Street Corner Heritage Galleries Scheme

For those who might not be too familiar or heard about Street Corner Heritage Galleries previously. What is the Street Corner Heritage Galleries Scheme all about?

The Street Corner Heritage Galleries scheme by the National Heritage Board (NHB) started off in Balestier in 2020, followed by Kampong Gelam in 2021, Little India in 2022 and Chinatown in 2022. The Street Corner Heritage Galleries scheme is an excellent way to celebrate and document the rich experiences of heritage businesses, this scheme aims to foster a deeper appreciation for heritage in everyday spaces.

Under this scheme, NHB works closely with interested owners of heritage businesses with at least 30 years of history to co-create “mini-museums” to showcase the history, heritage, culture and stories of their businesses and trades, through the displays of historical documents, photographs and artefacts.

A brief history of Katong-Joo Chiat district

You would probably know Katong-Joo Chiat from pictures of the colourful pre-war Peranakan shophouses, that attracts not only locals to head there for a photo shoot. Our international friends have also make their way into Katong-Joo Chiat district for its charm, beauty and colourful blend of old and new, from its colourful pre-war shophouses in the neighbourhood, the diverse communities co-existing with modern shopping malls and hip cafes. 

There are rich history, heritage and culture elements in Katong-Joo Chiat, waiting for you to discover them behind those heritage businesses in Katong-Joo Chiat. Each has their own story of resilience, innovation and intergenerational piety. What are some of the stories and insights into heritage businesses in this vibrant Katong-Joo Chiat precinct? What are some of the lesser-known anecdotes behind those classic delicacies to inspirational tales of intergenerational support and cooperation? 

Why not take a walk and explore Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat, discover and find out more about them?

Six Participating Businesses for Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat

NHB is launching Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat with six participating businesses: 

• Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah
• Joo Chiat Fei Fei Wanton Noodle House
• Kim Choo Kueh Chang
• Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant
• Sin Heng Claypot Bak Koot Teh
• D’Bun

Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0 – Empowering the Community 

This Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat is an expansion of the scheme, as part of the NHB’s ongoing efforts under the Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0, to empower more Singaporeans to get involved with the celebration of our heritage and support heritage businesses and crafts. The Street Corner Heritage Galleries scheme provides curatorial support and assistance in terms of research and content development, and funding for the fabrication of showcases. 

NHB will also work closely with the heritage businesses to develop programmes that complement the showcases, and provide opportunities for them to participate in key NHB events to increase awareness of their businesses and offerings. 

What can the public look forward to? From guided trails and workshops that will showcase the Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat during NHB’s inaugural Heritage Activation Nodes (HAN), that will be launched in Katong-Joo Chiat district and various precincts from this year as part of NHB Our SG Heritage Plan 2.0. The HAN provides opportunities for the community to develop and implement projects that will increase the number of heritage touchpoint in the heartlands and celebrate the distinctive heritage of their neighbourhoods. 

Mr Gerald Wee, Director, Education and Community Outreach, NHB said: “We have been encouraged by the success of the pilot Street Corner Heritage Galleries scheme over the past three years. Feedback from the business owners has been positive and we hope this expansion of the scheme will allow more heritage businesses to showcase their stories and heritage, and to benefit from increased public awareness and support.”

A short tour of Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat

During the media session, we took a short tour of the Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat district. Starting off at Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant, next was Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah, Joo Chiat Fei Fei Wanton Noodle House and Kim Choo Kueh Chang.

Although it was a short session at each location due to time constraints, we heard stories from the  people behind the those heritage businesses. Although I had explored Katong-Joo Chiat quite a fair bit over the years for heritage, history and arts related events and activities, as well as doing photography shoots at various locations in the iconic Katong-Joo Chiat, hanging out at the Katong Square Lifestyle & Vintage Market by The Retro Factory, there were still many stories that I am hearing it for the first time about Katong-Joo Chiat district. 

As I don’t stay in the east side of Singapore, and I am not too knowledgable about Peranakan cuisine, I didn’t know about the history and legacy of Guan Hoe Soon Restaurant until that day when I stepped into the premises for the start of the media event for Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat. I would love to visit and try their authentic Peranakan cuisine after trying out some of their delicious kueh and light bites that they prepared for the media event. 

Next up was Kway Guan Huat Joo Chiat Popiah. I heard about them previously, now I got to visit their store and hearing them share their history, stories and journeys. I love to eat popiah, I am going to check out their website, see which popiah skin or popiah sets to order, and plan a popiah eating gathering.

Visiting Kim Choo Kueh Chang at Joo Chiat Place, the original location and also its main factory, it was not the same as their East Coast Branch where I visited a few times over the years whenever there were events held in the Katong-Joo Chiat district. We were given a tour of their factory during our media tour, hearing them share about KIm Choo Kueh Chang history, stories and journeys. 

On a personal note, it was good to meet Mr Lim of Joo Chiat Fei Fei Wanton Noodle House again, I met him a few years back, thanks to Victor, a senior in Scouting, also a heritage enthusiast that I met at Katong Square Lifestyle & Vintage Market, for introducing him. 

The four Street Corner Heritage Galleries in Katong-Joo Chiat district that we visited, all had their own unique history, stories and journeys, from one generation to the next. I would like to invite you to explore and check them out during your exploration of Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat, whereby you can learn more about their origins, how they continued to thrive and grow over the years.

For more information on Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat

If you like to know more information on Street Corner Heritage Galleries: Katong-Joo Chiat, please visit https://go.gov.sg/schgkatongjoochiat 

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My journey and friendship with The Quarters started back in 2014 when I knew them via their iconic durian creme brûlée at a heritage festival event food village. They are a local fusion food haven, had an unforgettable modern communal dining “The Quarters Experience”, delicious chargrilled cuisine and two iconic burgers, The Real Nasi Lemak Burger and The Real McCoy – Salted Egg Burger.    

Check out The Quarters Take Away Menu below during this Circuit Breaker period

Let’s all support our local food businesses in Singapore during this very difficult period with #SavefnbSG !! Let’s all #SGUnited #SGTogether against #CircuitBreaker period in Singapore. As a fellow foodie and as a photographer running my own sole-proprietor business, I personally can relate to the stress and pressure that small and medium enterprises are facing right now. The time is now to try and help each other to survive if you are able to do so.

Everyone of us can help each other in a small way or another, let’s all Pay It Forward and Pass It On, The Quarters take away menu that you can order during this circuit breaker period. When the circuit breaker is lifted, I encourage you to visit them at Icon Village and have a cosy meal there!

* Menu picture courtesy of The Quarters *

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How I met Alvin was most likely to be a museum event, I was introduced by Belinda, the great connector and networker. “Come and visit the Intan!” Alvin said to me. “Alright, sure!” I replied to Alvin. Fast forward to 16^th June 2019, I finally visited the Intan! I had one of my most memorable visit to a museum here in Singapore, an exquisite Peranakan Experience at the Intan. Let me bring you through on my story of learning and exploring up close and personal Peranakan history, heritage and culture at the Intan with Alvin Yapp.

I joined a scheduled Intan Tea Tour with two other visitors from overseas, along with another family based in Singapore, on a Saturday morning. The Intan attracts both local and international visitors. The tour took about an hour, starting with a brief history on the origins of Peranakan history, heritage and culture by Alvin. Thereafter, he brought us around a tour of his Peranakan museum on the ground floor, telling the stories, the origin and history behind them.

On the second floor, there are even more Peranakan treasures! Prior to going up, Alvin kindly requested “No photography is allowed to be taken on the second floor”. We respected his privacy and request, no questions asked. Oh, what are the type of Peranakan treasures and collection on the second floor? I would like to keep this a suspense, for you to visit the Intan and discover them for yourself!

Upon finishing the tour, we went back down to the ground floor, sat down, had tea, delicious Nonya kueh and continued chatting with Alvin, listening to his stories. As the other visitors left, I stayed behind for a bit longer, preparing for the second half of my exquisite Peranakan experience. While chatting with Alvin, he shared this with me, “Every piece of Peranakan artefact inside the Intan has a story behind it.” I was curious, wanting to learn and understand more about Intan.

Me: When and how did the Intan get started?

Alvin: The Intan is sometimes referred to as an ‘Accidental Museum’ I started collecting Peranakan antiques to learn about my own culture. When I had my own apartment, visitors were keen to visit me to view and learn about P culture. We eventually registered ourselves at The Intan in 2006, and NHB appointed The Intan as a member of the museum roundtable association in 2010.

Me: What are some of your favourite Peranakan collections and what are some of the stories behind them?

Alvin: Each piece has it’s own story. My first piece is a humble planter’s chair. I got it from a garage sale by using my Dad’s station wagon. Another piece that is special to me would be a pair of beaded slippers that my g’ma gave to my mum. I always say….everything else, money can buy. Heirloom pieces are priceless.

Me: What makes the Intan so special and unique?

Alvin: Everything Here are some things we keep hearing from our guests

1. Am surprised that the owner still lives in the house
2. Special to visit a ‘house’ museum where we can interact and engage with the owner/collector himself.
3. It’s a living museum
4. Very experiential where we can ask all the questions we want
5. You can also check out Tripadvisor reviews….wat travelers’ say about The intan is extremely interesting!

There were stories on some of the Peranakan collections, some were heart warming, some heart wrenching when I heard it from Alvin, while looking at the Peranakan collections, I was amazed, touched and enlightened by them. That is the exquisite Peranakan experience that I am talking about earlier, only at the Intan, surrounded by a vast and wide collection of Peranakan history, heritage, culture, conservation and preservation, through the private stories, heart, mind, soul and amazing passion of Alvin Yapp, the owner of the Intan.

The Intan is not a big museum by floor size, it is a “huge” museum by the diversity of Peranakan culture packed inside there, filled with such a rich Peranakan history, heritage, culture, stories behind them and a level of passion unparalleled by the private museum owner Alvin Yapp. This is definitely one of the best private museum in Singapore, in my personal humble opinion.

I would like to invite you to book a visit to the Intan, go for your own exquisite Peranakan experience adventure! Thank you Intan, thank you Alvin, for this memorable exquisite Peranakan Experience!

<A TGH Photography x Canon EOS RP Explorer series production>

Information on the Intan

Address: 69 Joo Chiat Terrace, Singapore 427231

Telephone: +65 6440 1148

Email: contactus@the-intan.com

Important! Take note!

The Intan is a private Peranakan Museum. Please be kindly reminded that visits to the Intan are STRICTLY by appointments only! Book your Intan tour here on their website!

Social Media

Website: http://the-intan.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheIntanSG/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theintansg/

Twitter: https://www.instagram.com/theintansg/

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Together with Victor, June, Iris, Uncle CE and myself, along with John, our EOS World Community Manager and Ron from Canon Imaging Academy of Canon Singapore, we had a fun morning photo walk, helping out the group guides in the photo walk, starting off from Old Bibik’s Peranakan Kitchen. The Peranakan Project Photo Walk was organised by Marine Parade Cluster, whereby my friend Jude is also active inside the Marine Parade Cluster.

Group photo courtesy of John

For those who love delicious Peranakan cuisine, do visit Old Bibik’s Peranakan Kitchen, we had a delicious brunch before starting off on our photo walk. Before starting the guided photo walk, participants had the opportunity to do food photography shoot with the Peranakan dishes setup on the table.

A big group photograph was taken outside Old Bibik’s Peranakan Kitchen before the start of The Peranakan Project, a photo walk exploring and learning about Peranakan history, heritage and culture in the Joo Chiat district. We visited some of the iconic landmarks in Joo Chiat district, the colourful Peranakan Houses along Koon Seng Road, Katong Houses along 150 East Coast Road, Katong Antique House, Kim Choo Kueh Chang before finishing the photo walk at Joo Chiat Community Club. Our group made pit stops at some of the back alleys of Joo Chiat district where there were interactive stations for participants to join in and have fun.

As one of the photo guides and helpers, I didn’t take as many photographs as I would like, since I had to help to keep a lookout for my group’s participants, therefore I took photos of the participants and behind the scenes photos instead. I had previously explored Joo Chiat district on a number of occasions, just a few weeks back prior to the Peranakan Project photo walk, I planned a video and photo shoot for Hpility SG Vivo Smartphone project in this vicinity.

Personally for me, the visit to Katong Antique House was very memorable, a remarkable private museum that has a long and rich history and heritage packed inside there. I hope to visit them again to learn more about in-depth about Peranakan history, heritage and culture. Kim Choo Kueh Chang was also great, participants got the opportunity to taste some of the nonya delights, absolutely authentic and delicious.

A photo walk, would never be a real photo walk until you started chatting with participants, photo guides and helpers on camera gears, the debates and discussions between photographers whether they are enthusiasts or professional photographers. I brought my Canon EOS RP full-frame mirrorless camera out for the Peranakan Project photo walk, attracted some fanfare attention from fellow Canon photographers as well photographers using other camera brands. We did have some interesting chats and debates among us at the Joo Chiat Community Centre! Nevertheless, the lightweight Canon EOS RP makes it very ideal for street photography and travel photography too!

Thanks to Marine Parade Cluster for organising The Peranakan Project photo walk, it was fun to help out in a small way back to the community and heritage sector.

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