The glitzy towers of Orchard Road, just a stone’s throw away from Emerald HillEmerald Hill was once home to the spice orchards of nutmeg, pepper and gambierThe elaborate pendulum lamps along the 5-foot way5-foot covered walkway is an essential part of the shop house vernacular architectureThe back alleys of Emerald Hill were used by night soil collectors, which according to Singapore archives was practiced as late as 1987French windows, alabaster columns, old-fashioned gatesPeranakan architecture is a combination of east and westBat wing motif on the Pintu Pagar borrowed from the Chinese beliefs. Bat or Fu in Chinese is also a word for prosperityTerracotta tiles were used for 5-foot way while glazed tiles were used for cladding. In this picture, the shop house has the Pintu Pagar, a Malayan vernacular architecture in Chinese motifs)Pintu Pagar – close-upA further close-up of the door motifPeranakan houses have an internal light well. Most have been closed up for air conditioning though this house we visited had kept it openAn internal fountainPeranakan furnitureModern dining roomA beautiful house which we visited and were offered tea and pandan cakeThe internal light well would have been open in the olden timesBedroom inside one of the houses we visitedThe colour of the Ferrari and the pinks and blues of the house make for a beautiful pictureHouse with pheasantPheasant tile close-upThere are other purposes a 5-foot way fulfils
World Without Compass 
[…] You can also read about the Peranakans in Singapore’s Emerald Hill and view the photo gallery on Pinterest as well as on my site here. […]
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