Uploaded on 2020-06-22 by Jen Eveland

Singapore, Serangoon Road. The block which is now called Little India Arcade was built in 1913 and might have been constructed using Madras chunam, a building material which originated in India and was used to make bricks and plaster. Chunam consisted of lime, egg-white, shell, sugar and coconut husks. From Singapore’s early years, Indian labourers worked lime pits and brick kilns in Serangoon Road, providing locally-made chunam construction materials to the growing city. In contrast, Tekka Place shopping mall was completed in 2019 with visible materials of metal and glass which were most likely imported or made from imported materials. Information sources: https://www.roots.sg/Content/Places/landmarks/little-india-heritage-trail-shop-till-you-drop/little-india-arcade https://www.thehindu.com/features/magazine/The-Madras-connection/article16876513.ece https://www.roots.sg/learn/stories/little-india-a-cultural-and-historical-precinct/story