We ♥ Katong

Our Neighbourhoods

Urban Sketchers Singapore

ISBN: 978-981-076608-5
First Edition, October 2020
© 2020 Epigram Books

Cover design by Lydia Wong
Front cover illustration by Tilen Ti
Back cover illustration by Lim Hai Chew
Map by Tammy Lu
Edited by Aditi Shivaramakrishnan
Sketchwalk organised by Urban Sketchers Singapore

Published in Singapore by Epigram
www.epigrambooks.sg

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Table of Contents

The Rose of the East

Map

Credit : Sketch by LISA HUANG LISHAN

Credit : Sketch by PHYLLIS CHONG

The Rose of the East

There’s a saying: “A rose by any other name will still smell as sweet”. The Joo Chiat / Katong area would then suffer an identity crisis, given the sheer variety of names associated with it. In the north, some would refer to it as Geylang, Geylang Serai or even Paya Lebar. In the south, Marine Parade and East Coast. In the east, Siglap and Telok Kurau.

Just what is the identity of Joo Chiat / Katong? I could summarise it in four categories: the ethnic communities (Malay, Straits Chinese and Eurasian), the famous dishes and establishments, the heritage properties and the most popular beach in Singapore.

The conservation of buildings is meaningless if the lifestyles, trades and crafts they house are not preserved. Katong is the Singapore neighbourhood with the greatest amount of conserved architecture; generations of Malay, Straits Chinese and Eurasian families have called it their home. Heritage foods are still served daily here. In fact, Katong-ites are so proud of their food establishments, they would debate over the authenticity and quality of famous Singapore dishes such as laksa, kueh chang and tau kwa pau.

I started a backpackers hostel here ten years ago and I’ve since felt that I’ve been adopted by the community. There’s a saying that once you live in the East, you would not want to live anywhere else.

Tony Tan
Founder, Betel Box Hostel & Tours

The Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace was established in 1954 to cater to the influx of Catholics in the East. The Main Church Building and Parish Hall have been given conservation status as fine examples of Modern architecture. Credit : Sketch by FAVIAN EE

The Canadian International School’s Tanjong Katong campus was formerly the site of the historic Tanjong Katong Girls’ School. Block C, the former TKGS school hall with its row of circular port windows, is a Singapore Heritage listed site. Credit : Sketch by LIM HAI CHEW

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