history is fun

Please refer to the following online resources for your TfU project. More sites will continue to be added to the blog over the next few weeks.

In the interests of sharing, please do post any interesting sites as a comment to this post!

Joo Chiat Community Website: A useful site that captures the activities in the Joo Chiat area, owned and managed by the Joo Chiat community.

Joo Chiat NLB Infopedia Page: Information site on Joo Chiat.

Katong NLB Infopedia Page: Information site on Katong.

East Coast Road Infopedia Page: Information site on East Coast Road.

Joo Chiat Food Page: Food outlets in the Joo Chiat area.

East Coast Road Food Page: Food outlets along East Coast Road.

Sample Katong Walking Trail by
the URA : A Katong Trail developed the URA.

Visit Singapore Webpage : General website for tourists visiting Singapore.

Streetdirectory.com guide on Joo Chiat: General information on Joo Chiat.

Streetdirectory.com guide on Katong: General information on Katong.

National Archives Website: Access to the archive records, pictures and other useful information.

National Heritage Board Website: Access to other information available in museums etc.

Times of my life: A blog and recollection of events and places in Katong

URA's Conservation Information
Tanjong Katong Conservation Area & Tanjong Katong Road

East Coast Road Conservation Area & St Patrick's Road

Joo Chiat Conservation Area

These websites will be a useful starting point for you - remember, there is wealth of information out there!

All the best.

It has been nearly a decade since the forlorn Grand Hotel in Still Road South last had a guest to stay, but things are looking up for the distinctive 92-year-old building.

The rundown landmark, now mostly used as storage for unwanted furniture, is among 100 buildings in the Joo Chiat/Katong area that have been marked for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

The URA announced the list of buildings yesterday. They join some 700 buildings, mostly shophouses, in that area that have been given conservation status by the URA since 1993.

The Grand Hotel, a massive Victorian-style bungalow with decorative arches and ornate facade decorations, was built in 1917 by Moona Kader Sultan, a wealthy Indian cattle merchant. It was converted into the Grand Hotel in 1947.

The building reportedly now stands on a site worth $300 million and is owned by the Lee Rubber Company, which also owns a similar-looking bungalow across the road that has already been conserved. Both bungalows were part of a site called Karikal Mahal.

Besides this grand dame, the other buildings consist of 95 shophouses and terrace houses in areas such as Onan Road, Tembeling Road and Koon Seng Road, and two other bungalows, in Marine Parade Road and Chapel Road. Also on the list are two familiar churches in the area - St Hilda’s Church and the Bethesda (Katong) Church.

Residents in the area had mixed reactions about the news. Ms Shirley Soh, owner of a two-storey shophouse in Tembeling Road, is pleased her home will be conserved.

‘Old architecture should be preserved, rather than have condominiums dominate our landscape,’ she says. She has been living there for eight years.

But another resident at Chapel Road was not too happy. The owner, who declined to be named, believes that with conservation, her home will fetch a lower price because of its limitations. ‘The house is too big and I want to sell. But now the selling price may be less and I can’t afford the apartment I want.’

However, Mr Colin Chee, a spokesman for the Save Joo Chiat workgroup which was formed in 2004 by residents wanting to promote the area’s Peranakan heritage, was delighted to hear that more buildings will be conserved.

‘The more buildings conserved in this area the better. This enhances the heritage status of the neighbourhood.’

URA’s conservation programme was launched in the early 1980s and so far, more than 6,800 buildings in Singapore have been conserved. Buildings are chosen for conservation based on architectural merits, cultural, social and historical significance and contribution to the streetscape and identity of the location.

The URA says owners of conservation buildings in the Katong/Joo Chiat area need to conserve only the external facades, original structure and key features of the main building.

The rear service block can be demolished to build a new extension of up to the allowable storey height control.

Owners can also modify the interior of their buildings to suit their business and/or residential needs as long as this does not change or endanger the original structure of the building.

25 Still Road South

This bungalow and another bungalow across Still Road South were once part of a larger estate known as the Karikal Mahal. They were built in 1917 by Moona Kader Sultan, a wealthy Indian cattle merchant.

This bungalow was built in the Victorian style, with architectural features such as ornate facade plaster decorations, bay windows and decorative arches. In 1947, it was converted into the Grand Hotel, which closed in 2000 due to poor business. It is now used to store unwanted furniture. The two bungalows are owned by the Lee Rubber Group, which says there are no plans for them.

3, 5, 7-15, 22-32 Crane Road, 64-76, 71-75 Carpmael Road and 169-181 Onan Road

Located on Crane Road and Carpmael Road are two- and three-storey shophouses built in traditional and modern early 20th century styles. They are the gateway between the private developments along Crane Road and the Haig Road public housing estate. Over at Onan Road, the single-storey terrace houses rest on concrete stilts.

St Hilda’s Church, 41 Ceylon Road

Built in 1949, the church is a landmark in this area. It was designed like an English parish church of the time. The single-storey chapel is a charming building with a steep pitched roof and a Victorian-style conical tower.

The latest 100 buildings in Katong and Joo Chiat to join the conservation list:

Shophouses and terrace houses

The 95 shophouses and terrace houses to be conserved are around four main areas in Joo Chiat and Katong.

3, 5, 7-15, 22-32 Crane Road, 64-76, 71-75 Carpmael Road and 169-181 Onan Road

The shophouses here are two and three-storey ones built in the Traditional and Modern styles. They are the gateway between the private developments along Crane Road and the Haig Road public housing estate.

55-66, 57-61, 89-99 Koon Seng Road and 89-99, 101-113 Everitt Road.

These two-storey Art Deco and Late-style shophouses are distinctive local landmarks.

253-271 Tembeling Road and 1-19 Cheow Keng Road

The shophouses here are two-storey built in the Transitional style.

14-40 Chapel Road and 205-213 Marine Parade Road

These two-storey Transitional-style buildings can be seen from Marine Parade Road, and are familar markers to residents here.

Churches

St Hilda's Church was constructed in 1949. The single-storey chapel has a steep pitched roof and a Victorian-style conical tower.

Bethesda (Katong) Church

This single-storey church was built in the late 1930s as has a symmetrical look.

Bungalows

These were former seaside bungalows which were weekend homes for wealthy merchants.

25 Still Road South

This huge bungalow and another bungalow opposite the road, were once part of a larger estate known as the Karikal Mahal. This bungalow was built in the Victorian style.

37 Marine Parade Road

This single-storey bungalow was once owned by businessman Choa Kim Keat of whom Kim Keat Road is named after. It was formerly a seaside retreat.

25 Chapel Road

Built on stilts, this single-storey bungalow was common during Singapore's early days. Being elevated prevented the house from flooding during high tides.

THE Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) on Friday announced that another 100 buildings in the Joo Chiat and Katong area will be conserved to keep its charm and character.

Among the 100 are three bungalows, including the former Grand Hotel at Still Road South, two churches, St Hilda's Church and Bethesda (Katong) Church and 95 shophouses and terrace buildings along Tembeling Road, Koon Seng Road, Crane Road and Onan Road.

They join the already 700 buildings in Joo Chiat/Katong that have been conserved by the URA since 1993. These are mostly shophouses on Joo Chiat Road and East Coast Road.

The Joo Chiat/Katong area is well known for its varied mix of architecture, history, culture and activities. It was an established and attractive residential area since the 1920s. Shophouses, terrace ouses, detached bungalows and seaside mansions can be found in the area.

In a statement, URA said the buildings chosen for conservation were selected based on their architectural merits, cultural, social and historical significance of the buildings, in addition to their contribution to the streetscape and identity of the place. For example, the two-storey Art Deco and Late-style shophouses at Koon Seng Road are distinctive local landmarks.

Another iconic landmark in the area is the former Grand Hotel at 25 Still Road South. The bungalow was built in the Vicrtorian style with an Indian influence, and was once part of a larger estate known as the Karikal Mahal. Another house across the road, which was also part of the estate has already been conserved.

URA's conservation programme was launched in the early 1980s and to date, more than 6,800 buildings around Singapore have been conserved.

Under conservation rules, the facades and major structures of conserved properties cannot be altered. Owners however can choose to restore them. The interiors of conserved properties can be altered to suit new requirements.

The news of the additional buildings to be conserved came as a delight to members of the Save Joo Chiat workgroup. The group was formed in 2004 by residents wanting to promote its Peranakan heritage

'The more buildings conserved in this area the better,' says its spokesman, Mr Colin Chee. 'This enhances the heritage status of the neighbourhood.'

Let's start from the basics, where is Katong?

Here's a map that more or less defines the Katong area, your trails can be found in this general area so it's worth your while to spend some time looking at the map to try to get an overall feel of the general area before zooming into the specifics of your trail.


View Larger Map

More to follow!

Dear all,

Whilst History may be a subject that you will encounter only in the second half of the academic year, it is a critical part of your Online Project Work (OPW) component for Secondary 2. The end objective of OPW is to develop a heritage trail of the Katong area, hence it is essential that you must understand the history behind the Katong area.

Over the next few weeks, the history teachers will not only be giving you various hardcopy readings, we will also be posting various online resources that you would need to help you develop your trails.

The trails that you will/have been assigned are listed below:

Trail	Designated Areas in Katong	Landmarks to be covered during trail
1.	East Coast Beach area	Cotton trees, Coastal protection of the beach, Land reclamation, Big Splash area for recreation.
2.	Still Road to Frankel Avenue	St. Patrick’s School, Big colonial bungalows, Temples and Mosques in Telok Kurau, Siglap park connector
3.	Haig Road to Joo Chiat Road	Ceylon Road temple, Katong Shopping Centre, Roxy Square, Katong Plaza, Paramount Hotel, Katong Laksa, Katong Village, Red house
4.	Joo Chiat Road to Still Road	Peranankan restaurants and shops., Churches, Chin Bee Chin bakery, Peranankan style houses, Presidents’ house, Haig Girls’ School, Paper making shop, Lotus @ JC
5.	Mountbatten and Tanjong Katong	Bungalow, Sikh Temple, Sindhu House, Katong Swimming complex, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School, Tanjong Katong Secondary School, Punggol Nasi Lemak, Bird shop, Cheung Cheng High School
6.	Siglap Road	Siglap Centre, 4 - storey HDB flats opposite Siglap Centre, Siglap Community Centre - Centre of Performing Arts, Barber Shop at Woo Mon Chew road, Singtel Building, Siglap Cemetery, Opera Estate Primary, Restaurants
7.	Joo Chiat (internal) to East Shore Hospital	KTV lounges, Hotels, Peranakan houses, Roads such as Rambutan road, Chiku Road, Duku Road, Buddhist temple,
8.	Marine Parade Road	Tao Nan School, Katong Convent Primary and Secondary, Victoria JC, Ngee Ann Primary, Victoria School, St. Patrick’s School

To navigate to the relevant readings to the trails that you have been assigned to develop, click the relevant tags in this blog.

More to follow!

Best Wishes,
The OPW Sub-Committee