Conserved Building
31K Pepys Road
Applicable Guidelines
Bungalow Guidelines
Conservation Area
Pepys Road No. 31K Conservation Area
Historic address: 31K Pepys Road
Reflection At Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill)
About
The bungalow is located on the top of a hill, referred to by residents of Pasir Panjang as Bukit Chandu, or "Opium Hill" in Malay, in reference to the nearby State-owned opium factory operating then.
Pepys Road was named after Walter Evelyn Pepys, born in 1885. He joined the Malayan Civil Service and in 1930, became Under-Secretary and the Commissioner of Customs and Excise. In 1935 he was appointed as General Advisor to Johor.
The History
31K Pepys Rd was used as a store for military and food supplies by the British army. The Battle for Pasir Panjang, one of the last battles Singapore fought against the invading Japanese Army during World War II, took place on this hill on 13th and 14th February 1942, and saw many of the men of the Malay Regiment killed in its vicinity.
The Building
This Black and White bungalow was built around 1910 by the Colonial Government as a residence for its senior staff. Originally part of a group of three bungalows, it is the only one that remains, while the other two were demolished in 1987. The building is symmetrical about the central axis of the main entrance. It has a segmented arched driveway which is a departure from the more common rounded arch form.
Segmented arches, of elegant proportions, are also used along the linear corridor, buffering the building from the external elements at the first storey. The side façades of the bungalow have an interesting mix of window designs which feature glass infill panels of diagonal and rectilinear patterns.
The timber doors and windows, with timber louvres above the textured glass panels, were designed specially for the tropical climate as they allow light and air to enter even during inclement weather. Decorative copper tendrils at the corners of the main hip-and-gable clay-tiled roof ornament the elegant simplicity of the bungalow. At the second storey, just behind the verandah, an open corridor runs along the full length of the front of the house, giving the building an airy feel and appearance appropriate for the tropics.
The Legacy
Today, 31K Pepys Rd is an Interpretive Centre commemorating the defence and surrender of Singapore during World War II. The centre was opened in February 2002, and houses exhibits, storyboards, relics, statues and multimedia displays.
In conserving this building, an important link to Singapore's past is kept for future generations as well as for the families of the men who lost their lives defending Singapore.
Conserved 1 December 2003 for conservation
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.