Imagine life in Singapore during the Golden Era of Peranakan culture. This is the Baba House. It is more than just a building. It is a time capsule.
The Baba House showcases Peranakan history and heritage. This pre-war terrace house belonged to the family of Wee Bin. He was a 19th-century shipping tycoon from Fujian. The National University of Singapore or NUS now manages the Baba House.
Let’s step back to the 1890s. This house on 157 Neil Road was built then. Blair Plain is a Residential Historic District. The Urban Redevelopment Authority conserved this area in 1991.
Agnes Tan donated S$4 million to NUS in 2005. She was the last daughter of Tun Tan Cheng Lock. He founded the Malaysian Chinese Association or MCA. The donation acquired the Wee family’s house.
The Wee family first owned the house in 1910. A matriarch bought it for her grandson Wee Eng Cheng. Mr Wee Lin, a sixth-generation descendant, last managed it. Another S$1.5 million donation acquired two shophouses in Malacca. These houses educate younger generations about Peranakan culture. The Singapore house was named Tan Cheng Lock Baba House.
President S R Nathan opened the Baba House on September 4, 2008. It opened to the public on September 15, 2008. NUS staff and students restored the house. They worked on the intricate wooden windows and doors. About 70 percent of the furniture belonged to the Wee estate. Other items came from Peranakan families in Singapore and Malacca.
The first two storeys display the Peranakan domestic interior. The third storey exhibits modern interpretations of Peranakan culture. The NUS Museum organizes culinary and craft workshops here.
The Baba House differs from the Peranakan Museum. It intimately shows how Peranakan homes looked in the 1920s. Lavish antique furniture fills the house. Chinese Peranakans used these items then.
You can book the Baba House for cultural events. These enhance the experience. Visits are by appointment only. Weekly guided tours are limited to 14 people. Bookings are through the NUS Museum.
Note the narrow facade. Houses were built deep to avoid taxes. An atrium provides natural light and ventilation. The third floor was added later. Ceramic decorations adorn the eaves. The third floor now displays the restoration process.
The Baba House presents an authentic view. It shows the culture of the Chinese-Malay ethnic group. Everyone can find historical connections here. You might see Western ceramics or a phonograph turntable. Chinese cultural images are also present.
In the kitchen, find Chinese cooking ingredients. There is also Indonesian Buah Keluak. Singaporean Peranakans use these black nuts in chicken dishes.
The Baba House stands as a reminder. It preserves Peranakan culture for future generations. Its walls echo with stories of the past. It offers a unique glimpse into a vibrant heritage.