Whether you live in a bungalow at Bukit Timah, a condo in Tampines or a HDB flat in Jurong, there is sure to be something in your neighbourhood that is special and distinct to you. As a tribute to 50 years of nation building, here is a list of 39 iconic sights and sounds that make Singapore home.
##1. HDB Blocks
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Only in Singapore can you find these HDB blocks that come in every colour of the rainbow.
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Only in Singapore can you find these HDB blocks that come in every colour of the rainbow.
##2. Zouk
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Our iconic nightclub Zouk has become synonymous with its neighbourhood, Jiak Kim Street.
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Our iconic nightclub Zouk has become synonymous with its neighbourhood, Jiak Kim Street.
##3. Koptiam
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Craving for roti prata, mee pok, or a cup of kopi? You have everything under one roof.
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Craving for roti prata, mee pok, or a cup of kopi? You have everything under one roof.
##4. Community Centres
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The only place where you get to see aunties channeling their inner Beyoncé during Zumba sessions.
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The only place where you get to see aunties channeling their inner Beyoncé during Zumba sessions.
##5. MRT System
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Our love-hate relationship with the MRT system that connects us to every neighbourhood
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Our love-hate relationship with the MRT system that connects us to every neighbourhood
##6. Street Names
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We love our fruits so much that we named our roads after them. (Magis means Magosteen in Malay). Is there a Durian Street?
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We love our fruits so much that we named our roads after them. (Magis means Magosteen in Malay). Is there a Durian Street?
##8. Superstitious Singaporean
##10. Reservoirs
##12. Black and White Bungalows
##14. Coastline
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Whether you are living in East or West coast, you can always find cargo ships resting along our coastline.
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Whether you are living in East or West coast, you can always find cargo ships resting along our coastline.
##16. Heartland Malls
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Wherever you live, there’s bound to be a heartland mall located near you whether it’s Jurong or Tampines Mall.
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Wherever you live, there’s bound to be a heartland mall located near you whether it’s Jurong or Tampines Mall.
##17. The Pinnacle
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Our grandest HDB achievement – The Pinnacle@Duxton – is the world’s tallest public housing building.
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Our grandest HDB achievement – The Pinnacle@Duxton – is the world’s tallest public housing building.
##18. How to Train Your Dragon
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The only place where you can claim that you travelled through the belly of a dragon.
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The only place where you can claim that you travelled through the belly of a dragon.
##19. All Hung Up
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Only in Singapore will you see underwear openly flapping in the wind like victory flags.
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Only in Singapore will you see underwear openly flapping in the wind like victory flags.
##20. Mama Shop
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Our beloved mama shops where Indian uncles in sarongs sell our favourite tidbits at the void deck.
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Our beloved mama shops where Indian uncles in sarongs sell our favourite tidbits at the void deck.
##21. Public Libraries
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We are a nation of bookworms! There is almost one public library in every neighbourhood.
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We are a nation of bookworms! There is almost one public library in every neighbourhood.
##23. EIP
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Our Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) helps you make friends of different races living in the same block.
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Our Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) helps you make friends of different races living in the same block.
##24. BTO
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“Dear, shall we get a BTO?” is a question that sends many Singaporeans blushing as it is one of the greatest local proclamations of love. Those in their 20s and 30s will know what we mean.
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“Dear, shall we get a BTO?” is a question that sends many Singaporeans blushing as it is one of the greatest local proclamations of love. Those in their 20s and 30s will know what we mean.
##25. Multipurpose Void Deck
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From hosting exuberant Malay weddings to solemn Chinese funerals, void decks bring people together.
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From hosting exuberant Malay weddings to solemn Chinese funerals, void decks bring people together.
##26. Abbreviations
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EC - Executive Condominium, BTO - Build-to-Order, DBSS - Design, Build and Sell Scheme, HDB - House Development Board. The never-ending list of acronyms.
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EC - Executive Condominium, BTO - Build-to-Order, DBSS - Design, Build and Sell Scheme, HDB - House Development Board. The never-ending list of acronyms.
##27. CPF
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We don’t know many other countries with schemes in place that make saving compulsory to help pay for a house.
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We don’t know many other countries with schemes in place that make saving compulsory to help pay for a house.
##28. Bird Singing Corners
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You’re missing out if your neighbourhood lacks a birdcage-touting uncle who boasts about the five-octave vocal range of his prize-winning mata puteh.
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You’re missing out if your neighbourhood lacks a birdcage-touting uncle who boasts about the five-octave vocal range of his prize-winning mata puteh.
##29. Residential Cat
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Our neighbourhoods will not be the same without them roaming the void decks with their nonchalant expressions.
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Our neighbourhoods will not be the same without them roaming the void decks with their nonchalant expressions.
##30. Karung Guni
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The blast of a horn followed by the throaty bellow of “Karung Guni!” is familiar to anyone growing up in a HDB flat.
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The blast of a horn followed by the throaty bellow of “Karung Guni!” is familiar to anyone growing up in a HDB flat.
##31. Ice Cream Man
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Do you remember the excitement you felt when the ice cream man rang his bell?
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Do you remember the excitement you felt when the ice cream man rang his bell?
##32. Local Barber
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Things you see in an old neighbourhood – barber shops with their signature barber’s pole that hypnotise us with the spinning red, blue and white colours.
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Things you see in an old neighbourhood – barber shops with their signature barber’s pole that hypnotise us with the spinning red, blue and white colours.
##33. Bomb Shelter
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More than a bomb shelter, Singaporeans have turned them into storage rooms. A+ for practicality.
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More than a bomb shelter, Singaporeans have turned them into storage rooms. A+ for practicality.
##34. GRC
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When just one Boundary Road divides Serangoon into Marine Parade and Aljunied GRCs. Why is Serangoon in Marine Parade?
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When just one Boundary Road divides Serangoon into Marine Parade and Aljunied GRCs. Why is Serangoon in Marine Parade?
##35. Green Corridors
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Mint, pandan or chilli padi. Name it and you will see it growing along our HDB corridors.
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Mint, pandan or chilli padi. Name it and you will see it growing along our HDB corridors.
##36. Changi Airport
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That tingly feeling you get when your Singapore-bound flight lands and the air stewardess announces, “For those of you returning home, welcome back”.
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That tingly feeling you get when your Singapore-bound flight lands and the air stewardess announces, “For those of you returning home, welcome back”.
##37. Garden City
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Growing in clusters on overhead bridges, carparks, or along road dividers, brightly coloured bougainvilleas are a common sight in Singapore.
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Growing in clusters on overhead bridges, carparks, or along road dividers, brightly coloured bougainvilleas are a common sight in Singapore.
##38. Lee Kuan Yew
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Our founding father together with other pioneers have housed an entire nation.
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Our founding father together with other pioneers have housed an entire nation.
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