Turn into Admiralty Road East from Sembawang Road and explore the area from Queen’s Avenue to Gibraltar Crescent. Along these roads are bungalows dating from colonial times.
Coined ‘black and white’ after their painted black timber frames and white walls, these bungalows were built by the British from the 1920s onwards to house their personnel working in the Naval Base and other military installations nearby. They were the last phase of the black and white architectural style, which flourished from the 1900s to the 1930s in Singapore.
The term ‘bungalow’ actually came from the Bengali word ‘bangla’, which refers to houses built in the Bengali style. When the British colonised Bengal in 1700s, they picked up the idea of adapting bangalas, or Bengali-styled houses, to design dwellings which were suited for tropical climate and heat. Thus, the Anglo-Indian bungalow with its characteristic verandas and overhanging eaves was created. This style was brought to Singapore by the British.
As you walk around, observe how these bungalows are adapted to create a cooler living environment. Overhanging eaves and verandahs reduce glare from the sun. The houses also have high roofs combined with lateral vents to improve ventilation.