Kampong Gelam Historic Area Cultural Mapping Project

Kampong Gelam Historic Area ¹  shines as an exemplary reflection of Singapore’s history and evolution.

One of the country’s oldest urban quarters, it was established in the 1800s as a thriving port town and quickly became a multi-ethnic neighbourhood welcoming the Malays, and the seat of Malay royalty, as well as the Arabs, Bugis, Ceylonese, Chinese, North & South Indians, Javanese, and others.

For generations, Kampong Gelam Historic Area has thrived as a mixed-use neighbourhood and an important centre of trade, publishing, ideas, fashion, education, culture, and religion, and its charm remains intact. Locals and visitors alike celebrate the rich culture, the stunning national monuments – including Sultan Mosque and Istana Kampong Gelam (the site of the Malay Heritage Centre) – and more than 600 historic shophouses that are home to trades and businesses spanning the traditional to the modern, that are also social spaces.

This mapping project is a live repository created by the Kampong Gelam Alliance ²  (KGA) that showcases the multi-faceted cultural elements of the Kampong Gelam Historic Area, including activities and events, heritage businesses, institutions and organisations, key buildings, sites and spaces, and nature and greenery, among others. Read on to find out more about Our Kampong in the City!

 ¹  About Kampong Gelam Historic Area

The Kampong Gelam Historic Area comprises the gazetted conservation area, as well as key modern developments around the perimeter of the conservation area as detailed below.

 ²  About Kampong Gelam Alliance (KGA)

First formed in 2018 and expanded in 2021, the  Kampong Gelam Alliance  (KGA) comprises residents, cultural institutions, business organisations, property owners, and hotels in and around Kampong Gelam. The alliance looks beyond driving the economic growth of the precinct, and aims to also strengthen its cultural, community, and social fabric by developing relevant programmes and projects in partnership with government agencies. Our vision is a Kampong Gelam that is anchored by its values, and remains relevant to present and future generations as a neighbourhood of culture, community, and enterprise.

The diverse heritage trades and their associated practices are integral parts of Kampong Gelam Historic Area's cultural and social heritage. Apart from the initial collection of businesses depicted below (most of which are part of the  Street Corner Heritage Galleries ), NHB recently completed the  Kampong Gelam Citizen Engagement Project . Working closely with volunteers and with the support of OKG and KGA, unique stories behind each of the 45 heritage businesses were documented during this project – uncovering details of their journey, their craft, their current concerns and aspirations and how they have contributed to Kampong Gelam Historic Area’s cultural identity.

It is hoped that more heritage businesses will be similarly documented, and the findings inform the development of new approaches to sustain the continued presence of such businesses and trades in Kampong Gelam Historic Area.

For more stories of heritage businesses in Kampong Gelam, please refer to the  Street Corner Heritage Galleries  or  Kampong Gelam Citizen Engagement Project .

As a long settled neighbourhood for the Malay, Muslim, and many other ethnic groups and communities of interest, Kampong Gelam Historic Area has several Institutions and Organisations that act as socio-cultural anchors and as repositories of knowledge/expertise across generations. Their continued presence supports the broader relevance of Kampong Gelam to successive generations of former residents and also for the wider Singaporean community.

Have a story to share or points of interest you think we should pin in Kampong Gelam Historic Area? What should we protect, sustain, or bring back?

Let us know by submitting a form via this  link . Please provide us with as many details possible, such as a short write-up, photos, references, address (if any), etc.