Conserved Building
142 Moulmein Road
Applicable Guidelines
Bungalow Guidelines
Conservation Area
Moulmein Road Conservation Area
Historic address: 142 Moulmein Road
About
The Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH), set up in 1844 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Tan Tock Seng, was the first privately-funded hospital in Singapore. It is also the second oldest hospital in Singapore – the first hospital was the General Hospital (now Singapore General Hospital), which was established in 1821.
The History
TTSH was originally named ‘Pauper’s Hospital’. It was intended to serve labourers and coolies without discrimination of race and religion, who could not afford proper healthcare. When it was established in 1844, it was one of the earliest and grandest examples of philanthropy in Singapore. The original hospital was built at Pearl’s Hill before shifting to Serangoon Road / Balestier Road in 1860. This led to the area being called ‘Rumah Miskin’ – or ‘Poor Man’s home’. The same year, it was renamed ‘Tan Tock Seng Hospital’ in honour of its founder. TTSH moved to its current location on Balestier Hill, along Moulmein Road in 1909. The second site was then taken over by the Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital.
At the Balestier Hill area, the hospital was surrounded by a variety of institutional and residential buildings. The latter buildings were a mix of private and public residence, as the area had become developed over the years as the wealthy moved out of the congested city centre, into the more salubrious suburbs. An example of such a private residence is the National Monument : Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, housed in the former Wan Qing Yuan, a bungalow on the northern side of Balestier Hill.
TTSH continued its operations throughout World War II (WWII). During the Japanese Occupation, the hospital functioned briefly as a military hospital before converting to civilian use under the name ‘Hakuai Byoin’ (‘Universal Love Hospital’).
Although the original 1844 wards at Pearl’s Hill have long been demolished, some buildings from the second TTSH at Serangoon Road have been conserved in 2012 as part of today’s Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital. TTSH as an institution is representative of the contributions of generations of philanthropists towards wider society.
Three notable buildings related to the history of TTSH are conserved. One of them i.e. the former Nurses’ Quarters at 107 Mandalay Road, was conserved on 15 March 2013. The other 2 buildings are the bungalows at 142 and 144 Moulmein Road were conserved on 6 June 2014.
The Building
Based on the architectural style, it would appear that the building was built around the early 1900s. The design of this symmetrical 2-storey bungalow, featuring a square plan with a front entrance porch. is heavily influenced by the ‘Black and White’ style. The 1st floor is of masonry construction while the 2nd storey is of timber beams, floorboards and columns. The internal walls and front pediment demonstrates ‘half-timbering’ construction characteristic of ‘Black and White’ bungalows.
A verandah well-suited to the tropical climate runs along the perimeter of the 2nd storey. Neo-classical details are used to accent the 1st storey entrance façade, in the moulded pilasters and surrounds of the door and windows.
The Legacy
The building is located prominently along the main road and is a tangible reminder of the history of the area. At the same time, it illustrates the development of domestic architecture in Singapore that is a hybridization of Eastern and Western traditions.
Gazetted on 6 June 2014.
Guidelines and Procedures
All proposed works will need to comply with the Conservation Guidelines and the Specific Restoration Guidelines (SRG). Conservation Permission is required before all additions & alteration works and operations of new use can begin.
Residential Fronts are characterised by timber casement windows flanking a double-leafed timber door. All buildings with residential front which is existing and/or identified in the 'Specific Restoration Guidelines', regardless of land use zoning, shall be retained and restored.
Explore Street View
The building can be found at this street.