Singapore is known around the world as one of the best tourist destinations. From theme parks to areas dedicated only to commercial activities, you can see life in all shapes and forms in this country. Not to mention the perfect mix of culture that you rarely find in other parts of the world. However, besides a multi-cultural setting and commercial activities, there are quite a few other things that make Singapore famous. Singapore black and white houses are one of the many unique aspects of this country that you do not find elsewhere.
An Introduction to Singapore Black and White Houses
These homes are reminiscent of the colonial era in the region. They were built by the British families who lived here in the 19th century. These homes have seen the two great wars of the world as well. In fact, at one point during the World War II, these homes had the prisoners of war living in them. The history might be dark, but it has not reduced the value of these homes. The reason why they are called black and white houses because of their exteriors, which are marked by dark beams and brightly colored walls.
The Experience of Living in Singapore Black and White Houses
It is not that easy to live in these homes because of how few of them are left in the country. You might not even find one thousand of these homes in the country now. However, if you do so and are able to find one on rent, you will have the best time of your life living in one. These Singapore black and white houses are huge with some beautiful decorative art on their exteriors. They usually have a driveway in the front with meadows surrounding them and reminding you of the luxurious lifestyle of the rich Singaporeans who used to live in them at one point.
You will find yourself raised quite high above the ground while living in any of these Singapore black and white houses. That’s because the homes mimic the traditional homes of that part of Asia that are usually raised above the ground to prevent flooding from affecting them. So, when you enter these homes, you will have to climb three or four stairs. Another thing you will love about these homes is that they have a veranda. They almost always had a veranda covered under the concrete roof of the house and railings on all sides.
The large windows on all sides of these Singapore black and white houses make them quite airy. Anyone living in them should not feel hot even if they don’t have any fan because of the airiness. What you will feel while living in these homes is pure luxury. They are huge and have a lot of space dedicated to housing elements that do not provide a lot of space for living. They are geared more towards making the house look lavish. For example, the veranda around these Singapore black and white houses left very little margin for the rooms to be big. In fact, one of the reasons Singaporean people have gotten rid of these homes in the recent times is because they occupied too much space while providing very little for living.
If you choose to live in these Singapore black and white houses, you will constantly visit the memories of the past. You will know that war prisoners were locked up in these houses. You will also get the reminiscence of the colonial era in this region. In one way, the color theme of these houses matches their history. At the end of the day, you have to know that these Singapore black and white houses are more expensive than you might realize. The reason for their high price is their scarcity in the country.
Final Thoughts
If you are a foreigner, you can only rent this house for living. You can use it for opening a company perhaps. You cannot, however, purchase these Singapore black and white houses because they are detached homes that foreigners are not eligible to buy in Singapore. For Singaporeans, it is not easy to afford these houses because of their huge price tags.