Nostalgic Scenes

Raffles Place Today



The Ascott Raffles Place after its transformation from the original Asia Insurance Building.




Old 60's Singapore aerial view - note the tall white building to the extreme left which is the Asia Insurance Building, the tallest building in South East Asia in its hey days.

As you can see, the Singapore waterfront scenery is beautiful and unique. In the early sixties you can see many tongkangs and sampans plying the Singapore straits and passing through the stinking Singapore River underneath the Anderson Bridge passing by the General Post Office Building finally reaching the godowns upstream near the River Valley area.

The ubiquitous tongkangs, sampans ,bumboats and other barges acted as transportation vehicles to load and unload the goods that were brought in by the foreign vessels for trade. Being an entrepot port, many things were brought into the harbour and later re-exported to neighbouring countries like Malaysia,Indonesia and Borneo.
Singapore was the centre of export for rubber, tin, and copra mostly sought from the rich hinterlands of Malaysia. The railway line connects the nothern peninsula to the southernmost tip here on the island crossing the water via the Johor Causeway.

Singapore was thriving very well under these circumstances and that brought much wealth and international exposure to this tiny country which would later become one of the richest countries in Asia after Japan.




I remembered this place where my parents will take me for Satay in front of the Arcade Building. The other place will be the original Satay Club at Beach Road next to the Beach Road Police Station.The Arcade as it is called has a Moorish architecture quite unique to the early skyline of the Singapore water front. It will house several shops, ship chandlers offices and other merchandising outlets including tailor shops,money changers,souvenir stores,toy shops and all that an entrepot port like Singapore can offer that will cater to the international seafarers that stop by Singapore Harbour. The day to day business in this area surrounding Clifford Pier where my father was based is a busy cross roads of activities of sights and sounds. I believe Singapore was the world's 7th largest port at that time. The tallest building then was the Asia Insurance Building
and anyone could view it from as far as the southern straits when the weather is clear and bright.Now, in its present time the building is being converted into a luxury hotel apartment.

One other spot that really fascinated me was the pillar shaped post box in front of the original Ocean Building along Collyer Quay. The red coloured structure makes me wonder why people put in their letters into it and how it travelled far and wide.
The Ocean Building has an interesting toy shop on its main ground floor entrance.
I remembered to really liked a toy with an aeroplane hovering over a small train that chugged in and out of a mountain cave on the ground reminiscent of a Swiss Alps scene.


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" Excerpt From TRAVEL DAILY NEWS
The Ascott Group (Ascott) has transformed a national heritage building and Southeast Asia’s tallest tower in the 1950s into a premium serviced residence in Singapore. The former Asia Insurance Building (AIB) is now the Ascott Singapore Raffles Place after a S$60-million conservation and restoration effort.

Today, the architectural icon stands as a private sanctuary in a class of its own. It provides global travellers the comforts of a home right at the heart of the Marina Bay waterfront business and lifestyle hub.

AIB was the first modern highrise office building designed and constructed in Singapore after World War II. It symbolised Singapore’s development as an important financial hub, and is one of the few remaining highrise buildings from the 1950s. In April 2007, the 52 year-old landmark was gazetted as a conservation building by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The building represents a legacy of the country’s history through Ascott’s careful conservation and restoration.

AIB was designed in 1955 by Dr Ng Keng Siang, the first Singapore member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Dr Ng was a prominent British-trained local architect who demonstrated a quantum leap in the architectural field by successfully marrying the tenets of the modern movement with local influences.

The Right Honourable Malcolm Macdonald, P.C., then Commissioner General for the United Kingdom in Southeast Asia (1948 to 1955) said: “The building was a most distinguished landmark, seen from miles in every direction… in one of the world’s greatest commercial centres.” This statement was made on 19 June 1953 as he put the finishing touches to a plaque that is still displayed at the building’s exterior more than half a century later.

Mr Shriniwas Rai, lawyer and former nominated Member of Parliament who worked in his law office in Asia Insurance Building for 35 years, was 10 when he first saw the building. He was arriving in Singapore with his family from India by ship. Mr Rai said: “Asia Insurance Building was an attraction as many parents brought their children there for a view of the tallest building in Southeast Asia. It was ‘the’ premium office building at the time; space in the tower was S$1 per square feet, five times more than the 20 cents per square feet cost at other buildings. I have fond memories of my time there; to me it is one of the few buildings which can be truly considered Singapore’s national architecture heritage. I am glad that the building is being preserved and with added glamour as the new Ascott Raffles Place.”

Mr Lim Chin Beng, Ascott’s Chairman said: “Asia Insurance Building has a special place in Singapore’s history as Southeast Asia’s tallest tower in the 1950s. Over the last two years, we have given a lot of care to conserve this gem and bring it back to its former glory. We looked into every detail to keep as much of its heritage as possible. It is a landmark with a unique 50s Art Deco architecture that is befitting of Ascott’s flagship in Singapore.”

Ms Jennie Chua, Ascott’s President & CEO said: “By conserving this precious heritage building and giving the architectural icon a new lease of life as Ascott Raffles Place, we provide global travellers a unique and special experience. It offers a timeless remembrance of Singapore’s heritage with modern comforts of international standards right at the heart of Singapore’s business district and lifestyle hub. At our hallmark property, residents will enjoy hospitality that is signature across Ascott’s properties in over 50 cities worldwide.”

Unique Heritage

Residents will find an original James Cutler designed brass mail chute which has been conserved for use at the serviced residence. James Cutler was an American designer and architect who invented the mail chute in the 1880s where mail could be dropped from a high point and collected at a central depository. His mail chute was patented in 1883.

Ascott also retained more than 300 brass window frames and replaced over 1,000 glass panels to insulate against the sun and the bustle of the city traffic. 20,000 pieces of original premium Travertine marble cladding were hand secured.

In addition, Ascott conserved the five-footway, made of Nero Portaro Italian marble, around the perimeter of the building, and two Nero Portaro pillars at the front of the property, where two inlaid plaques were set in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of the Queen of England and in 1955 for the official opening of AIB.

Modern Comforts

Ascott Raffles Place has soft opened with 50 units, and the remaining will be progressively ready from now till the official opening this October. Ascott Raffles Place will then offer travellers 146 exquisite apartment units and an impressive range of facilities including meeting rooms, WiFi connectivity, an infinity pool, jacuzzis, a fully equipped gymnasium, a fitness studio, a lounge bar and a fine-dining restaurant by award-winning Julien Bompard.

Within easy access are a variety of restaurants, cafes, pubs, shopping outlets and the upcoming Marina Bay Sands integrated resort. The Raffles Place Mass Rapid Transit Station is just next to the property.

Ascott Raffles Place is one of The Ascott Group’s seven serviced residences in Singapore, including Citadines Mount Sophia, which will open in 2009."

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My father used to tell me that many sailors liked Singapore due to its cosmopolitan nature. It was not too Chinese or too Malay or far more so too Indian.
The foreigners think Singapore is Instant Asia and is the melting pot at this side of the Pacific. The postcards sold at the souvenir shops for example depicted an Indian snake charmer with a Malay girl dancer in traditional dress alongside a Chinese "wayang" character with heavy make-up and glossy clothes.

The whole car park area in front of the Arcade Building will be filled up with several Satay stalls and it was the in thing fast food outlet for families during that time. The smoky scent of barbecued meat splashed with "pandan" leaves will pervade the air with aromatic addiction. We will all sit on small stools and watch the vendor prepare his offerings in sheer delight and keen mouth watering anticipation. We could have the hawker to ourselves as long as we can eat.Such was the joy and simple lifestyle of outdoor family entertainement!"

After the satay meals, we will all walk to Clifford Pier and towards the Esplanade Walk. The Malay community have a very unique way of calling this place in their usual patois language, literally pronounced "Padang Sepened" among the elders .Come to think of it, it sounded very funny and you can laugh at such weird close name connotations. I loved the Esplanade Walk because of their beautiful gardens and historical heroes monuments in dedication of the fallen soldiers of WWII.
The strong smell of the sea water pervades whole area and as evening enters, the beautiful night sky blooms into a beautiful sight. The lighthouse rays that shone surreptitiously from one the bulding towers swept the dark night of the well protected harbour.

Behind the Arcade lies the John Little's Shopping Centre and Robinson's , Singapore's premier department stores then. You can get to these places by walking via a narrow walkway that connects Collyer Quay and Raffles Place. It was called Change Alley.
The Robinson's Shopping centre caught fire sometime in the 70's. ( Full Story Excerpt below ) -
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Robinson's Department Store fire at Raffles Place

By Tan, Lay Yuen written on 1999-04-17
National Library Board Singapore

Comments on article: InfopediaTalk

Robinson's Department Store at Raffles Place was destroyed by fire on 21 November 1972, with a loss estimated at over S$14 million. Nine people (eight of them employees of the company) died in the blaze which started at 9:55 am from a short circuit on the first floor of the four-storey building.

Description
As flames razed through the 114-year-old store, there was little time for the 350 employees and another 200 shoppers to escape. Millions of consumer goods for Christmas went up in flames which at one stage leapt up to more than 200 ft (61 m) in the sky and was visible from as far west as Jurong.

Evaluation
A Coroner's Inquiry into the nine deaths returned a verdict of misadventure. Eight of the nine deaths, the Coroner Mr Yong Yung Sui said on 5 February 1974, could have been saved by the Senior Electrician, Tan Song Chua had he adopted the usual procedure of turning on the main switch and restoring power to the lifts. The eight were trapped in the lifts during the fire while the ninth victim died in the toilet on the second floor.

The fire marked the end of Robinson's at Raffles Place but it certainly did not mark the end of Robinson's in Singapore. It is now located at Orchard Road, opposite to the Specialists' Centre and is the anchor tenant in Centrepoint since 1983.

Robinson's is now owned by the Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Group. On the site of the unfortunate fire now stands the OUB Centre, the tallest building in Singapore.

Author
Tan Lay Yuen
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My first visit to John Little's was when i was 9 years old when my teacher and her friends decided to give me a treat for being a good student in class. She called out a few guys out of the classroom one day and asked if we could get permission from our parents for a weekend trip to Raffles Place. My teacher at that time was staying at Robinson Road which is just a walking distance to the department store.
I was excited about it and was thrilled to be selected by her. I could not possibly remember how many class mates were with me at that time but it was a delightful and memorable afternoon indeed !
That was the first time i actually used a modern elevator and felt the cool air-conditioned comfort of a shopping centre. Everything was so Western to me. The people at the store, the beautiful clothes and toys that was exhibited and of course the fancy restaurants in it. Later my teacher brought us to an ice cream parlor and that moment was the most interesting of all !




This was the place my father was stationed before he retired. The building still stands now between Maxwell Road and Wallich Street. Our residence could be seen on the left hand side of the building which is a three storey apartment that consists of 3 bedrooms, 1 hall, 1 dining area, a kitchen and a seperate toilet and shower. It was convenient in every means whether to our work place or to travel to any part in Singapore as it was in the CBD area.(Central Business District).