How architecture tells the Singapore story

YOU may have always thought of Tan Boon Liat building as a haven for furniture hunters, but it wasn’t always so. In the early 20th century, the building and other industrial godowns and warehouses by the Singapore River made up a hub of commerce to support the then-British colony’s entrepot trade. Stories about how everyday buildings like this and others have shaped the city’s landscape and growth story are found in a new book, Everyday Modernism, written by architecture associate professor Chang Jiat-Hwee. In tomorrow’s BTLifestyle, find out more about the stories behind buildings we always take for granted. At the same time, nostalgia lovers can also find out more about the heritage shops of Singapore in another new book by American travel and documentary photographer, Steve Golden.

If you’re planning a trip to exotic Turkey, check out our travel guide to Istanbul, a multi-ethnic city that’s a treasure trove of arts, culture and, of course, food. And speaking of food, Dining Out gets a taste of modern Japanese bites by Chef Tomoyuki Kiga at the new restaurant, Wagatomo. Get this and more in tomorrow’s issue of BT.