As we walked along Tiong Bahru Road, we first noticed the unique looking post-war flats, with their stair-balconies, queer-looking windows and whitewashed outlook. I noticed that the first storey flats had a front door and a back door that leads to the area behind the houses. This area contains installed racks for residents to dry their clothes, badminton courts, and sufficient space, for a resident to place plants in flower pots outside. This is what I would call a “common space”, for there is plenty of space here for them and their neighbors to interact while perhaps, drying their clothes or watering their plants, and I think that this is a minor, yet essential factor to the node (centre of community interaction). However, there is still a lack of interaction, as feed backed from our interviewees, this, I will talk about later in the interview section.
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| Area outside backdoor, notice potted plants! |
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| Common space and glimpse of first interviewee |
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| Old fashioned letter boxes! |
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| Front: Queer looking windows! |
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| And me against the windows :D (Notice the vents on the windows) |
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| Junction: Post-war flats on the left, and pre-war flats on the right |
Turning the junction, and heading down the street that leads to the pre-war blocks of flats, it's hard not to notice the distinct difference in the outlook of the buildings. The pre-war flats, like the post-war flats, have flat roofs, and more than three storeys, and for the first level flats, and shops, both front and back doors. But the significant difference is the uniqueness of each and every house, in terms of windows, doors, exterior walls and especially the spiral staircases.
The reason for this would probably because these houses are privatized, which means that these houses are not under the Housing Development Board (HDB), so not only would it cost more to live here than the post-war flats, but also renovations would be a more frequent sight here, bringing more change to the local scene True to that, I observed (more like heard) more than six flats carrying out renovations, all on the same day and this shows how popular the private flats are.
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| A pre-war block, notice the different colored exterior walls, even within the same building |
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| Zoomed in view of a block, notice how the windows, roofs, design of the exterior of each unit looks different, especially when compared to the uniformed post-war flats. |
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| An example of a typical street |
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| A door which leads to the second storey |
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| Unique windows |
Also, shops are located on the first storey, an example of a shop would be one that sold roast meat. The shop uncle has been selling roast meat since he was 18, at the same shop all the time! Too bad he wasn't there, so we couldn't interview him. We were told this by his apprentice. However, this still shows how culture is preserved and passed on, even through/in private businesses.
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| Shop selling roast meat |
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| Newspapers stating how long this stall uncle has been working there: since he was 18! |
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| Spiral staircase in a back alley of shops |
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| An example of the interior of a pre-war flat, notice the clothes are hung indoors, and the plant is indoor as well. |
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| Clothes hung along the stairs |
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| Back doors of different designs |
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| Back alley behinds shops (Yes we walked through it, and it wasn't that bad! :O) |
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| "Preserved" steps, for I noticed that some shops/ homes chose to renovate even these steps! |
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| Cluttered Back Alley |
At the pre-war blocks, I noticed a few Caucasians (who I attempted to interview but they ignored meL) and other foreigners who live around the area, who ignore our ways, in the sense that they practice different habits and customs. This, to a certain extent, dilutes the sense of community and identity, because not only do they not act like us, but they also do not harbor the same shared memories and history as us.
I also noticed several notice boards that contain help hotlines, events and notifications, to keep residents informed. I feel that this is positive, because the attempt by the government to connect with the residents allows more interaction and feedback and possibly enhancing community spirit.
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| Evident attempt by the government/ town council to care for the people |
While wandering along the streets, we stumbled onto the Tiong Bahru Community Centre!
This community centre (according to the information board pictured below) is one of Singapore's oldest, and has been in the same place (Eu Chin Street) since 1952! Also, it states that the 20 blocks of pre-war flats and 36 shophouses are conserved under the URA on December 2003, and gives detailed information on the background of the Tiong Bahru Estate.
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| Tiong Bahru CC (Comunity Centre) |
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| Information on the Tiong Bahru Estate, found in the Tiong Bahru CC |
I thought that it was great that the pre-war Tiong Bahru Estate is being conserved, for this encourages people to continue living in the place, with no need to worry about being en bloc-ed, and the sense of identity/community will naturally increase over time when the faces of the neighborhood becomes familiar to one. As well, the information board provided in the CC about the Tiong Bahru Estate is good, because it is essential to remember and preserves its rich history and culture, even while the rest of Singapore is so quickly changing to keep up with the rest of the world.
Interviews: We interviewed a total of 5 people, two living in the pre-war estates, two living in the post-war estates, and one who has been working at the Tiong bahru Market for 44 years, and counting. Because the interview were recorded on the Iphone (m4a format, which blogger and windows do not support), most of the interviews were done in chinese and there was a lot of background noise (especially at the market and one of the pre-war estates where there was a renovation going on next door), a transcript of all 5 interviews will be given instead.
Interview 1: Woman drying clothes at a post-war estate, in her 50s.
Note: The interview was conducted in Chinese so translation might have slightly edited the original interview.
Me: How long have you been living here?
Her: 25 years
Me: Do you think that the environment here is good?
Her: Not bad, it is convenient... (Not really answering question L)
Me: Do you think that there has been a lot change in this place?
Her: No, it hasn't changed.
Me: Do you feel a sense of community here, as in are you close to your neighbors?
Her: We don't really speak much because the people (living) opposite don't really come out of their houses very often.
Interview 2: Man who used to live in a pre-war estate, but moved to a post-war estate, in his 40s.
Note: The interview was conducted in Chinese so translation might have slightly edited the original interview.
Me: How long have you been living here?
Him: 7 years here, I used to live at block 76 though (gestures across the road to a pre-war block) for 20 years. Oh we shifted here because my dad is old, and can't climb the stairs to the third storey as it was too tiring for him. (TMI lol)
Me: Do you think that there is community spirit where you live now? As in are you and your neighbours close.
Him: I feel that it is weird. The people here now... The way they think... I really liked the Kaampong Spirit then... Do you know what a kampong is?
Me: Uhhh I know what a kampong is...
Him: When I was living in the Kampong, we all knew each other. We could just leave our doors open and run around, without being scared of anybody stealing our stuff. But now, people's mindsets have all changed, all they care about all day is earning a lot of money... Still, it's better here than other places, I guess.
Me: Erm okay. Do you think that this place has changed a lot from when you first moved in?
Him: Hmm I think I shifted in here in 2005. My father bought the house... -Mumbles something- About 12 years. Not really but I still prefer the kampong.
Me: Thanks uncle!
Interview 3: Old man in wheelchair, living at pre-war estate, in his 80s.
Him: 40+ years.
Me: Do you think that it is good to live here? Are you and your neighbors close?
Him: Yes, it is good. Yes we are close.
Me: Do you think that there is any change from the past 40 years and now?
Him: No change.
Me: Is it good that there is no change?
Him: Yes.
Interview 4: Man, pre-war estate, 70s.
Me: How long have you been living here?
Him: 60 over years.
Me: Do you think that there has been a lot of change from when you started living here till now?
Him: Not really.
Me: What do you think is the reason for this lack of change?
Him: This area is conserved, so I feel no need to move, neither do my neighbors and environment wise, it is pretty unchanged. But I miss the birds. (<-- random?)
Me: Birds? What birds?
Him: Some of my neighbors and I used to drink coffee and watch the song birds behind block 53.
Me: Used to?
Him: Oh there are no longer anymore birds there now.
Me: Okay... Is the relationship between you and your neighbors in the past better, or now?
Him: The same.
Me: Same neighbors?
Him: Same.
Me: Oh, do you find the sense of community here very strong?
Him: About the same as anywhere else.
Me: Okay, thank you uncle!
From all 5 interviews, I have noticed that when I asked whether or not there has been significant change noticed by them, they all reply negatively, and think that the lack of change to the environment and the people is positive. (Underlined in the interview) And as evident in the responses from the people living in the pre-war estates as compared to the post-war estates, there is higher interaction between neighbors at the pre-war estates. Reasons for this could perhaps be the (obviously) older age of the pre-war estates, allowing more time for interaction between neighbors and perhaps, like mentioned in interview 4, the conservation effort to conserve the 20 blocks of pre-war flats.
Another reason would be the new neighbors, both local and expats moving in to the flats, especially into the post-war flats, like the man from interview 2. This causes a loss of friendship and the sense of community between old neighbors, slightly fracturing the community. Also, in the case of expats moving in, they might not practice our ways and customs, and adhere to the community intangible "rules", such as practices like talking to neighbors. For expats to have the ability to move even migrate to Singapore and live in a private Tiong bahru Estate, they must be of a certain social ranking and have the economical ability to do so, which means that their incomes could possibly higher (I noticed a few Merces and BMWs) and this creates an inevitable social income fault line, especially between post-war flat owners who are holding HDB flats which definitely cost a lot less than the private pre-war flats. However, this problem is not too prevalent because little flat owners feel the need to move because they are firstly, very accustomed to the ways of Tiong Bahru estate, and secondly, the conservation ensures that the flat will be theirs for the rest of their lives, as in it'll never be enbloc-ed. Thus, the number of local Tiong Bahru Estate homeowners still greatly outnumber that of the expats and "newbies".
Me: Thanks uncle!
Interview 3: Old man in wheelchair, living at pre-war estate, in his 80s.
Note: The interview was conducted in Chinese so translation might have slightly edited the original interview.Me: How long have you been living here?
Him: 40+ years.
Me: Do you think that it is good to live here? Are you and your neighbors close?
Him: Yes, it is good. Yes we are close.
Me: Do you think that there is any change from the past 40 years and now?
Him: No change.
Me: Is it good that there is no change?
Him: Yes.
Interview 4: Man, pre-war estate, 70s.
Me: How long have you been living here?
Him: 60 over years.
Me: Do you think that there has been a lot of change from when you started living here till now?
Him: Not really.
Me: What do you think is the reason for this lack of change?
Him: This area is conserved, so I feel no need to move, neither do my neighbors and environment wise, it is pretty unchanged. But I miss the birds. (<-- random?)
Me: Birds? What birds?
Him: Some of my neighbors and I used to drink coffee and watch the song birds behind block 53.
Me: Used to?
Him: Oh there are no longer anymore birds there now.
Me: Okay... Is the relationship between you and your neighbors in the past better, or now?
Him: The same.
Me: Same neighbors?
Him: Same.
Me: Oh, do you find the sense of community here very strong?
Him: About the same as anywhere else.
Me: Okay, thank you uncle!
Interview 5: Mr Tay, owner of a Fried Kuay Teow stall at Tiong Bahru Market, 84 years old.
Note: The interview was conducted in Chinese so translation might have slightly edited the original interview.
Me: How long have you been working here?
Him: Very long, from 1968.
Me: Do you think that the environment has changed a lot?
Him: Environment... It has always been this good.
Me: Please elaborate.
Him: There were always lots of customers who come and eat all of our (gestures at market) food.
Me: Do you feel that you belong here?
Him: Yes, yes.
Me: Do you and your fellow shopkeepers help each other out? Are you close?
Him: Yes, yes.
Me: Do you and your fellow shopkeepers help each other out? Are you close?
Him: Yes, we help each other whenever we can.
Me: Were the shopkeepers you used to work with closer to you or now?
Him: About the same. There used to be two markets, one for eating, and one wet one. But they reconstructed into this combined one recently.
Me: Did you use to have more business, or now?
Him: Now... No, about the same. My business is not bad.
Me: Do you know any customers? As in maybe old/ regular customers?
Him: Yes, a lot, I know a lot of them because I've worked for over 40 years, they still come to eat my food.
Me: Did you have more regular/ old customers then, or now?
Him: About the same. There are always old and new customers.
Me: If the government gave you an option to move your shop to another good or even better location, would you move?
Him: I should think not.
From all 5 interviews, I have noticed that when I asked whether or not there has been significant change noticed by them, they all reply negatively, and think that the lack of change to the environment and the people is positive. (Underlined in the interview) And as evident in the responses from the people living in the pre-war estates as compared to the post-war estates, there is higher interaction between neighbors at the pre-war estates. Reasons for this could perhaps be the (obviously) older age of the pre-war estates, allowing more time for interaction between neighbors and perhaps, like mentioned in interview 4, the conservation effort to conserve the 20 blocks of pre-war flats.
Another reason would be the new neighbors, both local and expats moving in to the flats, especially into the post-war flats, like the man from interview 2. This causes a loss of friendship and the sense of community between old neighbors, slightly fracturing the community. Also, in the case of expats moving in, they might not practice our ways and customs, and adhere to the community intangible "rules", such as practices like talking to neighbors. For expats to have the ability to move even migrate to Singapore and live in a private Tiong bahru Estate, they must be of a certain social ranking and have the economical ability to do so, which means that their incomes could possibly higher (I noticed a few Merces and BMWs) and this creates an inevitable social income fault line, especially between post-war flat owners who are holding HDB flats which definitely cost a lot less than the private pre-war flats. However, this problem is not too prevalent because little flat owners feel the need to move because they are firstly, very accustomed to the ways of Tiong Bahru estate, and secondly, the conservation ensures that the flat will be theirs for the rest of their lives, as in it'll never be enbloc-ed. Thus, the number of local Tiong Bahru Estate homeowners still greatly outnumber that of the expats and "newbies".