An English village at our door-step

Nestled within Portsdown Avenue, Queenstown, is a stretch of Colonial Terraces along Jalan Hang Jebat. These houses are not ordinary colonial housing; they were constructed for the British Military from the 1930s onwards. In particular, they were built for the junior-ranking British Officers

Prior to visiting Jalan Hang Jebat, I did not have the slightest idea of a place like this existing close to the heart of Singapore. The place itself was serene, and you would be able to hear the exquisite sounds of nature and smell the leafy green forest. The houses are nestled in a space where nature is able to co-exist peacefully with man-made architecture.

Personally, strolling down the stretch of Colonial Terraces led me to reminisce of my time in England, United Kingdom, where I was pursuing my undergraduate degree. While it is not the most ancient form of English architecture, the slightly modern, Tudor style of architecture had reminded me to the time I visited places like Stratford-Upon-Avon

The houses were built clearly with the British in mind. The English touches like the design and architecture, right down to the colour scheme, reminded me of the time I spent in the United Kingdom.

However, it was not just the building itself that reminded me of my undergraduate days. The fact that the houses were built in a space that co-existed well with nature reminded me of the serene beauty of such English villages – the peace and balance which, I long for, every day since my return from England. At last, I had found a space where I can return to for brief escapes from the stresses of everyday life.

Written by : Jia Xuan

Photo by : Kim ji Eun