Katong, or Tanjong Katong as it is also known, wears its rich Peranakan history with pride, something that is evident in many of the buildings and restaurants that grace the area. A residential neighbourhood set within the Marine Parade planning area, which itself resides in the eastern part of Singapore’s Central Region, Katong has long been considered one of the more genteel, well-heeled neighbourhoods on the island. Already a popular weekend coastal retreat, the early part of the 20th century saw many rich and successful families move into the area, building grand bungalows that overlooked the sea.
The land reclamation carried out in the region between 1963 and 1985 added new land to Katong, but deprived former seaside dwellings of their proximity to the Straits.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Katong contains some of the most stunning traditional homes and architecture anywhere in Singapore. The Joo Chiat neighbourhood is a perfect example of early 20th-century Singaporean architecture, a style that borrows influences from Peranakan and Chinese techniques and styles and also from colonial English ones. In 1993, the whole neighbourhood was granted national heritage conservation status. Today, many of the shophouses are still used as homes, for example, along the gorgeous Koon Seng Road. The properties along Joo Chiat Road have been converted into a variety of commercial premises, including several cafes and restaurants that still serve traditional and authentic Peranakan dishes.
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There is another very good example of heritage housing located on East Coast Road. The Red House is a mixed development that occupies not just the site, but also the building of a former bakery. With its distinctive red façade, the building has been a famous landmark of the area for much of the last century. The Katong Bakery & Confectionery opened its doors in 1925 and served the area with its trademark curry puffs and Swiss rolls until it finally ceased trading in 2003. Thankfully, after more than a decade in which the building stood empty, it reopened in Q22016 as a mixed development. The building’s iconic façade has been kept intact and, besides the six retail units that face the street, The Red House boasts 42 residential units that include studio suites and maisonettes.
Katong has a lot of heritage housing, but has very little in terms of condominiums, and no HDB blocks at all. That said, on its boundaries there are many new condominiums, as developers take advantage of the sea views. Likewise, a large HDB estate is located just over the border to the southeast of the area.
What condos there are, are grouped along Haig Road, on the western side of Katong. Haig Court, a freehold development consisting of four towers that are home to 360 units, overlooks Tanjong Katong Secondary School. Just along Haig Road, at number 162 is the appropriately named Haig 162. Another freehold development, it consists of one 16-storey tower and has 99 units. Completed in 2013, it is the most modern-looking of the condominiums along Haig Road.
The announcement in 2014 by the Land Transport Authority that the Thomson-East Coast Line will join this part of the island to the MRT network was a boost for residents and developers alike. It was the final piece in the jigsaw for this area, which until then was often hampered by a reputation of being hard to get to and from. The line is set to be fully operational by 2024, and Tanjong Katong will have its own station, as well as the nearby Marine Parade MRT Station.
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