Vestiges of Old Singapore: the Corner of Amoy and Boon Tat Streets

George P. Landow, Professor of English and Art History, Brown University; Distinguished Visiting Professor, NUS, 1998-99

A sideview of an unrestored shophouse at the corner of Amoy and Boon Tat Streets. [Photographs © George P. Landow and may be used without written permission for any educational purpose. Any commercial or other use requires prior written permisison from .]

In addition to commenting that this vine-covered shophouse reminded him of Singapore fifty years ago, one well known Singaporean writer told me that he believed people often did not cut down these vines for two reasons: the vegetation helped support decrepit structures, and at least some people believed spirits lived in the vines.

References

Chua Nemg Huat. The Golden Shoe: Building Singapore's Fionancial District. Singapore: Urban Development Authority, 1989.