Colours, Sights & Patterns At Kampong Glam

In the 19th century, Kampong Glam was essentially an ethnic district with a strong Malay-Arab influence. It was a place where locals patronized for their Arab-Muslim traditional foodstuff and merchandise...

Immersive 4K HDR Viewing Experience With Sony Projectors

Sony’s latest innovative laser light source projector is High Dynamic Range (HDR) compatible with native 4K resolution, creating an amazling clear lifelike experience, as if you are there yourself…

Back 30 Years To Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre

Iconic along this stretch of road is the rectangular block of a nondescript beige-tiled building. The facade of this building is blocked by an overhead bridge. And this is the front entrance to a shopping centre - the Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre… (USSC).

Monti - Singapore's Longest Brunch Every Sunday

Enjoy brunch by the bay concept, complete with stunning views of the Marina Bay and its surroundings, and a fabulous menu and music programme to match at Monti…

Where Freemasons Convene

In 1886, the Masonic Club was established to support Singapore freemasonry. Guess who was the first Freemason in modern Singapore?

A Fairytale Evening With Hello Kitty At McDonald's

8:05 AM  , , , ,  

McDonald's Ang Mo Kio
North, Singapore
May 2013

(Source : McDonald's Singapore)

McDonald’s favourite feline friend is back again, this time with a fairy tale twist! The limited edition Hello Kitty Fairy Tales collection features a series of six Hello Kitty characters each decked out in costumes inspired by fairy tale characters:
  
  • Wizard of Oz Hello Kitty (30 May to 05 June)
  • Little Red Riding Hood Hello Kitty (06 June to 12 June)
  • The Frog Prince Hello Kitty (13 June to 19 June)
  • The Ugly Duckling Hello Kitty (20 June to 26 June)
  • The Singing Bones Hello Kitty (27 June to 03 July)
  • McDelivery Hello Kitty (Only available through McDelivery, sold from 30 May)
The Hello Kitty Fairy Tales plushies are available for $4.60 each with every purchase of an Extra Value Meal at any McDonald’s outlet, with the exception of the McDelivery Hello Kitty plush toy which is only available for purchase via McDelivery. Alternatively, each of the Hello Kitty plushies can also be purchased without an Extra Value Meal for $10 each at any McDonald’s outlet.


In line with having lots of fun during the June school holidays, McDonald's will be launching the "Go Play!" campaign with many exciting new menu items:

(Source : McDonald's Singapore)
  • Power Up Breakfasts with Pepper Chicken, McGrill, and Turkey Bacon 
  • Mouthwatering Honey Mustard and Wasabi Sauces (available from 13 June)
  • Curry Shaker Fries
  • Refreshing McFreeze Strawberry
  • Fun-tastic Savings with downloadable coupons
(Source : McDonald's Singapore)

And... Merlion Wayfarer was invited to an exciting and fun preview earlier this week!

What was laid on the table in a fun and colourfully-decorated room...

A "box" for every seat - A beautifully crafted storybook holding a magical Kitty within...

A refreshing Mango Smoothie was served to quench our thirst in the sweltering heat...

Three different fairytales for our table...
   
The opening of the storybooks and the spell is cast - 
It has made all of us there resolve to collect ALL in the series!

Fun and games as invitees strive to win more plushies in the Q&A quizzes...

Dinner is served - Chicken Nuggets in a cute strawberry lunchbox, a Strawberry Fizz,
and a choice of Honey Mustard and Wasabi Sauce...

Merlion Wayfarer pledges her ongoing support for Hello Kitty in a visit on the launch day too!

Thank you - OMY, McDonald's and Golin Harris!  :D
More photos are available on Merlion Wayfarer's Picasa at :
 

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Clifford Pier : The Call Of The Red Lanterns

6:41 PM  , , , , , ,  

Marina Bay & Singapore River
South, Singapore
May 2013

(This article is part of Merlion Wayfarer's Fullerton Heritage Guided Tour series.)

Singapore’s economy thrived during the 19th century as it became a primary South-East Asian port-of-call for ships enroute to other parts of the world. The piers along the current Marina Bay were a locus for commerce, a site for the arrival and embarkation of goods, and, correspondingly, as an intersection point for culture. 

Clifford Pier (哥烈码头) , an embarkation and disembarkation pier, on Collyer Quay, is located in the Downtown Core of the Central Business District in Singapore. It was named after Sir Hugh Charles Clifford, Governor of the Straits Settlements (1927-1929), and was officially opened by Governor Sir Cecil Clementi K.C.M.G. on 03 June 1933.

Merlion Wayfarer went on a tour conducted by Ms Florence Minjoot, the resident Fullerton Heritage tour guide. It was an exciting session as she was once again enthralled with the stories behind the rich heritage of the area:




The full album is available at:
 

Sources

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Customs House : The Watchman Of The Waters

6:40 PM  , , , , , ,  

Marina Bay & Singapore River
South, Singapore
May 2013

(This article is part of Merlion Wayfarer's Fullerton Heritage Guided Tour series.)
|  The Call Of The Red Lanterns  |  A "Fight" Between Johnston And Clifford  |   Signature Ward Elements  |

The restoration of the Customs House provided the added challenge of connecting the building to the rest of the waterfront development. Its watch tower, centrally located at its waterfront facade, was cleaned up, restored and repainted to preserve its maritime heritage. Even its distinctive concrete “butterfly” facade at its two longitudinal elevations was carefully restored. New modern shopfronts were sensitively added to its first storey such that they blend harmoniously with the former utilitarian building. Of notable mention was the voluntary retention and restoration of the building’s definitive umbrella-like pavilion.


The building’s previous functional office layout was reconfigured and reinvented into hip dining establishments. The new third storey roof space was a creative solution to house the mechanical and electrical equipment without detracting from its architecture. Vertical green planter strips were introduced to soften the appearance of the building and act as a transition between the old and the new. A feature wall was created at the other end of the building to relieve the rather plain facade housing the new substation for the development.
   
 

The full album is available at:
Merlion Wayfarer's Picasa (Places - Fullerton)


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Clifford Pier : Signature Ward Elements

6:21 PM  , , , , , ,  

Marina Bay & Singapore River
South, Singapore
May 2013

(This article is part of Merlion Wayfarer's Fullerton Heritage Guided Tour series.)
|  The Call Of The Red Lanterns  |  A "Fight" Between Johnston And Clifford  |
|  The Watchman Of The Waters  |

Clifford Pier, named after Governor Sir Hugh Charles Clifford, was opened in 1933. Designed by the Public Works Department (PWD) where Frank Dorrington Ward was the Chief Architect, this Art-Deco style landmark constructed by Woh Hup features a series of graceful concrete arches and elegant architectural details along its facade. Huge steel piles were hammered into the seabed to strength its foundation and maintain its structure and unique architecture.

Today, the majesty and grandeur of the old Clifford Pier has been preserved with artistic taste and adherence to its maritime origin. It was granted conservation status by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in 2007. The restoration was handled by DP Architects, winning it the URA Architectural Heritage Awards in 2011.

The Roof


Two of its star architectural treasures kick off a list of many that have been earnestly brought back to life – the signature concrete arched trusses in rib band form and its magnificent multi-hued, stained glass fanlight.

The rows upon rows of concrete arch trusses - With a central spine, these are arranged like bands of ribs.
This unique design supports the long roof running the length of the entire pier...

This design is similar to London's St Pancras Railway Station...
(Sources - clockwise : Wikipedia,  TravelStay, VisitLondon)

The Interior


As the design of the building is akin to those of industrial buildings of the Victorian era, where there is a wide expanse of space within. Like factories, warehouses and railway stations, there are no columns or partitions. 

Clifford Pier in its earlier days with its open concept allowing the sea breeze to ventilate the building naturally...
(Source : Wikipedia)

Even today, the whole interior of the building is not compartmentalized by rooms or walls...

Facing The Road

 
The grand facade with its fan shape was painstaking preserved. Palm trees and low bushes were cleared to exhibit the entrance in its full grandeur...

 Yesterday's entrance contrasted with today's...
(Sources : Flickr, Moon World Tourism, Open Buildings)

The multi-hued blue stained glass at the entrance has been carefully preserved...

The Straits Settlement coat of arms still remains on the front facade...
(Source : Open Buildings & Times of Singapura)

The Straits Settlements consisted of the three individual settlements of Malacca, Penang and Singapore (with Christmas Island and the Cocos Keeling Islands). The island of Labuan, off the coast of Borneo, was included in the Straits Settlements from the early 1900s.

(Source : Wikipedia)

Little Hidden Details

 
Unique elements, such as the brackets supporting the roof with their original Shanghai plaster finish and the authentic antiquated artifacts, including the cast iron red lamps and commemorative plaques, have been faithfully salvaged.

To prepare the building for air-conditioning, glass panels were sensitively introduced behind the building facade, and service trays neatly suspended along the aisles so as not to camouflage the cherished textures of the past...

An intricate screen with a carved wood sculpture in front with the path leading to the water
is lined with lanterns lit with big candles...

The supports tethering boats to the pier were preserved in their originality...

In some parts of Clifford Pier, new walls were built to separate the lobby from the adjoining restaurants.
These walls were tastefully "hidden" with artistic features...

The plaque with details of the original architect and contractor...
(Source : Flickr)

The stone tiles decorating the edges of the roof and ceiling columns were maintained, albeit in stone now...

Most importantly, there were at least two examples of the famed cast iron red lamps throughout...

These were identical to the ones at the original Clifford Pier before its restoration...
(The walkway in the second photo has since been demolished to make way for an open area with artworks and a fountain.)
(Sources : Flickr & ClubSnap)

Maritime Theme Artifacts


In line with its maritime heritage, many aspects of its history have been woven into the design:

A reception desk at One On The Bund, a high-end fine-dining restaurant made out of trunks from yesterday - Indistinct, yet on reflection, a creative design element...

Little suitcases atop cabinets...


A name from the past, yet present...

The full album is available at:
Merlion Wayfarer's Picasa (Places - Fullerton)
 

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