Tiong Bahru, Public housing estate in Bukit Merah, Singapore
Tiong Bahru is a residential complex with around 30 apartment blocks built in art deco style, recognized by curved balconies, spiral staircases, and basement storage areas. The buildings form a cohesive neighborhood mixing homes, shops, and food venues.
The Singapore Improvement Trust built this complex in the 1930s as the country's first mass housing project. This marked the beginning of systematic efforts to provide modern homes for the growing urban population.
The street names honor Chinese pioneers from the 19th century, showing how early immigrants shaped this place. Walking through these streets keeps their memory alive in the neighborhood's everyday geography.
The neighborhood has many cafes, restaurants, and small shops easily reached from the MRT station. This location makes it convenient to spend time eating, shopping, or simply wandering around.
The site was originally a cemetery before being transformed into a housing neighborhood – a dramatic shift reflected in its name. The name combines a Hokkien word for burial ground with a Malay term meaning new beginning.
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