tasty laska in Singapore. I'm definitely going back there again for the Laksa.
After a satisfying meal, we continue our journey to places of worships . The St Hilda Anglican Church caught my attention as it was one of the few Churches in Singapore that still preserves its traditional interior design. Instead of plastic chairs that we find in most churches now, it has wooden benches on both side of the aisle. It also has a bell tower which is absent in most churches. What's more fascinating is that the church has a huge underground basin for baptism which was securely locked with a metal door.
But the most captivating of all were the lotus shop houses along Joo Chiat road and the Peranakan buildings along Koon Seng Road. The Shop houses along Joo Chiat place were renovated into housings for the people. The intricate design of the houses makes me feel like getting one for myself next time. I feel that it's kind of unique to stay in this type of housing with such a beautiful exterior. Besides that, it's near to Katong where there are many eateries around that serve really delicious food. Our final destination was Koon Seng Road. I learnt that the beautiful design of the peranakan buildings along Koon Seng Road was as a result of a mixture of European and Asian touch to it. The pastel hues of the building with its floral patterns was absolutely stunning and in my opinion should be one of the few places that tourists should visit in Singapore.
In fact, I had a certain degree of familiarity towards Katong and Joo Chiat as I had spend four years schooling in an institution just down the street. To me, this heritage trail was not only a nostalgic journey; it was one of the most interesting exploratory quests that I have encountered in Singapore.
After a short stroll along East Coast road, we decided to settle down at 328 katong laksa eating house. Prior to the heritage trial, I was looking forward to eating the famous Katong Laksa and I was elated to try it on that day. The Katong Laksa exudes a unique peranakan flavour which is absent in most laksa, which lives up to its reputation as one of the most tasty laska in Singapore. I'm definitely going back there again for the Laksa.
After a satisfying meal, we continue our journey to places of worships . The St Hilda Anglican Church caught my attention as it was one of the few Churches in Singapore that still preserves its traditional interior design. Instead of plastic chairs that we find in most churches now, it has wooden benches on both side of the aisle. It also has a bell tower which is absent in most churches. What's more fascinating is that the church has a huge underground basin for baptism which was securely locked with a metal door.
But the most captivating of all were the lotus shop houses along Joo Chiat road and the Peranakan buildings along Koon Seng Road. The Shop houses along Joo Chiat place were renovated into housings for the people. The intricate design of the houses makes me feel like getting one for myself next time. I feel that it's kind of unique to stay in this type of housing with such a beautiful exterior. Besides that, it's near to Katong where there are many eateries around that serve really delicious food. Our final destination was Koon Seng Road. I learnt that the beautiful design of the peranakan buildings along Koon Seng Road was as a result of a mixture of European and Asian touch to it. The pastel hues of the building with its floral patterns was absolutely stunning and in my opinion should be one of the few places that tourists should visit in Singapore.
Weitong Lim
Before going for the Katong and Joo Chiat heritage trail, I didn’t have any idea what kind of history, heritage Katong and Joo Chiat actually has. I always felt that places that will be rich in heritage would be like Chinatown, Little India, Kampong glam or Clark quay. However I went on the heritage trail with a sense of excitement to discover new things that I never knew about Katong and Joo Chiat. From this day of exploring Katong and Joo Chiat, I am pleasantly surprised that this area is actually very rich in heritage and culture. It is certainly more than just the Katong Laksa it is famous for.
From the heritage trail, I learn that Katong and Joo Chiat area is very much multi-racial and multi-religious. We visited various places of worship belonging to the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian community. There is the church of the Holy Family (1923), the Masjid Khalid (1917), Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple (1875) and Kuan Im Tng Temple(1921). Indeed these places of worship have been playing the important role of being a gathering place for residents of different religious communities since the early 1900s. The diverse mix of culture and religion results in the rich diversity of heritage in Katong area today. Among them is a unique community of Peranakans, who were the Chinese migrants who married local women. These Peranakans are well known for their distinct culture in rituals, attire and food. In Katong, there is the Rumah Bebe and Katong Antique House which still showcase pretty glass slippers, Peranakan artefacts and kebayas. There are also rows of shop houses with ornate and exquisite Peranakan design.
One place that I felt was very interesting is the former Joo Chiat police station. In the past, this used to be the holding place for the people from the infamous secret societies back in the early days. Today, the police station is converted to a HongKong café. Nevertheless, it’s large windows and high ceiling distinct of a police station is still preserved.
This heritage trail has indeed been an eye opening experience and I thoroughly enjoyed indulging in the rich culture of Katong and Joo Chiat.
Rossellini Tan
Prior to coming to this part of Singapore, when asked what I know about Katong and Joo Chiat, my reply would comprise no more than, “It’s near my Mom’s church”, and “Famous for its Laksa”. Certainly, I felt the need to research on the historical significance of this area before I can maximise my heritage trail experience. But no amount of reading can prepare me for the inspiring heritage and cultural adventure I had with the investigation team!
The first distinct feature that struck me when we embark on this heritage trail was that Katong and Joo Chiat are uniquely characterised by rows after rows of shophouses. Given that its famous neighbour, Chinatown, also has such historical buildings, shophouses in Katong and Joo Chiat may be taken for granted, or even sidelined by many. Admittedly, I used to undermine the significance of these architecture buildings in this area, but all that changed when we thoroughly scrutinised the shophouses here!
The shophouses in Katong and Joo Chiat formed the majority of conservation buildings in this area and a closer examination at the architecture design will tell you the many stories of its earlier occupants. Particularly at Koon Seng Road, the two rows of colourful Peranakan shophouses are splendid!! These exceptionally exquisite shophouses certainly wow me and I bet my teammates were impressed too! Its sophisticated east-meet-west designs reflect the cultural fusion its former residents enjoyed. These blocks of shophouses have retained its original forms, with its array of colours, Malay-influenced decorative designs on the timber fascia boards, and with most of its historic infrastructure preserved without obtrusive add-ons.
Even some parts of the shophouses that seemed “not worth noting” and were not intended to be the “design”, have its own stories to tell. I saw this dislodged black water pipe sticking out like a sore thumb fixed along the column of a shophouse, extending from its roof to ground, and I started to imagine how it came about. You will never find travel guides or books dedicating its pages to this ugly black pipe. While some may find this part of the building insignificant, I start to wonder the “life” it must have led. It was most likely installed after the Peranakan shophouses had been constructed, where perhaps initially, rainwater was expected to flow smoothly down the slanted tiled roof, but it was later that they discovered the flaws in the drainage system (and possibility complaints from its Peranakan residents and pedestrians!) that resulted in later installation of this water pipe. Deliberately painted black in hope to tone down its intrusion to the elegant façade decorations (though I'm not entirely sure if painting it black is a good idea since the column behind it is orange!) The dislodgment suggests to me that the water pipe is no longer functioning today and I’m glad it was left untouched retaining its old “charm” in its own small way; without which, I wouldn’t have come up with such an imagination!
All in all, the Peranakan shophouses at Koon Seng Road are aesthetically pleasing and appeal to the visitors, and perhaps more importantly, they are authentic. These shophouses reflect successful preservation efforts. Having said that, I feel that more must be done to promote the rich historical and cultural heritage these shophouses possessed. If not for the opportunity to explore Joo Chiat and Katong through this History assignment, I am sure I would not have discovered this place, let alone appreciate its outstanding heritage value. These well-preserved historical buildings add character and uniqueness to this area and such conservation efforts can promote shared understanding of cultural identity and in turn foster greater social cohesion. But, these community values cannot be achieved if Singaporeans are not even aware of the existence of the heritage places. As such, I trust that more publicity and educational resources should be in place before the heritage conservation projects in Joo Chiat and Katong can be considered a true success.
Elfy Lee
I was initially at lost when we were given Joo Chiat and Katong as the destinations to explore for our history heritage trail. Having stayed in the Northern part of Singapore all my life, I was unfamiliar with the place and was skeptical about the heritage conservation in that area. My only good opinion about the place was that the area are famous for its Katong Laksa, the cheap karaoke rate at Teo Heng and the nearby East Coast Park. In order to ensure that our heritage trail to be a success, I tried to gather information about the area through the books in the library and reviewing the area on the internet. I also explored the area through Google Map as I was curious to find out the kind of heritage conservation in that area.
Nevertheless, during our heritage trail, I was awed when we were walking along the shophouses. Little did I know that there was actually small Peranankan museums along the stretch of shophouses. In fact, it is possible to find pretty, detailed and most importantly authentic Kerbaya and Nonya goodies in these shops. I also learn that the Peranankan culture only regained its popularity again after the classic channel 8 drama "Little Nonya". Nonetheless, I was abashed by my ignorance to have actually miss such amazing details on my occasional visits to the Laksa stall. Similarly, what struck me most was about the shophouses were the ones located along Koon Seng Road. Before we embarked on this heritage trail, I actually thought that the only existing shophouses are located at Farrer Park and Chinatown.
Through the heritage trail, i came to realise that the government had actually done so much to retain fragments of the past. Some of the buildings such as the one being occupied by Scanteak Furniture shop looks really modern that when I discovered it existed since the British's were in control of Singapore as a maternity hospital, I was in a utter state of disbelief because the building definitely does not look like its age. I will never know of such preservation without this heritage trail!
Nevertheless, walking around Katong and Joo Chiat knowing there is so much to explore was definitely an eye-opening experience. Furthermore, as it was my first time exploring Katong and Joo Chiat as a heritage trail, it was definitely a exciting and refreshing experience that I'll never forget!
Crystal Goh
Right before I proceed with writing this reflection, an article on The Straits Times caught my attention. Entitled Joo Chiat is Singapore's first Heritage Town, the article stated that Joo Chiat had won the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) inaugural Heritage Town Award, beating its competitors such as Chinatown and Tiong Bahru. This news did not come by as a surprise to me, especially after being overwhelmed by the unique and prominent cultural experience that my group and I were exposed to.
Before this heritage trail, I had never questioned or researched on the history of Katong and Joo Chiat. All I noticed about the area was that it was made popular by the dominating Peranakan culture and the famous Katong Laksa. I wasn’t completely wrong. The distinct Peranakan culture and delicacies had indeed attracted many curious individuals and tourists to visit Katong. However, they were not the only unique features that Katong had been installed with. During our heritage trail, my groupmates and I were intrigued by the unique architectural designs of the shophouses. Particularly the colourful and outstanding detail-oriented shophouses along Koon Seng Road. The multi-cultural influence could easily be observed from the interesting blend of the Eastern and Western designs of these architectures.
Furthermore, during our heritage trail, I have noticed that various sites were no longer similar to what it used to be in the past. For instance, the Tay Buan Guan Shop, the Joo Chiat Police Station, and the Joo Chiat Maternal and Child Health Clinic were no longer in operation. Despite being bought over and renovated by various independent business owners, the original sites were carefully preserved to ensure the survival of this piece of history. The Singapore government’s effort to preserve pre-war structures had not only educated the youths about the history of Singapore; it had indeed served as an attempt to sustain the sense of belonging, as well as to revive the fading traditional and cultural practices.
Bernice Loon
Personally, I found the trail to be extremely enriching. I must admit that I was previously unaware of how rich the Joo Chiat/Katong area was in terms of heritage and culture. Initially though, I was under the impression that Joo Chiat was predominantly a Peranakan area but the trail proved me wrong.
The trip to the Eurasian House was a definite eye opener. The exhibition gave a rough overview of the contributions to Singapore the Eurasian community had achieved. Unfortunately, not many are aware of the various contributions this minority community has done for Singapore. I noticed that several of the places we visited, particularly places of worship were the result of one individual. I couldn't help but feel that ultimately, these various individuals sought to serve their own communities but ultimately contributed to the vibrancy of the Joo Chiat/Katong area.
I also loved the fact that there were shophouses at every corner. I felt that the architecture of many of these buildings helped contribute to a unique atmosphere. I truly envy those who live and work in such places! I was most definitely intrigued by the houses at 150 East Coast Road. Tucked in a neat corner, I never imagined that such a gem existed! I doubt that I would have spotted the unique features of these houses if I were to walk by on any other given day.
Though I must applaud the efforts of the government as well as the relevant authorities for their efforts in conserving Joo Chiat, it is still a pity that some buildings seem to have been forgotten. The Red House Bakery for example stands out not just for its colour but the relative dilapidated state that it is in as well. I found the fact that several buildings no longer retained their original functions quite a pity as well. However so, I recognise this as a vital part of progress and development. In to some sense, despite the changes, the unique charm that is Joo Chiat/Katong is retained.
Fatmah Talib
This entire project started when I was appointed to draw out the 'fateful' destination to carry out our historical exploration. To my dismay it turned out to be 'Katong and Joo Chiat' as our region of research, the simple reason of it being a region of Singapore where I had no familiarity with. I have never stepped foot there even though I heard so much about the heritage and the rich food culture that it is so ever famous for.
I’m glad the journey down proved its worth.
The first stop was at Rumah Bebe, the renowned Peranakan House established in 1928. Once I enter this decorated store, I was immersed and overwhelmed by the thick ambience of early Peranankan living. The subsequent stops on the historical trail were laced with sweet surprises and amazing finds, notably the tasting session of the celebrated delicacy-Katong Laksa and striking vintage architectural designs found on the shop houses along the streets.
After we came to our last stop at the former Grand Hotel, I knew deep down that my impression of Katong and Joo Chiat changed, and ultimately the way I experience the history of Singapore. I realized that the best way to understand history is to be at that place and slowly visualize how it might have felt or even smell like to be back in the past. The experience also made me wonder about the survivability of old shop houses and their businesses. Will the business owners be able to pass down their craft to the next generation? Hopefully when in the next few decades, the charm and splendor will remain for the next batch of ‘history explorers’.
Yao Lun
