Balestier point

Balestier point



As we continued our trail we ended up at Balestier point, at first glance it looked like an unattractive and rundown mall with little attractiveness to anyone due to its simplistic architecture but little did we know the rich history behind it.
Balestier point cost $35 million dollars for construction and exist both as a residential area while also being mall at the same time. It serves as the homes for 68 families which consist of both two to three rooms flats and also for 62 commercial businesses.

The simple facade upon closer inspection took an entirely different view.The simplistic designs were merely a but one perspective of the entire building which consist of lego like blocks that constituted the core of the building.The lego like blocks were seemingly "stacked"on top of each other to form the building which greatly contrasted to the surrounding building who were largely still simplistic in its design during this period of time.

The inspiration of this design from our research was derived from  Picasso’s cubism and Habitat’67 in Montreal, Canada which were designs that were common in the west but relatively unheard of in this part of the world. 
Ruby Theaters
http://www.singaporememory.sg/contentfiles/SMA-6eb17ac2-b760-484e-955f-93e6a70da210/175013
This building sat on the exact spot of the previous Ruby theaters that operated from the 1950s to the 1960s. This was a theater that during its hay day provided much entertainment for the people and its found memories continued to live in the hearts of those who had grown up in the area and frequented this area.

Reflection:
In retrospect , we begin to think of the many historical sites that were lost due to the development of our country and how many memories were created in each of these sites. The government has realized the importance of such building and has enacted many of them as cultural sites but has this realization be on that is too late?  


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