Former House of Tan Teng Niah — Attraction in Singapore

Having spent my whole life in Tekka, it had never occurred to me to visit Mr Tan Teng Niah's House until around 2020. I only took a short look around and was not keen on sticking around, considering the surroundings.

This year, I am exploring Singapore and its rich heritage, so I went back to properly visit the house after researching its past. It is a great shame what has happened to it.

As can be seen, the house is richly decorated with murals, chinese characters inscribed upon doors, windows and walls, with even the mundane staircase being nicely decorated. It is a testament to the wealth and taste of Mr Tan.

You might realise that the address given for the house doesn't seem correct. The address of the house reflects the middle section of Kerbau Rd, which was pedestrianised in the 1990s as part of multiple road realignments, erasures, and enlargements in the area.

Unfortunately, visitors cannot enter the house and it is not in its original condition. The furniture and other items seen in old photos of the interior have disappeared, presumably to keep them from harm's way. An eatery blocks both this house and the neighboring house, preventing quite a few good angles for photography. The house was used by various indian businesses as office space for years, which is quite a poor use for such a nice house. It is also surrounded by various smelly and dirty vegetables/grocery shops that improperly dispose of their trash and attract vermin, along with the eateries and their equally bad trash disposal policies.

I feel it is a disgrace to the legacy of Mr Tan and the splendor of his home to have it surrounded by such squalor. Old photos show that Kerbau and Buffalo Rd were not like this before the 1990s. I doubt Mr Tan would have made his home here if he opened his front door to see a crowded eatery right outside with litter and vermin, or numerous grocery shops with trash piled high in and out of large bins along with vermin when he opened his rear door.

For visitors, I do recommend visiting Mr Tan 's House to get a glimpse of Tekka's past prior to the 1990s. The house represents an era, which, based on old photos is starkly different from today. Do visit PictureSG and search for old photos to see the old Tekka and what this house...

THIS VIVIDLY COLORFUL HOUSE WAS constructed in 1900 by a local businessman named Tan Teng Niah. At the time, the neighborhood was an industrial zone (Tan’s candy and rubber factories were located nearby) and many of Singapore’s ethnic-Chinese businessmen lived in similar villas.

Amid Singapore’s rapid economic growth and social change during the 20th century, the neighborhood evolved into what is now known as Little India. Most of the old merchant houses were razed to make way for modern commercial buildings and sleek skyscrapers. However, the Tan Teng Niah house survived, and during the 1980s, it underwent a full restoration to what people see today. Believed to be the last such house in existence, it’s now preserved under landmark status from the National Heritage Board.

Although the house’s historical background is interesting, the key to its popularity among locals and visitors is its current appearance. The exterior is painted in a rainbow riot of vivid colors, with every element—each individual slat, molding, panel, and pilaster—in a different hue than its neighbor. An array of sky blue, avocado green, traffic-cone orange, highlighter yellow, and nail-polish pink shades adorns the house. Further embellishments beyond the psychedelic color-palette include gilded Chinese calligraphy, intricate floral lunettes, and a bamboo-tiled roof.

The house is now used as a commercial space, and recent tenants have included a pharmacy and a business training school. Quite the ordinary activities, within one of the most extraordinary buildings...

Three years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Tan Teng Niah, a magnificent ancient structure situated in Singapore's Little India neighbourhood. I am a regular traveller and a history and architectural lover, and I was blown away by the beauty and cultural relevance of this landmark.

I was immediately drawn to the building's vivid colours, which have been restored to their vivid tints. The carvings and decorations' meticulous details, which were obviously influenced by a fusion of Chinese and European styles, were equally breathtaking. It was interesting to discover that a Chinese businessman built this structure in the early 1900s and lived there with his family and employees.

The structure is a significant landmark in Singapore due to its distinctive architecture and historical value. It is evidence of the various cultural influences present in the nation and how they have influenced the growth of the city over time. As I walked through Tan Teng Niah, I couldn't help but feel proud of Singapore and its extensive cultural legacy.

Little India's neighbourhood is worth exploring as well because of the vibrant streets lined with active stores, markets, and eateries. It is a bustling and lively area that perfectly encapsulates Singapore's cosmopolitan society.

Overall, my trip to Tan Teng Niah was a special and educational one, and I heartily endorse it to anyone travelling to Singapore. As a lover of history, architecture, and diverse cultures, I found this monument to be a wonderful treasure that made a strong...