Lau Pa Sat Revisited

Lau Pa Sat was built in 1894.

In 1986, the food centre was closed for the construction of a new Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line which runs underneath the building. The building was taken apart and its cast-iron supports put into storage. Once the MRT was running, the Lau Pa Sat was reassembled and reopened on 7 February 1992.

The food centre was again closed on 1 Sept 2013 for a $4-million  renovation. It reopened on 30 June 2014 after intensive renovation and restoration.

The Victorian cast-iron structure was largely untouched but the columns and filigree are painted rustic green, reminiscent of the old market.

Before...           

After...

 

The Merlion 머라이언, 鱼尾狮 Revisited

The Merlion was moved on 23 April 2002 from its site at the Anderson Bridge.

The new site is 120 metre away on a newly built promontory.

The Merlion was lifted onto a barge and sailed to the edgw of the new Esplanade Bridge where it will be again lifted over the bridge onto the barge which had sailed under the bridge.

The move begin...

photo credit - C. K. Pek

As the Merlion is 8.6 metre tall, it was impossible for the barge and cargo to sail under the bridge.

The relocation was carefully planned with help from 2 Demag 500 tons cranes, and a team of 20 engineers and workers.

After the move...

 

See the difference ? Yes there is no Marina Bay Sands in 2002. Sands opened in 2010. 

The Merlion Park

The site of the Merlion and its cub.

The Merlion and the cub were installed at the site at the mouth of the Singapore river in 1972.

The Merlion weight 7 tons and stand 8 metre tall, while the cub is 2 metre tall and weigh 3 tons.

They were scuptured using cement fondue which is a sculptors favourite.

The master sculptor was Lim Nang Seng.

Another Lim Nang Seng art piece is the Dancing Girl, also installed in 1972.

It is now standing at a neighbourhood park in Tiong Bahru.

Lim Nang Seng passed away in 1987.

Ah Koon, Macritchie and Lau Pa Sat

MacRitchie Reservoir was completed in 1868.

In 1891, Municipal Engineer James MacRitchie oversaw a $32,000 expansion and the reservoir was named after him in 1922.

The construction of the Telok Ayer Market started in 1890.  It was completed on 1 March 1894.

The market, which covers an area of 55,000 square feet, used cast-iron pillars to support the building. The cast iron works was manufactured and shipped out from Glasgow. The building was designed by James MacRitchie.

The chinese locals called it Lau Pa Sat, the old market. The name came about when another market opened at Ellenborough Street. This new market was termed Sin Pa Sat, the new market.

Ellenborough market was destroyed by a fire in 1968. In its place now stood The Central Mall, Clarke Quay.


 
 Lau Pa Sat interior


 
Lau Pa Sat from the air


In 1926, Lai Ah Koon (黎亚坤)  came to Singapore from Hainan as a 15 year old. He found work as a coffee-stall assistant.

He started his own business in 1944 as Ya Kun Coffeestall. It operated from a makeshift stall at the Telok Ayer basin for 15 years and moved into the Lau Pa Sat until 1984 which was earmarked for a complete revamp.

Lai Ah Koon passed away in 1999.