In October 2015, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society successfully tendered for a landsite in Fernvale Link for the construction of a Chinese temple. The 2,000 sq m Thye Hua Kwan Temple is set to open to the public on May 20.

Thye Hua Kwan Temple will house a Hall of Filial Piety, where ancestral tablets will be placed. There will also be video screening facilities in the hall, where families can play videos of their loved ones in remembrance of them. The temple will also house Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian deities for worship and lecture halls where multi-religious dialogue will be held to promote inter racial and inter religious understanding. To promote Inter-Religious Harmony, that will be a library for the Sacred Books of all religions.

Website: www.thkms.org.sg

The officially-opened Wisma Geylang Serai (WGS) is the community civic and cultural centre in the heart of Geylang Serai precinct. It is a multi-agency development that celebrates the heritage of Geylang Serai communities and encourages social interactions and community bonding among different communities of all ages and races. 

It houses the Geylang Serai Community Club, the South East Community Development Council, the Geylang Serai Heritage Gallery Family Service and Child Care Centre, Senior Care Centre, and cultural arts group and social/community-related facilities. 

Within WGS, there are public spaces, community plaza and a comprehensive pedestrian network that will enhance accessibility and connectivity to other developments in the precinct, bringing the wide range of facilities and services in WGS to the community.  This development is a collaboration between the People’s Association, Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Health, National Arts Council, National Heritage Board and Ministry of National Development. 

Geylang Serai was the origin of the Malay Settlement back in pre-modern Singapore. The word ‘Wisma’ can be translated as a building, complex or house. Wisma Geylang Serai was hence named to reflect the nature and functions of the civic centre.

The development’s double-pitched roof is influenced by traditional Malay houses and complements the adjacent Geylang Serai Market. At the same time, the design demonstrates a contemporary feel in its spatial planning, drawing inspiration from the “serai” plant to “ketupat” and “serambi” on stilts. It weaves and integrates multi-functional spaces and facilities into a cohesive overall design. This winning design amplifies the distinctive identity of Geylang Serai and strengthen its urban character.

1 Engku Aman Turn

Email: wisma_geylang_serai@pa.gov.sg

Located along Tampines Road, north of Paya Lebar Air Base, Goldhill Memorial Centre will be a fully automated columbarium and it will also use innovative technology to optimise its space. It is expected to open around the end of 2019. 

Constant evolution and breakthroughs are the essence of success and prosperity. Singapore’s economic history have testified to this statement, continually innovating quickly. Interestingly, the columbarium industry has a different pace of progress despite the growing demand from the society. Singapore land scarcity and generations’ unmet expectations of memorial services drive Goldhill memorial to pioneer a new age of columbarium service. 

Goldhill Memorial Centre is presenting a leap of the industry’s evolution in Singapore.

Tampines Road

Tel: +65 6266 4320 Email: services@goldhillmc.com

One of the few landmarks on Waterloo Street, the 148-year old Sri Krishnan Temple reopens after four years of restoration works costing nearly $4 million.

The shrines, ceilings, temple dome and pillars were all upgraded in the renovation. Intricate decorative works on the pillars required two sculptors working on them on-site over 3 years.

One of the oldest Hindu temples in Singapore, Sri Krishnan Temple's recent consecration ceremony called Maha Samprokshanam (done every 12 to 15 years) was attended by some 10,000 devotees.

152 Waterloo Street

Tel: +65 6337 7957 Email: srikrishnatemple@hotmail.com

(Photo Credit: Joseph Nair & SgHindu)

Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng Heritage Gallery is a museum set up by Peck San Theng, a cultural organisation and columbarium based in Bishan with beginnings since 1870. 

Supported by National Heritage Board, Singapore, the museum was conceptualised in 2016 and completed in 2018. 

Did you know that more than two-thirds of the current Bishan town was once occupied by a cemetery and a village? Since the 19th century, Bishan was a Chinese burial ground called Peck San Theng. The Cantonese community was in charge of Peck San Theng, with more than 50,000 graves spread across the region. Kampong San Theng was the main Chinese village then.

The new $700,000 heritage gallery tells the story of Kampong San Teng. 

The 560 sqm gallery held its official opening on 3rd June. 

Admission to the gallery is free. It is open from 9.30am to 4pm every day except on public holidays.

50 Bishan Lane

Tel: +65 6256 2426 Email: pstheng@singnet.com.sg

The regional art scene is set to become more vibrant with the major revamp of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM). 

SAM opened to much fanfare in 1996 in a converted museum space that once housed the former Saint Joseph’s Institution and has not upgraded its premises since. The upcoming building works will address the growing needs of contemporary art in Singapore and focus on improving the visitor experience at SAM. The project is targeted for completion in 2021.

SAM currently occupies two separate buildings – the former St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) along Bras Basah Road - a gazetted National Monument, and the former Catholic High School, located along Queen Street. The redevelopment plans include the creation of a fully contiguous museum, more spaces to accommodate museum-based learning opportunities, as well as the infrastructure to display large-scale or technologically- demanding artworks.

SAM’s museum programming continues to take place at SAM at 8Q till end of January 2019. Thereafter, members of the public can look forward to pop-up contemporary art projects at partner venues, as well as co-curated and touring exhibitions by SAM. 

Prior to the commencement of the building works, a series of archaeological activities will take place at the former SJI building during Singapore Heritage Festival 2018, as part of the National Monument’s bid to deepen the public’s understanding of its history, which dates back to 1855. 

71 Bras Basah Road and 8 Queen Street

Tel: +65 6589 9580 Email: enquiries@singaporeartmuseum.sg

Originally established in 2006, Arulmigu Velmurugan Gnana Muneeswarar Temple (AVGMT) in Sengkang town has reopened after a year-long renovation costing over $4 million. 

The renovated temple has a new facade, a multi-purpose hall and other upgraded facilities. 

AVGMT is an amalgamation of three Hindu temples - the Arulmigu Velmurugan Temple, the Sri Krishna Bhagwan Durga Parameswari Devasthanam and the Sri Mariamman Muneeswarar Temple. 

Read more about the temple here.

50 Rivervale Crescent, Sengkang

The Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, a 164-year-old national monument and one of the oldest temples in Singapore, was recently re-sanctified in a consecration ceremony called the “Maha Samprokshanam” which is done once every 12 years. 

Major redevelopment works at the temple, costing S$4.5 million, were recently completed.

In 1978, Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple was declared a National Monument by the Preservation of Monuments Board. The temple also underwent major facelifts in year 1987, 1992 and 2005.

The history of Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple dates back to the late 1800s. Read more about its rich history here. 

397 Serangoon Road

Tel: +65 6298 5771 Email: sspt@heb.org.sg

265 Serangoon Road

Tel: +65 6295 1478 Email: info@angulliamosque.com.sg 

The main building of the former National Aerated Water Factory at 1177 Serangoon Road will be gazetted for conservation by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). 

Recognising the building’s heritage value, its role as a landmark in the area and the social memories it holds for the community, the building owner, Selangor Dredging Berhad (SDB) is supportive of the conservation efforts and is working closely with URA to keep the building as part of our national history. 

Completed in 1954, this Art Deco Style building is a well-known local landmark along Serangoon Road. It was the bottling factory that produced popular soft drinks such as Sinalco, Kickapoo Joy Juice and Royal Crown Cola.  It is also one of the last few remaining structures along the stretch of Kallang River that reflect the area’s rich industrial past, and contribute to the heritage of the Kallang River.

The two-storey L-shaped main building facing Serangoon Road will be conserved. This includes the signage tower, a representative feature that many will be familiar with. Read more about this conservation effort. 

Expect an extended design experience at the Red Dot Design Museum, with the exhibition galleries, museum shop and the design cafe & bar opening late till 2am daily!

As the only museum in Singapore that opens past midnight, the Red Dot Design Museum is an alternative night-time desitination to visit after-hours.

In 1955, the “Ständige Schau formschöner Industrieerzeugnisse” (Permanent Show of Elegant Industrial Products) was established in Villa Hügel in Essen, Germany. It evolved over the years to become the Red Dot Design Museum.

Today, the Red Dot Design Museum in Germany and Singapore presents the world’s largest exhibition of contemporary design.

Red Dot Design Museum Singapore now sits on a glass building located along the Marina Bay Waterfront. The building used to be the Marina Bay City Gallery that showcase the story of Singapore’s urban transformation and the development of Marina Bay.

With the museum as the new tenant, the iconic building has been given a new lease of life with clever space transformations to include several galleries, retail, cafe and outdoor seating space to host year round design exhibitions.

11 Marina Boulevard

Tel: +65 6514 0111 Email: museum@red-dot.sg

After being closed for nearly three years, Novena Church which is also known as Church of St Alphonsus, one of Singapore's most popular Catholic churches, will finally reopen soon. 

The revamp of the 67-year-old church costs $54 million and the first mass will be held on 29 September. Seating capacity has now almost doubled, from 800 to 1,500. 

The church will be home to 18 impressive stained-glass windows. Additions also include a 200-seat auditorium, a multi-purpose hall and also an underground carpark too.

300 Thomson Road 

Tel: +65 6255 2133 Email: secretariatcssr@novenachurch.com

About one quarter of the retail space at the new Funan mall has been taken up and local theatre company W!LD RICE is among one of the latest tenants announced together with a few other familiar brands. 

The retail mall will have 200 shops over six storeys, and is targeted for completion in the fourth quarter of 2019.

W!LD RICE will build a 18,000 sq ft, 380-seat theatre - the first facility of its kind designed and managed by a local theatre group to be located within a commercial complex.

W!LD RICE was founded in 2000 by Ivan Heng, an internationally acclaimed and award-winning theatre practitioner, and is recognised today as one of Singapore’s leading professional theatre companies.

109 North Bridge Road, Funan Digitalife Mall

Tel: +65 6292 2695 Website: www.wildrice.com.sg

The Stamford Arts Centre at Waterloo Street will undergo a S$7 million redevelopment and it will reopen in the middle of next year as an arts space fully dedicated to traditional arts, complete with a new multi-purpose hall, a space for resident artists and an F&B outlet, among other improvements. 

The arts centre will be managed by Arts House Limited, which also manages other arts housing spaces such as Goodman Arts Centre and Aliwal Arts Centre.

155 Waterloo Street

The Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) building located by the fringe of the Central Business District is a contemporary translation of the traditional 3-tiered unity of 'earth', 'people' and 'sky' elements in Chinese architecture. Its principal architect is DP Architects Pte Ltd. 

SCCC will be celebrating its official opening with an 8-days Cultural Extravaganza from 20th of May. The extravaganza will include cultural workshops on puppetry, crosstalk, Chinese opera, and performances by local arts and culture groups.

The architectural expression of SCCC took its cues from the composition of elements and varied textures of a Chinese landscape painting. The play of composition, texture, decoration and symbolism in the different stacked zones softens the building expression. The façade is read as a progression of illustration from bottom to top, distinctive in their treatment, yet coherent as a statement.

The long-awaited S$110 million SCCC building on Straits Boulevard aims to preserve traditions, promote innovation in ideas, and enrich the multi-faceted nature of Chinese culture in Singapore. 

The Select Centre is a not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee incorporated in Singapore.

They are named after one of Asia's most respected independent bookstores – Select Books – and aim to continue its social mission of promoting understanding of Southeast Asia and putting the region on the global literary and intellectual map.

Firmly rooted in Southeast Asia, Their core mission is to advance the interflow of ideas and knowledge between different languages, cultures and disciplines through translation, adaptation and other forms of intercultural practice.

They believe that Singapore's multicultural nature and multilingual heritage are unique strengths that have yet to be fully tapped. They believe that Singapore can leverage on these advantages to bolster its status as a hub of ideas and a bridge between East and West. They aim to be an innovative organisation at the forefront of bringing different languages, cultures and disciplines together to advance human progress.

programmes@selectcentre.org

In the lead up to Singapore’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2015, the National Museum will be undergoing another timely revamp so as to better share the Singapore Story and to celebrate the multiple voices in the nation’s historical narrative and the many facets of the multicultural “everyday heritage”.

The refreshed National Museum aims to be a museum for the people – a civic space where guests will enjoy visiting, allowing for reflection on what Singapore has achieved in the past and inspiring confidence in the future. It therefore aims to connect well with you through greater interactive and participatory experiences as well as enhanced coherence and integration of its narratives and displays. 

The revamp will present a more comprehensive overview of Singapore’s history and development as a country in its galleries and spaces, which includes developing the nation’s post-1965 chapters that many Singaporeans can personally relate to. The galleries will be expected to re-open in the second half of 2015. 

The existing office space on Level 3 of National Museum will be converted into a new Wing, called PLAY@NMS, which stands for “National Museum Singapore”. It will be a multi-sensory environment dedicated to children, with interactive exhibitions that encourage learning through play. Programmes thoughtfully curated based on the collections in the National Museum’s permanent galleries will be made available, to stimulate the young visitors’ natural curiosity and creativity. PLAY@NMS will be a multi-purpose space for interactive exhibitions, workshops as well as educationalplay.

93 Stamford Road

Tel: +65 63323659