Our Heritage

I think it is so wonderful that Singaporeans have the heritage of Chia Ann Siang to fall back on. We all can have something to be proud of. With all this modern and Avant-garde garden being established, we can look back with a romantic thought of our heritage - The Ann Siang Hill. Regardless of whatever race or bloodline we are, this man and others of his caliber has given us something special that will stay in our hearts forever – a stamp of Insignia, our Heritage.

This street could be in South of France or something.
Surprisingly there is a natural elegance to the architecture.

Seeing beauty in the old is an art form itself. It is about looking deeper
than the surface of things. With a little polishing, a new coat of paint...
something incredible may appear and be a topic of conversation.

The colors in the shop houses of Ann Siang Hill are so quaint and charming.
It makes for a show stopper... a place to relax, a place to eat/drink,
a place to talk and share the latest happenings.

I wonder what Great2Grandpa, Chia Ann Siang was thinking when he bought this street before?
Was it the natural charm of the building? The location? The ambiance?

Windows are intriguing. It is interesting how each window tells a different story for the owner.
I could stare at windows all day wishing that the windows would speak to me.

Evenings...  shadows make interesting forms that accentuates beauty

 

There is a saying that our eyes are the windows to our souls. Sometimes, it is better to
be still and just observed. For we can learn so much by just looking and reflecting.

Old and dilapidated, everyone has gone... attracted to new, modern dwellings
they seek the hard concrete repetitions of the new age world.
Losing oneself in the rat race of life, forgetting the past - our foundation.

What does this window mean? When its painted pink and green?
Musing... a feminine touch, a candy cane?
A sweet patisserie to die for with tea with la faire.

This mansion definitely has a British influence. The Colonial Georgian architecture charm.
I love the unexpected curve that embeds the formal windows, with the Corinthian
columns that adds a majestic feel to the structure. What a grand entrance it has...
with chandeliers greeting you with oomph... 

Amazingly, this is a quiet back street that leads to the garden park. I call this a
light of hope, hoping that we all will embrace who we are proudly, and understand that
our forefathers have toil with sweat and have done whatever it takes to get
Singapore to where it is today, with honestly, humility, perseverance, persistence and love.
We, the people of SIngapore.

Peranakan Shop Houses

The Peranakan shop house architecture can be found in the Chinatown in Singapore. It just amazes me how old and beautiful these houses are and I am glad the Singapore heritage can be preserved and reused in different ways.

I thought how interesting this photo can be, when taken inside the taxi cab. Cab drivers are always complaining how unfair the government is and too many unnecessary rules. There must be some kind of justice in that country. The inflation rate is sky rocketing and things are very expensive and inferior or average quality. How sad this country has turn out to be. The balance has definitely tipped.

View Inside Cabby

Shop House Architecture

But aside from all the complains, unhappiness and bickering, I am fond of these old buildings. Looking at these detailed carvings, with the wooden shutters, they don't make these buildings any more. Everything you see in Singapore is modern with sky scrapper buildings which is not shown here.

A Different View

The colors of the Paranakan style are pink, green, brown, teal, with usage of flowers like the hibiscus, peonies, roses, lotus and such. You can forget about simplicity in design. I would classify these almost Victorian or equivalent to the Baroque era in the 1600-1700s. Where rich colors, ornate details in carvings and design are all juxtaposed to look voluptuous.

Pretty Tiles Colors

Architecture Details

I like the yellow and green paints

Old Paranakan Shops Closed Down

Bold Colors and Graphics Goes Well Too