Inaugural Bras Basah-Bugis open house to be held at Bras Basah Complex on Mar 7 and 8
The open house will feature walking tours, live performances, craft markets and a movie screening of family-friendly films.
The Bras Basah-Bugis open house will be held at Bras Basah Complex on Mar 7 and 8. (Photo: Bras Basah Complex)
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Those who are fond of Singapore’s iconic malls will be glad to know that Bras Basah Complex is set to host the first open house by Bras Basah-Bugis, the precinct known as the city’s arts and heritage district.
Titled New Chapter, the open house will be held on Mar 7 and 8 at Bras Basah Complex. Organised by HeritageSG in collaboration with the Bras Basah Complex Merchants' Association, the two-day event marks Bras Basah-Bugis’ journey towards becoming a creative district and will spotlight the mall as one of the precinct’s key creative hubs.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE OPEN HOUSE
One of the programmes is a guided walking tour led by tenants of the building. Participants will learn about the building's architecture, take part in hands-on activities and watch live demonstrations hosted by the tenants themselves.
The walking tour is the only ticketed programme at the open house, with two sessions daily from 2pm to 3.30pm and 4pm to 5.30pm. Tickets are priced at S$15 per person, and registration must be completed via the event website.
The event will also feature a stamp rally. Participants can collect stamps from five participating stores: Wheniwasfour, Fook Hing Trading Co, Xinyue Music Studio, Maha Yu Yi Bookstore and Union Book Co. Completed stamp cards can be redeemed for a set of discount vouchers, valid at the five stores while stocks last.
Live performances are also scheduled across both days. Local open-jam collective Ann Siang Sounds will perform on Mar 8 from 4pm to 6.30pm. Bras Basah Complex tenants, including Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society, Drum Prodigy and Intune Music, will stage performances on Mar 7 and 8 from 1pm to 2pm.
The open house also features a creative craft market that will spotlight local artists, craftmakers and illustrators such as Reddillustrates, Whimsipom, Then0ize, TwoPeas, Crumbstown, Caricagen and Loonskye.
Visitors can also participate in a community chill zone, where they are invited to contribute to a collaborative art installation using Post-it notes or by drawing and expressing in words their memories of the precinct. A photobooth will be available for visitors to take commemorative photos, while in the evenings, there will be movie screenings of Zootopia and Inside Out.
Chairman of Bras Basah Complex Merchants' Association Joyce Ong told CNA Lifestyle that she is hopeful New Chapter will give people "the opportunity to rediscover the area's rich history, diverse creative businesses, and unique charm beyond traditional retail".
The co-founder of Singapore-based lifestyle brand Wheniwasfour, Tan Li Ling, added: "What makes the precinct special is the mix of brands – from long-standing stationery shops and traditional bookstores to newer food and beverage concepts and independent creative brands. The blend of old and new gives the area its unique character."
HeritageSG's festivals and precinct development head Qazim Karim said that the collaboration between HeritageSG and Bras Basah Complex Merchants' Association "reflects the growing momentum within the precinct itself".
"It's a community coming together to open its doors and invite the public to experience its creative spirit firsthand," he said.
"Building a creative hub is not just about spaces or institutions – it is about people, participation, and shared memories. When businesses, creatives and visitors come together in this way, it strengthens ownership, belonging and identity. We hope this weekend marks the beginning of an even deeper and more enduring relationship between the community and Bras Basah-Bugis."
