Beneath the charming Art Deco blocks of Tiong Bahru lies a haunting reminder of Singapore’s darkest chapter in history—the Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter. Hidden under Block 78 Guan Chuan Street, this is Singapore’s last surviving civilian air raid shelter, a silent witness to the relentless bombings that marked the Japanese invasion during World War II.
While Tiong Bahru is now a vibrant enclave of hipster cafes and heritage flats, few realize that during the 1940s, this now-trendy neighborhood was on the frontline of Singapore’s defense strategy.
Built for War: Singapore’s First Civilian Shelter
In the late 1930s, as tensions in Asia escalated, Singapore was rapidly fortifying itself against potential air raids. The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT)—the precursor to the Housing Development Board (HDB)—constructed Singapore’s first public housing estate in Tiong Bahru. Unique to this estate was the deliberate integration of bomb shelters, signaling the looming threat of war.
Block 78, built in 1939, was designed with a 1,500-square-foot air raid shelter in its basement. With walls nearly 19 inches thick, the shelter could withstand bomb blasts and house up to 100 people at a time. This was part of Singapore’s broader strategy to protect civilians from the expected Japanese aerial attacks.
At that time, such civil defense infrastructure was rare in Southeast Asia, making this shelter a progressive response to growing wartime anxieties.
The Fall of Singapore: Life Inside the Shelter
On December 8, 1941, just hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese warplanes bombed Singapore, marking the start of the island’s involvement in World War II. Singapore’s strategic position made it a key target, and the skies above were soon darkened by relentless bombings.
Residents of Tiong Bahru, many of whom were working-class families and civil servants, would scramble into the underground shelter at the sound of the air raid sirens. Inside, the space was claustrophobic and dimly lit. Ventilation was minimal, and the air was thick with fear and anxiety. Families huddled in silence, listening to the distant hum of bombers and the ominous thuds of explosions above.
Though the shelter provided physical protection, the psychological toll was immense. Provisions were scarce, and sanitation was rudimentary. For hours—or sometimes days—residents would wait in the dark, uncertain if their homes still stood above them.
Singapore eventually fell to Japanese forces on February 15, 1942, in what British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called the “worst disaster” in British military history. Tiong Bahru, with its strategic location near the Singapore River, was not spared from the devastation.
Post-War Obscurity and Rediscovery
After the war ended in 1945, the air raid shelter faded into obscurity. It was sealed off, hidden beneath layers of post-war reconstruction and urban development. For decades, even residents of Block 78 were unaware that a piece of wartime history lay beneath their feet.
It wasn’t until 2012 that the shelter was rediscovered during maintenance works. Recognizing its historical significance, heritage groups like My Community began organizing limited tours, revealing its stark, untouched interior to the public for the first time in over 70 years.
Today, the shelter remains mostly unchanged. Its thick concrete walls are marked by time, and rusted steel doors still guard its entrance. No elaborate exhibits or reconstructions—just raw, unfiltered history.
Why This Hidden Relic Matters
The Tiong Bahru Air Raid Shelter stands as a rare physical reminder of Singapore’s civilian experience during WWII. Most wartime structures have been demolished or repurposed, making this shelter an irreplaceable historical artifact.
It offers a rare perspective: war not from the battlefield, but from the eyes of ordinary people—families, neighbors, and workers—seeking refuge beneath the chaos. This intimate scale of history makes it deeply personal and profoundly human.
For younger generations, the shelter provides a tangible link to Singapore’s wartime past—a chance to walk through the same corridors where ancestors once braved fear and uncertainty.
A Journey Through Tiong Bahru’s Layers of History
Pairing a visit to the air raid shelter with a walk around Tiong Bahru paints a vivid picture of how Singapore has transformed over the decades. Some nearby historical sites worth exploring include:
• Qi Tian Gong Temple (1920): Singapore’s oldest Monkey God temple, a spiritual refuge during turbulent times.
• Bird Corner at Tiong Bahru Market: Once a popular gathering spot for bird lovers, echoing Singapore’s kampong spirit.
• The Horseshoe Block (Block 78): An iconic example of the SIT’s pre-war Art Deco architecture, with design elements inspired by European housing estates.
And after a walk through history, modern Tiong Bahru welcomes you with artisanal bakeries like Tiong Bahru Bakery and quaint bookstores like BooksActually—offering a perfect contrast between past and present.
Planning Your Visit
The shelter is not open year-round and can only be accessed during special heritage events such as Singapore Heritage Festival or private tours organized by ROOTS. Slots are limited and often fully booked due to high demand, reflecting the growing public interest in Singapore’s lesser-known historical sites.