Iconic Colourful Rochor Centre

Iconic Rochor centre

A iconic colourful Rochor Centre is a building, built and completed in 1977. A colourful of its own which painted in four colours - Green-Blk 1, Blue-Blk 2, Yellow-Blk 3 and Pink-Blk 4 in early 1990s in a government upgrading programme but strangely, the lift were never upgraded to every floor at all since it was built in 1977. The Rochor Centre was used to be 'WHITE' in colour as told by my mum who owned her SALON located at 2nd floor at Rochor Centre in 1970s after the building was built. Do you know that in early years, the Rochor area was packed with opium dens and brothels, but they were demolished to make way for shopping complexes and commercial buildings.
The Rochor Centre residents will move to the replacement flats at Blk 8A to 8C Upper Boon Keng road (Kallang Trivista) which will be to be ready in 2nd Quarter 2016. Kallang Trivista is a public housing development of 808 dwelling units, comprising of Studio Apartments, 3, 4 and 5 Room premium flats

Colourful Blocks at Rochor Centre

When one would think of Rochor Centre, images of brightly coloured flats immediately come to mind. A unique attribute of Rochor Centre is that it is a unique retail spaces that a building comprises over 180 shops and eatery outlets.

Rochor Centre is listed by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) as a landmark to be protected. However, in 2011, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) announced that Rochor Centre would be demolished by 2016 to make way for the construction of the North-South Expressway.
The demolition of Rochor Centre is to make way for the North South Line (NSE) in 2016 would inconvenience almost 570 families and 190 retailers and the new 21.5km expressway, which is set for completion by 2020, is expected to cut travel time for motorists by up to 30 percent during peak hours.Constructed in 1836, Rochor Canal was not just a canal or a large storm drain, but a water source for several industries and a channel for goods transportation in early Singapore. Rochor Canal also played a big role in its neighbourhood, as a waterway that divided the two historic settlements of Kampong Glam and Little India.

Welcome To Rochor Centre

When one looks at the concrete marker of welcome note calling to you, should you still be coming back again when the demolition starts in 2016. The history of Rochor would ring the bell to those who lived at Rochor Centre over 4 decades.
In the early years, the long stench came from the night soil treatment centre opposite Rochor Centre. I remember when I visited the shop who sells incense papers on the ground floor in early 1980s and the smell was terrible when passing by. The "night soil" trucks with their distinctive 32-door panels would deposit buckets of human waste at the centre. The smell got intolerable during hot afternoons. The night-soil trucks, also called honey wagons, made their last round in the 1980s, the centre closed, and Albert Complex with its OG department store opposite Rochor Centre, which stands today.

Blk 3 Rochor Centre

 Typical shops connected to each other

Rows of retail shops that connected to one another side by side that close to each other as if one could fix the bill that attract tourists and visitors alike. Retail shops sell cheap items from groceries to electronic items, salons and supermarket (NTUC) as well as Hwang Hui Kopitiam.

Right Step Trading at Blk 3

I usually go there to buy cheap home appliances as well as religious items or even cheap slippers at one of the  retail shoe shops - "Right Step Trading" at Blk 3 (Yellow Block).

The lifts at Rochor Centre do not go to every level, the interesting part of older HDB flats that have cargo lifts which are not for passengers as well. Both locals and foreigners should make a special visit down to Rochor Centre before it gets bulldozed away.

Old Cargo Lift at Blk 3

The cargo lift located at Blk 3 (Yellow Block) is only used for delivery the goods with the trolley and not for large steel roller cart to be avoided and restricted.

A sign or notice on the wall

A sign or notice on the wall next to the cargo lift indicated to the delivery of cargo man or deliveryman if he or she is unloading or loading the goods to the shops at level 2.

Road Between Rochor Centre & Fu Lu Shou Complex

The road between Rochor Centre and Fu Lu Shou Complex, many people frequent to Rochor Centre to buy some goods and others by crossing the traffic light. People use traffic light rather than to walk up to overhead bridge nowadays and the bridge looks empty and forlorn.

Blk 4 (Pink blk) corridor link overhead bridge

Only of the four blocks that built overhead bridge connected to Fu Lu Shou Complex, to ease safety traffic. When the linked overbridge was built and there are less visitors and residents crossing the old overhead bridge, they would prefer to use traffic lights crossing just below the overhead bridge a short distance. to shorten their time rather than crossing the bridge. This linked bridge has no escalator and old people have difficulty to walk up and down the staircase of the overhead bridge which built along with the four blocks.

Nam Choon Hung Shop

 Nam Choon Hung's Chinese calendar plate at Blk 4 (Red flat)

The shop - Nam Choon Hung at Blk 4 (Pink block) operates there for a long time after the building was built and I often patronise the shop to buy lots of religious items such joss-sticks, incense papers and other items, even ordered a complete set of "clothes" items for gift sending to "Kuan Yin" before CNY every year. This "Pink" block mostly occupied by religious shops on the ground floor facing "Fu Lu Shou Complex.

Old Staircase leading to level 2 & 3

Unlike many other old HDB estates built during that early period, Rochor Centre was specially designed in the podium-and-tower style, the first three floors of the building consists of a supermarket, retail shops, salons and other amenities, while the fourth floor is home to a spacious void deck and children playground & a fitness corner (2007) (managed by Jalan Basar Town Council). The residential units only start from the fifth floor up to sixteen floors which is the highest top floor.

In the 1980s, Rochor was eventually dotted with shops that were prone to fire and open drains that overflowed during downpours.
The Rochor residents have been compensated, the departure will be an emotionally difficult them, especially for those who have lived there for 37 years.

NTUC (left) and Kopitiam (right)

The Kopitiam - Kwang Hui Kopitiam is where my old friends, my hubby and I frequent this place for our lunch and dinner as well as desserts before heading to the NTUC supermarket and shops.

A old lift at Blk 4 (Pink Block)

Lift Buttons at Blk 4 (Pink Block)

The residential lift starts from fifth floor to sixteen floor but the lift that I went up from ground floor to 3rd floor where the void deck, spacious playground and two centres - "Rochore Kongsi For The Aged" and "PAP Community Foundation-Kampong Glam". Even since the lifts were never upgraded to every floor after repainted the four blocks with colourful colour of hue.

PAP Community Foundation-PCF Kampong Glam

PAP Community Foundation-PCF Kampong Glam is a pre-school kindergarten and managed by PAP Community Foundation, established in 1986.

Rochore Kongsi For The Aged (1977)

Both centres have been there for a long time since it was built n 1977. Especially one of the centres - Rochore Kongsi For The Aged, it was started by the late Dr.Toh Chin Chye, former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, set up in 1977, Rochore Kongsi provides destitute elderly with a shelter for dignified, independent and healthy living. In 1991, it was upgraded for the better and brighter home with better ventilation for old aged and elderly folks who were found sleeping under public staircases and corridors at that time. Rochore Kongsi For The Aged is the first trace of the old 'Rochore' name with a 'e' has not vanished completely and was Singapore's first HDB void deck old folks' home.

 Rooftop top of flat

 Unit numbers shown above "based" of staircase

The interesting is.. the staircase of the lift of which the unit numbers are shown above of the staircase instead of the side wall of the staircase of each level. It would be easy for the elderly folks, Rochor Centre residents as well as visitors to look up the unit numbers of the level floor when they came out from the lift. Not all the housing estates have equipped with floor and units shown pasted above "based" of the staircase

Look through the gate

 Void Deck at 4th floor

Common corridors with void decks at each block more spacious feel where residents would chatting with neighbours, with fitness corner, children's playground next to Blk 3 (Yellow Block) & Blk 4 (Red Block) respectively. Parents would bring their kids to the playground at the podium while they chat with neighbours.

Children's playground (side view)

Facing at Blk 4 (Red Block), children's playground (2007), on the right is barbecue pits under the shelter (seen on the right).

Fitness Corner on the left

Closeup: Playground

Behind the children's playground is the Fitness Corner where young or old alike would exercise whenever they are free on certain days but the hot weather would keep them away as there are no shade or shelter within the area, only they would come down at night instead. The playground would fill with happiness and hear the children laughing during school breaks or school holiday.

 Fitness Corner

Reflexology Walk Stone Foot Massage

Not all housing estates have reflexology walk stone foot massage, the Rochor Centre has it all along, to get you workout on your foot reflexology massage. There are two reflexology walk stones next to each other - small white stone and large dark blue "smooth" stones that are embedded in concrete. I have tried it whenever I walk pass the smooth stones or even cobblestones at the park. But this one is no exception as it is huge and long and has the difficulty to step on it and it was painful at first when you step on with your bare foot. The uneven surfaces of stone paths are commonly used for wellness as "reflexology paths," although you can get the same beneficial effects from any uneven stone pathway.

Older residents who regularly walked on cobblestone/smooth stones surfaces, displayed lower blood pressure readings than those who walked on regular surfaces or engaged in no physical activity. I also wear cobblestone sandal wherever I go out for a short while.

   Two Barbecue pits & round benches

Closeup: Two Barbecue Pits

In those days, Rochor residents would book a barbecue pit for weekends or other occassions just below their blocks, it was very convenient for them as it's just one stone away from their blocks and also has two "round" benches next to it. It's just facing to the opposite the Sim Lim Tower.

 A good bench for barbecue gathering

It was such a spacious and yet cool place to gather with old friends from neighbourhood blocks for chatting and barbecuing as well.

 Pigeons line up on the steel bench

Even at the roof shelter

The favourite spot to the pigeons who seem unaware of the impending demolition in 2016. Where would the pigeons fly to if the Rochor Centre soon be demolished? 
For the years, the pigeons made it as their home and its favourite place to look for foods just below the kopitiam.

Bird's eye view from 4th floor Rochor Centre

The Bird's eye view from Rochor Centre on 4th floor across a Roman Catholic Church - Our Lady of Lourdes and Rochor estates along Rochor canal. It was built and completed in 1888 along Ophir road, a 19th century Roman Catholic Church building, is the first Tamil Catholic Church in Singapore and was was gazetted as a national monument in 2005.

 3 levels of shop-houses with colourful flats

Four colourful flats sit quietly above the shop-houses that built in 1977.

  Four colourful blocks with clear blue sky

Stretch photo: Spacious void deck

It is very breezy and convenient place, yet residents reluctant to leave their home as they are very attached to this place for so long. It is easy for them to go marketing at the supermarket and shops just below their blocks and across the road where the temples close by.

 Roomy and breezy space

Yellow & Blue Block of its name - Rochor Centre

Both Yellow and Blue blocks have the name of "Rochor Centre" indicated on the wall above, the building reminds them of the sentimental value of the area where they belong.

Many old residents were sad to leave their "nest" place and hold their fond memories of their home at Rochor centre where they grew up and lived for a long period of time. A demolition marks a closure to a very meaningful chapter of their lives. Yet gratefully, new home brings new lease of life to the residents at Kallang Trivista. But the sentimental value of Rochor centre is not easily replaced!

A history of its own - Dakota Crescent

One of the Singapore "oldest" housing estates built in 1950s that made a stir airwave to the future redevelopment send message to the shocked old residents to be moved out by 2016. Many of the old residents have lived since 1950s and would have missed the place only left with memories and soul to the estates that they had spent their livelihoods for decades. Such a quiet and peaceful place to live within provision shops, chinese clinic nearby. Dakota Crescent is located at Old Airport Road, most of the low-rise blocks have been unchanged since they were built in the 1950s.
                                   

3-Storeys high blocks

Along Dakota Crescent are only 3-storeys high and are a part of Singapore's history. All of the Blocks are rental flats and the government gives the older residents with a $15,000 relocation grant. Sadly, some of the older residents who lives by themselves or alone and couldn't bare to live a new home as if they have never lived before.

Wooden Door of different design

These wooden doors were installed in oldest estates in early 1950s to 1970s, Dakota, Queenstown, Toa Payoh and to name a few which most older generations like me that have seen these, at my mum's home in Queenstown. You can still find old wooden doors, steel gate door and aluminium windows at mum's neighbourhood blocks exist to this day.

"Back-check" or Brake" installed on wooden door

I would remember the wooden door at my mum's house in 1960s that installed "Back-check" or "Brake" to prevent the door from slamming hard as if there was a wind or a person closed the door by slamming it hard. There was a time, when the wooden door without the 'Brake" installed, a neighbour next door came into my mum's house while entering, left the door open, out of sudden, the door 'SLAMM!" by strong wind and we got startled and felt our hearts beating fast as if we will faint.

Kitchen, living room and bedroom

I was indeed lucky to be able to see the some of the units that have been vacant after the news circulated or the talks of the town. There is only a bedroom, a living hall and a kitchen in a small unit that being called "rentals" flats for low income residents who were lost their wooden houses in a fire in 1960s.

A cramped utensils in kitchen room

Those were the days, my old relatives that lived in a cramped old kitchen at their wooden kampongs in a small kitchen room with a "fire" stove in a corner facing the wooden windows. They were not worried about the safety as they were expert in handling of the charcoal burner stove that prevent from fire.

Dove's sandpit playground

This old "Blue Doves" sandpit playground was designed by Khor Ean Ghee and it could be the last remaining dove built in 1970s in hoping to be preserved in its rich heritage playground. This is one of my childhoods playground too.

Row of shops at 12 Dakota Crescent

Along the stretch road of Dakota estates, partially blocked, stands Blk 12 Dakota Crescent - shop houses that occupied by provision shop (now a snack bar) and Chinese clinics and above storey of the shop where the owners lives. Many old residents would come to the shops to buy snacks and drinks at the bar and some residents would visit a Chinese doctor in the mornings.

Old resident at Chinese Clinic

I happend to pass by to see an old resident sitting comfortable wooden chair as if he was feeling sad to see his old home to be moved out by 2016. He lives at Dakota Crescent down the road near the provision shop. He usually cycles around this area and sits there all by himself and brings his drinking bottles and some snacks on his bicycle.

Provision shop (snack cafe)

This shop was once provision shop that operated in early 1980s and now occupied by snack cafe that operates in April 2014.

Old Letter Box

Remember those times, old shophouses that had their "classic" letter box instead of "post" box. My relatives who had shops that built in letter box in a simpler way where postman and newspaper delivery man would stop by to drop the newspaper, letters by slipping into the small 'rectangle" shape just below their steel gate when they closed the shop on the their rest days. Many young people would not know this "rectangle" letter box exists to this day.

A New Look - Victoria Theatre

I have been waiting for the time to come and to see the new refurbishment, restoration for almost 4 years after it closed in 2010 for redevelopment. Before that I had visited Victoria Theatre long ago since 1986. I would remember the time when my old friends and I visited Victoria Theatre just nearby ACM to watch the show and hear the music. We brought camera to take a photo but I heard that this was not allowed to do so. 

I was able to take a photo of the Victoria Theatre in early 1990s and had kept it since. An old Victoria Theatre 'Clock Tower' is clearly seen in the background of an old photo below.

Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall (background)

Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall (background left) in 1992

Another photo which I took in the same year (1992) outside Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall where Sir Raffles Stamford and a small fountain (below photo) now stands till to this day.

Sir Raffles Stamford and a fountain @ Victoria Theatre (Then)

Sir Raffles Stamford and a fountain @ Victoria Theatre (Now)

This has been changing over time from the swampy areas to the high skyscrapers not being made known to others especially from younger generations. During WWII, this old memorial hall was used to be as 'hospital' for victims of wars bombing raids by Japanese forces.

PAP in Malaya (1950s)

After the wars ended, in the next 10 years, this memorial hall was underwent renovations, the same location to where the PAP was founded during Straits of Malaya, my mum was the member (1950s) back then. In the 1970s, the hall was renovated again to accommodate the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), which it was then renamed the hall as Victoria Concert Hall. Later that year, it was repainted again to what it's today.