Being a city-state, Singapore’s national development plan includes the constant demolition and reconstruction of its public facilities, housing units, office buildings and more. In such a nation, the preservation and conservation of heritage sites have proven to be especially challenging, as efforts need to balance the preservation of national identity with contemporary convenience. One couple, Stanley and Amanda, who manage the Instagram account Abandoned Singapore have been documenting and sharing these sites for people around the globe, whether or not they will eventually be preserved or destroyed.
They do so by sharing videos and photos of these sites on their social media accounts and hosting group tours to these sites, so that people can have firsthand experience of the places and stories that have made Singapore the nation that it is today, outside of bureaucratic, political, academic, or other concerns. This is why the work that Abandoned Singapore does is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of Sustainable Cities and Communities and Reduced Inequalities.
Recently, Stanley and Amanda have teamed up with Eugene Tay from Supernatural Confessions to bring together Hidden Heritage, an exclusive walking tour where participants can learn the history and some more informal stories of historical sites in Singapore. For their first iteration, the group began their walk at the Shell Lubricant Blending Plant in Woodlands and concluded their journey at the once home of Vietnamese Refugees during the 1975 Fall of Saigon. With Tay’s collaboration, the tour includes some entertaining angles as he shares spooky stories that allegedly took place at the sites to further engage with those who join the tours.
Abandoned Singapore plays a vital role in documenting and sharing Singapore's hidden modern heritage sites. Rapid urban development can come at the cost of cultural preservation in this city-state. Through social media, photography and immersive walking tours, they bring these often-overlooked sites to life, offering a unique lens into the nation’s history beyond bureaucratic and academic narratives. Their initiatives, including the Hidden Heritage tours in collaboration with Eugene Tay, combine historical insights with engaging storytelling, making heritage accessible to a broader audience.
Find out more about Abandoned Singapore and their initiatives by checking their Instagram on @abandonedsingapore.