ARCHITECTURE OF TIONG BAHRU FLATS

 

Built in the 1930s, Tiong Bahru’s SIT flats reflect a fusion of imported colonisation and local styles.  The pre-war flats were also called puay kee chu or “aeroplane houses” in Hokkien, as their design resembled that of the control tower at Kallang Airport. The architecture of the flats focused on simple, clear lines and planes, clearly reflecting the Art Deco and the influence of the International style which was prominent in Europe during that period.  SIT architects and managers took inspiration from public housing in British New Towns like Stevenage and Harlow. The design of the flats was based on a modified shophouse plan featuring rounded balconies, exterior spiral staircases, courtyards, and air-wells while combining privacy and aspects of a modern apartment. 

The layout of the estate incorporated open spaces and emphasised small neighbourhoods. The pre-war flats circled a communal zone that included a market and hawker centre, coffee shops, a pet shop and a Chinese temple. The hawker centre housed well-known chwee kuay (rice cakes) and pao (bun) stalls, and the pet shop and bird-singing corner formerly located at Block 53 attracted both locals and tourists.