“What’s there to see in Clementi?” a colleague asked when he heard about National Heritage Board’s (NHB) second Heritage Activation Node (HAN) in Clementi.
Plenty, it seems. From the row of aquariums at Block 328 Clementi Ave 2 to old-school curry puffs at Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre, there is much to rediscover about this neighbourhood in the west.
But unlike Katong-Joo Chiat (the first HAN to be highlighted for its strong associations with Peranakan culture earlier this year), HAN@Clementi has a youth focus due to the many schools and Institutes of Higher Learning in the area. NHB has roped in anchor partner Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP), Singapore Polytechnic, the Singapore University for Social Sciences alongside businesses and community partners to co-develop heritage-related content and projects.
In fact, students from NP have developed an interactive web-based app called JourneyX (available from Sep 13) that takes users on a walking trail to 15 landmarks and sites around the town. It offers an immersive and educational experience through compelling narratives and Augmented Reality. Check in at various location pins (the aquariums at Block 328 are one of them) to redeem rewards such as stickers, keychains and bubble tea vouchers.
Gerald Wee, NHB’s director of education and community outreach, says, “Each Heritage Activation Node is unique, and HAN@Clementi harnesses Clementi’s mix of old and new, which presents a great opportunity for the young to express their feelings about heritage.”
The initiative kicks off with a three-day festival with over 25 community-led programmes from Sep 13 to 15. Head down to the “heritage village” at Clementi Town Centre, shop at the all-day pasar malam, and watch dance and music performances by local community groups.
The jam-packed roster also includes various guided trails, workshops and exhibitions. Sign up for curated foodie tours of Clementi 448 Market & Food Centre (you’ll visit hawker stalls such as Fong’s Dee Special Chicken Curry Puff), guided skate-through tours of West Coast Park, and kid-friendly storytelling sessions. Also check out the interactive wall at Clementi Public Library where you’ll travel through time to learn about its growth from kampung to bustling township, an exhibition on the fourth level of The Clementi Mall tracing the history of pasar malams, and a new heritage mural at Clementi MRT Station featuring iconic landmarks and sites.
For the full list of HAN@Clementi programmes, visit here.
Additional text and photos (unless indicated) by Nida Seah.
