Thursday 11 June 2015

Old gables again -- along Havelock

Godowns along Havelock Road, near Saiboo Street. I think these godowns have really interesting gables -- there is the typical triangle on top, and then one round window followed by three square windows, neatly aligned -- all with sturdy iron grills. I would think the round windows would let in interesting shafts of sunlight when coolies worked in the dimly lit days of yore. (But I guess coolies working so very hard, would not have the time or the heart to admire them.) These old godowns are marked for conservation. All pictures here taken in Dec 2014.
After note: There was a report in The Straits Times a few days after this posting that the warehouses will be converted to a boutique hotel. The area is all hoarded up now. 
Just an aside: the junction at Saiboo Street and Havelock Road seems to be one of the widest yellow box junctions in Singapore. Can't confirm this though. There may be wider ones.
This is the Geok Hong Tian Temple -- or temple of the Jade Emperor, built in 1887, one of the oldest temples in Singapore. It is pretty near to the popular Havelock Road bak kut teh restaurant, by the way. 

Close up of one of its gables. The temple's roofs are decorated with figurines of the Sun, Wind, Rain and Thunder gods. 

5 comments:

streetsing said...

I always find the architecture of this godown interesting. Its now undergoing an extensive makeover.

Lo Tien Yin said...

Is it? I haven't been passing there lately. Great to hear from you again, Streetsing :)

Lo Tien Yin said...

I wonder if they will be transformedinto pubs, hip coffee houses etc? I hope they have more innovative use for these old godowns.

streetsing said...

Its now hoarded up, post a picture when I am better :) No idea what they will be transform to though. By the way the semi circular block at Zion road was finally demolished. I have some photos of it which I took few years ago.

Lo Tien Yin said...

Look forward to your postings. Get well soon ;)