Textures
of
Geylang
Serai
How can we capture the everyday moments of today that forms our cultural heritage 30 years on? 
In this joint collaboration with National Heritage Board, students from the Diploma in Creative Direction for Fashion, LASALLE College of the Arts were tasked to document and and present a multi-sensory collection of stories, visuals, and soundscapes that reflect the evolving identity of Geylang Serai. Going beyond how it’s usually promoted, they captured a set of stories of how the heritage site is presently lived, remembered, and felt by those who pass through the streets.


See all stories:

Still Here
Geylang Yeh Yeh
Di Tangan Erna
In search of Raja Bunga
Spying With Our Little Eyes
Flavours Through Generation

Spying with our little eyes


 

When you walk into Geylang Serai, past the clamour of the marketplace, past the swirl of spices and song, there is one shape that refuses to slip quietly into the background: 

The sharp, rising triangle. 

It stands like a whisper of the past, a silhouette carved into the sky.
What does it long to tell us?

What memories does it guard?



For those arriving here for the first time, this emblem anchors itself in the mind—
unyielding, unforgettable. It becomes more than a form; it becomes a feeling. 

A sign of belonging, of roots, of stories woven through generations.

What does this symbol stir within our collective memory—and what does it awaken in you?
The triangular architecture of Geylang Serai traces its roots to the kampong houses of Malay tradition.

In the tropics, the sharp, sloping roof helps rainwater flow and allows air to breathe through the home—practical in form, and wise in design.

The triangle also echoes the patterns of traditional Malay weaving—textiles, baskets, threads crossing and holding—symbolizing connection and stability.

More than a shape, the triangle becomes a sign of home:

Steady, grounded, and bound to heritage.

As students from Singapore, Korea, Myanmar, China and Malaysia, we traced our experience of visiting Geylang Serai and what we observed about the recurring motif. 

Darren:

"Something unique I noticed when I revisited was also the repeating pattern of triangles. Something that I’ve never noticed as a kid when visiting Geylang Serai."

Yeseo:

"Even in a modern setting, the area still keeps its history alive, offering a unique charm compared to my own country."

     



Amara:

"While I didn't dwell on it at first, I continued browsing and observed how deeply this culture adores that pattern, which inspired me to learn more about it."




Theo:

"As a foreigner walking into this area, I could feel the strong human warmth and cultural atmosphere, unlike other parts of Singapore."


Hui Min:

"From the food stalls and music to the language spoken around me, 
I could feel a warm sense of simplicity, belonging, 
and pride in their cultural roots.

The Scenes and Sounds of Geylang Serai, through our lens





Geylang Serai carries the memory of generations—a quiet symbol shaped by culture, by people, by time.

As you walk through its spaces, traces of the past meet the present, simple, steady, and unmistakably alive.

We invite you to share your own thoughts and memories of Geylang Serai, so that your voice, too, can rest within this shared symbol and become part of what it continues to mean.


Story by: Darren, Amara, Theo, Yeseo, & Hui Min