We’ve seen it on postcards, T-shirts, and chocolates, but who sculpted the original Merlion? The Merlion was created in 1964 as a logo for the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board by Fraser-Brunner, who was a curator at the now-demolished Van Kleef Aquarium. The symbol was first used as the company logo from 1980 to 1997, and … Read more
The Armenians in Singapore have been a small but tightly knit community for some time. The 1824 census recorded only 16 members, which is correct. Despite their small numbers, several Armenians have made important contributions to Singapore’s history. After the Armenians had been conducting church services in rented space for a while, they decided to … Read more
The Fuk Tak Chi Temple in Singapore’s Chinatown is the country’s oldest and most historic temple. It was rebuilt on the site of an earlier simple shrine in 1820 as a brick temple. The temple was built with the help of Hakka and Cantonese immigrants who came to Singapore in search of higher-paying employment. The … Read more
Lee Kuan Yew died at his home in Singapore on the early morning of March 23, 2015, at age 91. It is extremely difficult to write a monograph on Mr Lee and his legacy. Mr Lee’s numerous accomplishments, which have been observed as the architect of modern Singapore, are frequently subjects to criticism. It’s critical … Read more
The rise in the number of movie theatres throughout the 1970s suggests that Singaporeans have long loved going to the pictures. What a difference four decades has made! Many of these movie palaces have subsequently been destroyed or reinvigorated as entertainment and retail destinations. The Alhambra Theatre (Beach Road), Arcadia Cinema (East Coast Road), Diamond … Read more
Despite its name, visiting the People’s Park Complex is not a walk in the park. You could be hit with ads or offered a prepositioned two-for-one Maldives trip offer or a 30-minute foot reflexology session by enthusiastic salespeople. The mall’s main atrium is a packed chamber with high human traffic and all-day cooking or cleaning … Read more
In Singapore, getting engaged is a high-profile way to express one’s desire to marry. Today, more than 80% of Singaporeans live in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, making these government-built housing an important aspect of our culture. HDB was founded on February 1, 1960, and has had a significant influence on the housing market … Read more
Today, Singapore is frequently referred to as a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic society. Though there were a few notable cultural and racial frictions in the early nation-building years, the various groups generally coexisted in peace. Several avenues have a religious variety that is apparent in their architectural imprint. Many religious buildings have been erected close together, … Read more
The former Chong Cheng School on Aliwal Street, which has been transformed into a new community centre, is another ancient school that has recently had a second lease of life. The Aliwal Arts Centre was formed from the Chong Cheng and Chong Pun school structures, which are similar to the National Design Centre (former Saint … Read more
Masjid Abdul Gaffoor (Abdul Gaffoor Mosque) stands on Dunlop Street in Little India, a striking mosque with a vivid yellow façade topped by green onion-shaped domes. I frequently stop in my tracks to admire this architectural marvel, much like many other visitors and locals who pass through here. Shaik Abdul Gaffoor, a Tamil Muslim who … Read more