Emerald Hill

When looking at the skyline in Singapore one thing you will always notice are tons and tons of cranes.  This place is booming with construction and it always seems that something is being demolished to make way for the next new and shiny building.

That being said, there is also some amazing architecture that has managed to survive.  These are the low-rise buildings that seem to get lost in midst of some pretty spectacular and much taller buildings.  There is a neighborhood, Emerald Hill, that is quite close to my house where they have maintained these original, low-rise buildings.

Along Emerald Hill, the buildings are still mostly residential.  When you walk up and down the street it is a bit like walking back in time.  You enter off of Orchard Road which is one of the busiest roads in Singapore with some of the biggest and shiniest new buildings.  You immediately find yourself on a small and rather narrow street in between rows of terrace homes such as these...

Everything on these buildings are such a contrast to the craziness of Orchard Road.  The windows have fabulous shutters...

The entrances and doors welcome you with their ornate beauty...

I'd love to get inside a few of these buildings...the outsides are so beautiful and decorative that I'm certain there is as much love and detail on the inside. 

Even the mailboxes are better looking than most...

There are a few of the buildings that have been converted into storefronts.  It is nice that they have kept to the original structure and design of the buildings so that they blend in to residential area.

Someday I'll try and find my way inside of one of the homes.  For now, I'll just enjoy their beauty from the outside...