Wear an Artpiece, Touch a Legacy (Introduction to Batik Art and fashion)

Excerpt from Wikipedia:

“Batik is a technique of manual wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth, or cloth made using this technique. Batik is made either by drawing dots and lines of the resist with a spouted tool called a canting, or by printing the resist with a copper stamp called a cap. The applied wax resists dyes and therefore allows the artisan to color selectively by soaking the cloth in one color, removing the wax with boiling water, and repeating if multiple colors are desired.

A tradition of making batik is found in various countries, including Nigeria, China, India, Malaysia, Philippines and Sri Lanka; the batik of Indonesia, however, is the most well-known. Indonesian batik made in the island of Java has a long history of acculturation, with diverse patterns influenced by a variety of cultures, and is the most developed in terms of pattern, technique, and the quality of workmanship. On October 2009, UNESCO designated Indonesian batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. ”

Batik art was rather unappealing to me for quite a long time. Preferring contemporary art work, I thought Batik art as somewhat outdated and unfashionable. Even old Chinese art fascinated me more than Batik. The closest encounter I had with Batik art, was during a trip to Genting in 2001. It was during a short trip shortly after my graduation when my friends and I were thinking of visiting the casino, but we were not in the right attire. Based on the management, we have to wear either collared formal or Batik wear. Being newly-minted engineering graduates then, our apparel style was just the basic streetwear of T-shirts and jeans. That killed off any idea of visiting the casino there even till now, as well as any positive feel in this art ironically.

After the visit to Kiah’s Gallery in 71 Unit B Sultan Gate, my encounter for Batik art took a new twist. The owners of the gallery, Yati and Ain, introduced  a new batik world to my partner and I . What I thought as just some outdated craft in making clothes is actually a detailed art with centuries of history. It has influences from Chinese, Indian, Dutch and other cultures, which periodically have a major influence in the South-East Asia region over the past millennia. Every fabric has a story to tell and a culture to teach.

Using each batik fabric, one can tailor into fashionable apparel according to one’s needs. Kiah’s Gallery is retailer of Batik art as well as customizer of batik wear. Their passion to revive the dying batik art propelled them to share with the public, using dedicated craftwork and skillful hands into an fashionable wear one can put on their body.

Every batik fabric is an delicate piece of art. The fine prints as well as the details of every step can be observed on the fabric itself.

At Kiah’s Gallery, the owners have prepared many fashion wear based on the batik fabric. Styles similar to Chinese, Arabic, African and modern wear can be found in Kiah’s Gallery. Each batik fabric can be bought from $35 onwards, while each fashion artwear can be had from $100 onwards.

If you are interested to find out more, you can visit Kiah’s Gallery @ 71B Sultan Gate in Kampong Glam.

Advertisement

Rare Commercial investment at District 7

A rare #01 shop along Jalan Sultan/North Bridge Road.

Property Details
Use: Shop  Size: 1997 sqft
Tenure: 99 years since 1970
Ceiling Height: 2.7m
Potential uses*: Financial institutions, F&B outlets, Retails Shops, Pubs, Furnishings and design showflats
(* subject to the approval of relevant authorities)

Sale price S$ 4,500,000 with potential 4% with existing lease.

Size: 1,997 sqft (185.53 sqm)  

Brief Description

This prime #01 shopspace is facing the main road of Jalan Sultan. With substantial human traffic during both office hours and off-peak times, it is an ideal location for F&B, finance, design and other high-value businesses.

With waterpoint installed in the premises, the potential is great for this shopspace. Ideal for business operators as well as investors.

Call David King @ 9477-2121 for more details.

Textile Centre

Textile Centre is a commercial property with residences, located at 200, Jalan Sultan in District 07. Textile Centre is primarily used for Retail and Office rental and sale. Textile Centre is within walking distance to Nicoll Highway MRT (CC5) and Lavender MRT (EW11). It is near to several bus stops along North Bridge Road, Jalan Sultan, Victoria Street and Beach Road.

Textile Centre is accessible via Jalan Sultan and North Bridge Road. Car parking options are available in the building as well as the neighbourhood (including Kampong Glam)

Amenities near Textile Centre
Textile Centre is within walking distance to the stretch of eateries and restaurants located at Jalan Sultan and the conservation hub of Kampong Glam.

Textile Centre is within reasonable distance to Shop N Save, Cold Storage, Sheng Siong and I-Tec Supermarkets. It is also close to The Concourse Shopping Mall, Golden Landmark Shopping Complex, Sim Lim Tower, Bugis Point, Fu Lu Shou Complex, Parco Bugis Junction and Albert Complex for an array of amenities such as grocery and retail shopping, banks and more.

The upcoming Sports Hub and the Kallang Riverside are among the new developments that will spice up the neighbourhood in the years to come.

Keep the old in Lavender, create space for the new

As Singapore approaches its 50th year of nation-building and honours early contributors though initiatives such as the Pioneer Generation Package, it is apt to review the approach towards the “pioneer” building stock.

These buildings anchored the early communities where first-generation Singaporeans lived and built their lives.

Although there is a growing effort to conserve historic buildings – in particular, colonial-era monuments and institutions, as well as selected pre-independence shophouse neighbourhoods – modernist, international-style buildings built after 1965 are largely not yet considered architectural heritage in the same way.

Built in the early 1970s, the residential neighbourhood to the south-east of Lavender MRT station, with some of the oldest city-centre Housing Board (HDB) flats in Singapore, is home to an ageing building stock and ageing demographic. In fact, the HDB flats along Beach Road, across from the Golden Mile Complex, belong to the first batch of flats built in the northern part of Singapore’s central area.

These post-independence flats were built following the first “Sale of Sites” programme in 1967 by the then newly formed Urban Renewal Department of the HDB. These buildings, while significant in their representation of the optimism and idealism of nation-building following the founding of Singapore, could easily fall through the cracks in the nation’s conservation endeavours.

Demolition of ageing buildings, beyond displacing the original residents, also disintegrates the community – a kind of intangible “capital” which has taken time to build.

In post-independence neighbourhoods such as the Lavender area, a strategy for densification – instead of demolition and reconstruction – could introduce new programmes to an ageing area.

If executed with caring nuance, it would also cater to Singapore’s rapidly growing creative economy and attract a younger demographic to the centrally located area, given its excellent location next to historic Kampong Glam.

Indeed, alongside the original residents who moved into the neighbourhood more than 30 years ago, a handful of younger creative entrepreneurs, from architects to graphic designers, have recently found their atelier spaces and homes in Lavender.

International studies have shown that young creatives need to be located in well-connected central areas but they also need spaces with low rent. These central locations with affordable rent are often “hidden gems” that can harbour creative entrepreneurs, at least for the time being, in increasingly expensive cities where such locations are threatened precisely by the anomaly of their assets. The dilemma for global creative cities is how to keep these rents low, as demand and prices both increase in such centrally located spaces.

Since the publication of the book The Rise Of The Creative Class by American economist Richard Florida in 2002, the word “creative” has come to be the indicator for globalised, post-industrial, knowledge-based and service-dominated advanced economies. In fact, as Singapore moves into its 50th year next year, it seems “knowledge-based economy” and “creative economy” are oft-heard buzzwords describing the city-state’s aspirations for the next lap.

To foster Singapore’s emerging creative sector, often made up of young, cosmopolitan and small entrepreneurs who are starting out, ageing spaces that are in centrally located areas like Lavender should not only be allowed to remain intact but also be nurtured.

The lively ground-level commercial amenities in the vicinity, from local hardware shops to a famous pork noodles stall, have a cultural diversity that inspires the creatives and complements their milieu.

Besides, along with the growth of the creative industry in the Lavender area, the organic growth of the value-chain of amenities – such as cafes, bars, boutiques and bike shops – will undoubtedly increase the vibrancy of the neighbourhood.

In places like Hong Kong, small tongsui stalls (dessert stalls) survive in high-rent neighbourhoods around Hollywood Road because the municipality has implemented policies to protect them as an intangible heritage. The mix of local eateries next to small designer boutiques has definitely enhanced the cultural richness and social vibrancy of such neighbourhoods.

In Singapore, to satisfy the density requirements for the future development of the growing city, new buildings can be proposed, particularly on some of the spaces that are currently allotted for ground-level parking. These new buildings with ground-level access – which is crucial to the urban life of the neighbourhood – could accommodate additional programmes for living and working, as well as amenities and community activities.

A combination of the incremental upgrading of HDB flats and the strategic infilling of available spaces in the neighbourhood would provide the kind of work-life, atelier, exhibition and event spaces that would also “activate” the existing commercial ground spaces.

In addition to the reuse of existing buildings for new functions, and the addition of new buildings, a studied proposal for reorganising the ground to increase accessibility and connectivity at the scale of the neighbourhood would complement the densification strategy by enhancing pedestrian and open spaces.

Since the beginning of industrialisation, when cities took on the modern scale we know today, walking has been a source of inspiration and encounter in the city. Serendipitous encounters lead to new ideas. A city of pleasurable walking, together with more adaptable spaces, increases creative productivity.

The densification and reuse strategy proposes the reuse of the existing HDB buildings to accommodate a growing new demographic who would appreciate living and working in the convenience of the city centre, without the displacement of existing elderly residents. Importantly, the methodology for the concepts developed for a revitalised neighbourhood like Lavender could also be used for other neighbourhoods in the increasingly globalised and rapidly changing Singapore.

– See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/opinion/more-opinion-stories/story/keep-the-old-lavender-create-space-the-new-20141121#sthash.n28oxdqY.dpuf

No new eateries in 7 areas including Kampong Glam and Upper Paya Lebar

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has banned more new restaurants from setting up shop in seven locations to prevent parking problems from worsening. The new locations add to the URA’s list of areas where no additional eateries are allowed. There are now 18 areas on the list which was first started in 2002.

We look at four things about the move to rein in problems faced by residents in areas with many popular food joints:

1. Which are the seven new areas which now come under the URA restriction?

– Changi Road: Jalan Eunos/Still Road to Jalan Kembangan/Frankel Avenue

– Upper Paya Lebar Road: Lorong Ah Soo to Paya Lebar Crescent

– Bukit Timah Road/Dunearn Road: Binjai Park (Jalan Jambu Mawar To Jalan Jambu Ayer); Bukit Timah Road (Wilby Road to Elm Avenue); Bukit Timah Road (Anamalai Avenue to Fourth Avenue)

– Sembawang Road: Mandai Road to Transit Road

– Kampong Glam: Bounded by Victoria Street, Jalan Sultan, Beach Road and Ophir Road

– Kampong Bahru Road/Spottiswoode Park Road: Blair Road to Everton Road; Everton Road to Neil Road

– Jalan Riang

2. Which are the areas which are already on the list?

– Balestier Road: Thomson Road to Moulmein Road

– East Coast Road: Joo Chiat Road to Still Road; Still Road to Telok Kurau Road; Lothian Terrace to Siglap Road

– Joo Chiat Road Area: Joo Chiat Road (Changi Road to East Coast Road); Joo Chiat Place (Joo Chiat Road to Still Road)

– MacPherson Road: Woodsville Interchange to Kallang Pudding Road

– Upper Serangoon Road: Tampines Road to Lim Ah Pin Road

– River Valley Road: Zion Road to Kellock Road

– Geylang Road: Lorong 1 Geylang to Paya Lebar Road

– Tanjong Katong Road: Dunman Road to Mountbatten Road

– Greenwood Avenue: Junction Of Greenwood Avenue And Hillcrest Road

– Sembawang Road: Jalan Mata Ayer to Yishun Avenue 5

– Serangoon Garden Way: Kensington Park Road To Maju Avenue; Chartwell Drive To Penshurst Place

3. What’s the impact of the URA restriction on some of the areas on the list?

Joo Chiat

In Joo Chiat, traffic woes led the URA to stop issuing dine-in licences in 2008 to new eateries – unless the premises was originally marked for such use. Road dividers were installed to stop illegal parking.

Read the story here: URA firm on dine-in ban in Joo Chiat

Serangoon Gardens

The middle-class housing estate is packed with restaurants, coffee shops and cafes, as well as the popular Chomp Chomp and Serangoon Garden hawker centres. Acting on residents’ complaints, the URA imposed a ban in February 2012: No more Serangoon Garden shophouses can be turned into food joints.

Read the story here: Restaurant ban to ease traffic at Serangoon Garden

Sembawang 

Some 24-hour eateries were asked to close earlier following complaints from residents about noise, littering and parking woes.

Read the story here: Restaurant appeals against restrictions on opening hours

4. What about popular areas which are not on the URA list? Any measures in place?

The URA and other relevant authorities have also taken steps to address noise and traffic concerns in areas which are not on its list.

In Tiong Bahru where eateries and cafes have sprung up in recent years, the URA and Housing Board have turned down some new applications to turn shop premises into eateries. Residents have complained about noise, traffic and fewer shopping options.

Read the story here: Govt keeps lid on eateries in Tiong Bahru

In Yio Chu Kang Road, some restaurants were ordered to close after they failed to do enough to address complaints from residents despite being granted a grace period to fix the problem.

– See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapore/more-singapore-stories/story/no-new-eateries-allowed-7-areas-4-things-know-about-the-#xtor=CS1-10

Shophouses to be auctioned in estate sale

Two freehold properties will be up for auction as a result of an estate sale, said property firm and consultancy Colliers International yesterday.

The properties up for sale, resulting from the owner’s death, are a two-storey conservation shophouse in Beach Road and a terraced house in Devonshire Road.

This comes amid a rebound in the number of mortgagees who have put properties up for auction, as more borrowers default on loans. The home owners find it harder to sell their properties on their own.

But, as a whole, the auction market has not fared as well, thanks to government measures such as the additional buyer’s stamp duty.

So far, $57.6 million worth of properties has gone under the hammer in the first three quarters, well down from the $87.7 million that changed hands over the same period last year, according to earlier reports.

The shophouse, which has tenants, has an indicative price of $5.1 million and a land area of 1,381 sq ft.

Values of shophouses in the area have registered healthy growth, according to data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The average transacted price of shophouses in the Kampong Glam district was $4,700 per sq ft (psf) this year, up 20 per cent from a year ago.

The two-storey terraced house to be auctioned also has tenants, and has an indicative price of $4.4 million.

The property’s land area is 1,405 sq ft, with a plot ratio of 2.8, said Colliers.

“The property has a unique facade, which will appeal to a niche group of buyers who appreciate properties that are architecturally distinct,” said Ms Grace Ng, deputy managing director of Colliers.

Both properties will be auctioned on Oct 29, at Amara Hotel.

– See more at: http://business.asiaone.com/news/shophouse-terraced-house-be-auctioned-estate-sale#sthash.k6n5to4Q.dpuf

TOP 5 CHEAPEST SHOP-HOUSES SOLD by $PSF IN DISTRICT 7 & 8 FOR 2014 (8 Mths)

No.1 Tessensohn Road (S$2,080psf)

Lowest $psf sold: S$2,080psf

Transacted $ per unit: S$6,160,000

Tenure: FreeHold

Land Square Feet per unit sold: 2,962 sf

 

No. 2 Serangoon Rd (S$2,432psf)

Lowest $psf sold: S$2,432psf

Transacted $ per unit: S$4,500,000

Tenure: FreeHold

Land Square Feet per unit sold: 1,850 sf

Well, it seems like Serangoon Road is on the chart again. Last week we shared that Serangoon Road shop-houses were one of the most expensive shop-houses sold in distract 7 & 8 for the past 8 months and apparently it is also one of the cheapest . I guess it is not surprising if it ends up in the chart of “Best-selling shop-houses”.

No.3 Belilios Lane (S$2,736psf)

Lowest $psf sold: S$2,736

Transacted $ per unit: S$8,805,000

Tenure: 99 yrs frm 1995

Land Square Feet per unit sold: 3,218 sf

 

No.4 Desker Rd (S$2,855psf)

Lowest $psf sold: S$2,855

Transacted $ per unit: S$3,500,000

Tenure: 99 yrs frm 1995

Land Square Feet per unit sold: 1,226 sf

 

No.5 Bussorah St (S$3,125psf)

Lowest $psf sold: S$3,125

Transacted $ per unit: S$8,800,000

Tenure: 99 yrs from 2003

Land Square Feet per unit sold: 2,816 sf

 

 

 

FREEHOLD 2-STOREY SHOP-HOUSE FOR SALE @ NORTHBRIDGE ROAD (BUGIS/LAVENDER) – S$6 MIL

An investment choice located in District 7-Kampong Glam area. Along North Bridge Road, is within 10 minutes walk to three MRT stations: Bugis, Lavender and Nicoll Highway MRT Stations. Sale with Tenancy till 2017. Ride the wave of the development of the area (Bugis/Beach Road/Rochor). Sale price at $6M negotiable.

For more details, kindly contact David King, +65 97442121.

 

TOP 5 MOST EXPENSIVE SHOPHOUSES SOLD by $PSF IN DISTRICT 7 & 8 FOR 2014 (8 Mths)

No.1 Bali Lane (S$6,217psf)

Highest $psf sold: S$6,217psf
Transacted $ per unit: S$4,450,000
Tenure: 999 yrs from 1833
Land Square Feet per unit sold: 716 sf

No. 2 Arab Street (S$5,972psf)

Highest $psf sold: S$5,972
Transacted $ per unit: S$4,380,000
Tenure: 999 yrs from 1827
Land Square Feet per unit sold: 720 sf
No.3 Serangoon Rd (S$4,826psf)

Highest $psf sold: S$4,826
Transacted $ per unit: S$6,800,000
Tenure: 999 yrs frm 1995
Land Square Feet per unit sold: 1,409 sf
No.4 Syed Alwi Rd (S$4,363psf)

 

 

 

Highest $psf sold: S$4,363
Transacted $ per unit: S$3,800,000
Tenure: FreeHold
Land Square Feet per unit sold: 875 sf

No.5 Jalan Besar (S$4,111psf)

 

 

 

 

Highest $psf sold: S$4,111
Transacted $ per unit: S$8,000,000
Tenure: FreeHold
Land Square Feet per unit sold: 1,946 sf

Channelnewsasia (CNA)’s production on Heritage Malay enclave

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/tv/tvshows/footprints/videos

Legacy of a Royal Malay Port

Uncover an illuminating picture of modern Singapore’s original Malay enclave — Kampong Glam. Its journey from royal Malay port to cosmopolitan cultural capital spanned two centuries and is entwined with the rise of a young nation.

Though a rising colonial power ripped open its royal core, Kampong Glam town thrived thanks to the dynamic and inclusive spirit of its diverse trading communities. A centre for global Islam and the Malay world, it grew into an intellectual hub that would nurture Malay leaders whose visionary ideas transformed Singapore and the region.

 

Kampong Glam

Kampong Glam (c.1830 Campong Gelam), estate, one of 10 sub-zones of the Rochore area located in the central region. Kampong Glam covers 56 acres of land located to the east of the 19th century European town in Singapore, between the Rochore River and the sea. On 7 July 1989, Kampong Glam was gazetted a conservation area, and will become a “Malay Heritage Centre” preserved as a historic part of town.

History
Kampong Glam was land set aside for Sultan Hussein Mohammed Shah and 600 family members in 1823, upon his signing the treaty ceding Singapore to the East India Company. He instructed the Temenggong Abdul Rahman to build his palace here – a large attap-roofed istana or “palace”. Aside from the Sultan’s family, residents of the area included the Bugis, Arabs, Javanese and Boyanese, and by 1824, at least 1/3 of the residents were Chinese. Immigrants of Muslim faith who were allocated to reside at Kampong Glam. These migrants settled amongst their own ethnic groups, which gave rise to different “mini-kampongs” such as Kampong Bugis, Kampong Java and Kampong Malacca. Raffles himself donated S$3,000 for a “respectable mosque” which served the community until 1924 when the current landmark, the Sultan Mosque was built. The location of Kampong Glam caused a rift between Raffles and Farquhar, the latter believing that the land would be better used as the island’s business centre. Kampong Glam was developed in 1831 by 200 convict workers in 8 months, at a total cost of S$500.

At the founding of Singapore, there was a village by the sea where the Orang Laut from the Glam tribe resided. According to Wah Hakim, this was known as Seduyong before it gained the name Kampong Glam, after the tribal group of the Orang Laut. The bark of the Glam Tree was used by the Orang Laut to make awnings and sails. Its timber was often used for constructing boats and served as firewood. Its fruit was ground and used as pepper – mercha bolong; and its leaves boiled and concocted into the Cajeput Oil, a medication for rheumatism and cramps.

By the 1920s, the Kampong had descended into notoriety so much so that it was famed more for its red-light district than its distinctive community. The elegant, Moorish-influenced Sultan Mosque was rebuilt in 1924, and continues to be an important beacon for Muslims.

The phenomenal presence and influence of the early Arab migrants are registered on street names like Muscat, Bagdad, Bussorah etc., all namesakes of Arabian cities. The wealthiest of these Arab familes have contributed to the building and maintenance of mosques and religious schools, the most notable of these were the Alsagoff Arab School (1912) and the Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah School.

On 7 July 1989, the historic district of Kampong Glam was gazetted a conservation area. In 1993, the Singapore Government first announced its plan to develop the Istana Kampong Glam, as it was in the 16 ha Kampong Glam Conservation area. Residents were informed of this and given ample time to make their own housing arrangements. Then on 12 March 1999 it was announced that the Istana would be converted into a “Malay Heritage Centre”

Key Features
Within the area also stand significant buildings like Bendahara House (1920s) at No. 73, Sultan Gate; and Pondok Java, a drama house where traditional cultural arts of Javanese migrants e.g. Wayang Kulit (“shadow puppet plays”), Wayang Bangsawan (“drama acting”), were performed.

Variant Names
Chinese name:
(1) In Hokkien means Sio Po or “small town”.
(2) Kampong Glam Beach, in Hokkien Twa Che Kha refers to “The foot of the big well”.
There used to be an old well in the middle of the road at Sultan’s Gate.
(3) Sultan’s Gate in Hokkien is known as (a) Ong Hu Khau refers to “The mouth of the Palace ” or (b) Phah Thi Koi refers to “The street of the Iron-smiths.
(4) Sultan Road/Jalan Sultan in Hokkien Sio Po Phah Thi Koi refers to “Small Singapore’s Iron-smiths” street.

Malay name: Kampong Glam refers to “The Glam Tree” (Malaleuca leucadendron from the Greek words melas meaning “black” and leukos meaning “white”).
Indian name: Sultan’s Gate in Tamil is Raja Kottei means “Rajah’s Palace”.