36
KEONG SAIK ROAD
STREAMLINE M O D E R N E Curved Edges
DONE BY: TAN KUAN RONG
Completed in 1939, this shophouse is one of the few examples of the Streamline Moderne Style here in Singapore. Located at the intersection of Keong Saik Road and Teck Lim Road, it was previously known as Tong Ah Eating House before it changed hands on the property market. Spire
Flat Roof
Eyebrow Overhangs
Streamlines
The Streamline Moderne Style is recognised as a late genre of the Art Deco style that gained popularity from 1920s. What differentiates between these two entities is that Streamline Moderne was heavily influenced by the aerodynamic forms of automobiles and gigantic ocean liners. This was expressed through having curved edges along the facade of the building, with horizontal bands running across the building, similar to the paintwork on famous ocean liners.
Subdued colours were used, with light earth tones used as the base colour, and bold colours used for the trim to create their characteristic streamlines. Nautical influences do not just stop here. Typically, examples of buildings built in such style had spires installed to mimic the forward lookout masts on these ocean liners. 36 Keong Saik Road is an excellent example of that, for this perspective shot is almost parallel to that of an ocean liner seen cruising across the oceans.
Above: Similarities between the shophouse and that of an ocean liner cutting through the ocean.