We partook in cool hunting and trend spotting along Yong Saik Street and the Tiong Bahru district to see how things are changing. After this trip, I realized how areas of Singapore are changing. I grew up in Chinatown, to the east of Tiong Bahru, and the new direction this area has taken is eye-opening.
WHAT'S NEW
Despite Singapore's claim to be a "garden city", it is still ultimately a concrete jungle. However, the foilage in Tiong Bahru is aplenty and very different from those elsewhere. New grass and trees are planted every 400 meters or so, and even willow trees are spotted! The residents as well take it into their own hands to brighten up the landscape with their own unique choices of plants, e.g. pineapples
There was even a large clearing filled with various trees of different species, whereas in other places such areas would have been turned into football fields.
We happened upon a Vietnamese art studio and had a chat with the curator. This is the only ArtBlue in Singapore, and one of the few in the area. The founders, one of which is Vietnamese, decided to rent this space as their studio cum apartment was small, and this is a big neighbourhood near the MRT station.
The price of the art pieces ranges from $700 to $15000, with young Singaporean couples, often newly weds, purchasing the lower end and expatriates purchasing the higher end.
I find this intriuging because personally, none of my aunts and uncles purchased any art after marriage or even a decade later. This is a new pattern forming where people start to appreciate art more and are willing to pay for it.
In other areas of the country, construction is usually carried out by local companies with Chinese names. It is a key point to note that highly reputable Keppel is taking this area. The tagline is also apt for the changes taking place - "thoughtful innovations for thoughtful experiences" implys that something big is on its way, and it will surely add to the character of the city.
WHAT'S OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Books Actually has only 1 outlet in Singapore, in Yong Saik Street. I was surprised to find some obscure (albeit talented) authors like Chuck Palahniuk and Salman Rushdie, This is actually their specialty, as they carry books that even large companies like Kinokuniya and Popular do not. They also carry a wide range of local authors.
They are doing very well as they can afford to rent such a large store space near an MRT station and carry hundreds of different authors from every continent, as well as sell various knick-knacks. This is comforting to know that people still buy books in the digital age.
Many Chinese elements are prevalent in Tiong Bahru - even an umbrella stand has a Chinese design! As Singapore is over 70% Chinese, it is important we do not forget our culture. Culture is ever important in life, but we tend to deviate from it as is inevitable with the rising modernity and Western influences. However, we can still keep the Chinese roots with Western touches as is seen here!
The neighbourhood is very clean despite all the construction going on, and the architecture is quaint. The grills on the windows are very unique, with simple but special designs. This brings back memories of olden Singapore.
MULTIPLES:
These are 3 different cafes. There are numerous cafes in the area, that all share the same interior design. Black, gold and white are prevalent, with wood and marble trimmings. Kitsch slogans are plastered everywhere. This Western influence is very strong.
CORRELATIONS:
Tiong Bahru possesses a modified Art Deco style called Streamline Moderne with rounded balconies and flat roofs. Most buildings added after the war were designed minimally compared to the more dynamic designs pre-war. The minimalist cafes do not look out of place amongst the clean, sleek buildings, and the suggestion of middle to upper class presents a correlation to the prices of the nearby cafes ($7-$15 for a coffee as compared to under $2 at regular neighbourhood coffee shops).
WHAT'S MISSING
-supermarkets
-coffee shops
-convenience stores
-people my age
Most cars in the area are Audis, BMWs, or Volkswagens, with multiple hired taxis. There are also many bicycles. This suggests the income of the residents. As Tiong Bahru Plaza has a supermarket and various other stores, the surrounding neighbourhood does not really need one.
PEOPLE
Despite the prices of cars, cafes and other stores in the area as well as the rental, people dress extremely casually. This could be because spending on cars and living is more important than expensive garments, as a house or car would last much longer than a dress!
The residents do not wear what is currently popular, e.g. snapback hats, drawstring bags, high waisted shorts, ripped jeans, sneakers. The garments are distinctly unbranded. There are few accessories, not even watches, but those that do carry bags or wallets have plain coloured leather ones with a discreet luxury logo e.g. Prada, Coach, Miu Miu. iPhones are prevalent in hands.
However, the expatriates in the area wear almost exclusively Levi's with various types of brogues. This is more casual than smart, but an interesting combination.
As we went from 9am-2pm, there are not many people walking around during work/school hours. However, many are on their laptops or having meetings in various cafes we entered. This shows that they have flexible schedules and possibly work from home or are self-employed. They could also have chosen this area just to complete some work, due to the atmosphere.
