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Old Thong Chai Building

The old Thong Chai Medical Institution Building was one of the first monuments gazetted for preservation in 1973, for its historical significance. Firstly, Thong Chai was an organisation which symbolised the spirit of mutual assistance among early Chinese settlers, and secondly, the building is a rare surviving example of southern Chinese secular architecture.

History
In the third quarter of the 19th century, the growing prosperity of many wealthy Chinese, particularly the philanthropic merchants and businessmen, brought generous support for benevolent associations such as schools, hospitals, cemeteries and religious festivals. The Thong Chai Medical Institution was one of five charitable medical institutions where the poor and needy sick Chinese immigrants could turn to sinsehs  or "Chinese doctors" for free traditional Chinese medical treatment. The Institution opened in 1868 in North Canal Road, and moved in 1892 into the current Chinese-style building at what was then Wayang Street. Amongst the early benefactors ranging from Hokkien and Cantonese businessmen to clan leaders was the noteworthy Gan Eng Seng (b.1844 - d. 1899). Gan Eng Seng's endowment was spent by 1890, and an appeal was launched with the support of Chinese newspapers Lat Pau and Sing Po. With contributions forthcoming, the trustees invested some of the money on property between 1893-1905. Thus this building was raised, a narrow structure, about the width of an old shophouse, and, extremely long. The front faces what is now Eu Tong Sen Street and the back entrance faces New Market Road. There are four halls each separated by one of two courtyards or a smaller airwell.

Description
The roofscape is a decoratively unique Chinese architecture, one of its kind in Singapore. Four pitched roofs cover each hall with each pitched roof of green glazed Chinese tiles capped with a concrete ridge frieze on which brightly painted relief depict Chinese culture and scenery. Gabled walls or "fire walls" extend above the roof in a cloud-like pattern. The main entrance is a solid timber double-leaf door with two timber bars that bolt the door shut. Inside are outstanding decorative screens in carved timber, carved timber panels and boards, granite columns with sculptured bases and many Chinese calligraphy panels.

Right up to the 1970s, Thong Chai served the Chinese Community and other poor races at its premises, on what is now Eu Tong Sen Street. Sometime in the late 1980s to mid-1990s, an arts and crafts centre occupied the place. Today it awaits a new lease of life, while Thong Chai continues its service in nearby Chin Swee Road.

Old Thong Chai Medical Institution, 50 Eu Tong Sen Street, (formerly Wayang Street) S.05803
Completed: 1892
Architect: unknown 
Owner: Thong Chai Ke-Yip Pte Ltd

Variant Names
Originally, the building was known as the Thong Chai Building. There is however a new Thong Chai Building otherwise known as the Thong Chai Medical Institution along Chin Swee Road.



Author
Vernon Cornelius



References 
Liu, G. (1996). In granite and chunam: The national monuments of Singapore (pp. 198-203). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 725.94095957 LIU)


Further Readings
Beamish, J. (1985). A history of Singapore architecture: The making of a city (p. 75). Singapore: G. Brash.
(Call no.: RSING 722.4095957 BEA)

Lee, E. (1990). Historic buildings of Singapore (p. 59). Singapore: Preservation of Monuments Board.
(Call no.: RSING 720.95957 LEE)

The information in this article is valid as at 1998 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Monuments
Politics and Government>>Health
Historic buildings--Singapore
Monuments--Singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Public and commercial buildings
Health and medicine>>Health services



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