| House
no.1 at Chek Jawa
It must be one of the very few (if not the most) beautiful coastal bangalows that one can still find in Singapore today (see location). Its tudor-styled architecture (see drawings), which employed the creative use of large wooden beams and frameworks, roughly hewn granite blocks, terra cotta tiles and brickworks, blends very well with the natural environment. Apart from the main building, the compound includes a large outhouse at the back, and a generator room and water tower across a small lawn. The front courtyard, framed by graceful New Caledonia pines (Araucaria columnaris), afforts a wonderful view of its own private jetty, Pulau Sekudu and mainland Singapore. Among the interesting trees that can be found in the small lawn are a Breadfruit tree / Sukun (Artocarpus altilis), Candle Nut tree / Buah Keras (Aleurites moluccana) and a relatively uncommon native fig, Ficus caulocarpa. |
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| One of the charming
characteristics of Ficus caulocarpa is its deciduous nature.
For three times a year (around April, August and December), it sheds
its leafy crown completely for a few days. At such times, the whole
ground afoot is completely carpeted with leaves and stipules. One
could, with a bit of musing, imagine the tapestry of fallen leaves
as a large picnic cloth all spreaded out and ready for lying down
to enjoy the 'autumn spirit' on a cool windy evening. What a life
for poetic hearts! Visitors cannot come away from House no.1 without feeling its serenity and beauty. The common concern is that we should preserve it as a heritage building. As a future Visitor Centre to Chek Jawa, it is indeed heaven-sent. |