There are 500 black-and-white colonial houses in Singapore.
The historic homes are managed by the Singapore Land Authority.
Insider was shown what it was like to live in a bungalow by Elizabeth Hay.
Singapore's black-and-white colonial bungalows are an icon of the city-state's heritage. Only 500 of these homes are still standing today.
The houses were built by British officials and military personnel when Singapore was still a colony. Many of these houses can be found in prime neighborhoods or close to areas where the British had air and naval bases.
The bungalows were sold to the Singapore government. Many of the houses were preserved, but others were demolished to make way for the development of the city.
500 of the colonial bungalows are left today. The Singapore Land Authority preserves and manages them.
Some of the bungalows have more than 5,000 square feet of space and more than 31,000 square feet of land.
The houses are heavily influenced by the Tudorbethan architectural style, with steep roofs, high ceilings, and exposed timber frames. In the first floor of the house, tiles help keep the house cool. The floor on the second story is made of wood.
Elizabeth Hay moved to Singapore from the UK with her husband, Tim. Since 2015, the two of them have been living in a black-and-white colonial bungalow.
Tim works in investment management and Elizabeth is an interior designer. Before moving to their current home, the couple lived in a heritage shophouse in Emerald Hill.
When Hay was expecting their first child, they decided to move.
Hay told Insider that a black and white bungalow was perfect for them.
The couple fell in love with their current home after viewing several houses.
The bungalow is located halfway up Mount Faber, a big hill about 10 minutes from Singapore's Central Business District.
We felt we had the best of both worlds here. It is close to the central business district and is 10 minutes down the road. Hay said that we are also near Mount Faber Park.
Those interested in living in a black-and-white bungalow must submit a bid. If accepted, this amount becomes their monthly rent. Hay and her husband were the only ones who were interested in the house. She wouldn't say how much they pay rent.
Hay is lucky because the bidding process depends on market demand. Houses in prime locations are sometimes only available via sealed bids, in which the bidder doesn't know how much other people are offering.
She said that it was a bit tricky, and that she had friends who bid high and then found out that the other bid was less than they wanted the house to be. They have to pay the price per month.
The monthly rent for a black-and-white bungalow can reach as high as $20,000 Singapore dollars ($14,300) according to a property agent.
The bungalow was empty for two years before they moved in.
Hay said that the garden was a complete jungle. Nothing like that. There were no white goods. It was a blank canvas.
While the government takes ownership of the house, it is only responsible for re-staining the wooden floors and painting the facade.
Everything else we had to put in ourselves was done by the government. Hay said that things like air-conditioning, water heaters are your responsibility.
The renovation process was rushed because Hay was due to give birth around the time they were supposed to move in. She wanted to create a space with essential amenities.
She said that all of the soft furnishings, the painting, and the wallpaper evolved over time because she was having a baby.
The house was renovated and an air-conditioning system was installed.
Hay had the freedom to decorate the house as she pleased.
Hay and her husband have filled their house with items they have collected over the years. The dining room walls were decorated with Japanese woodblock prints.
Hay said that his interior design style is classic yet modern.
She said that the interior design of the house has evolved over time.
The laundry room is located in a smaller building next to the wet kitchen.
Hay said that a separate kitchen would reduce the dangers of having a fire that burns down the whole house.
The most extensive bathroom renovations took place during the renovation process.
They hadn't been touched since the 70's. Hay said that he had to hack them out and then re-tile them and add new sanitary wares.
There are framed botanical prints and turquoise wall tiles in the bathroom on the first floor.
The second floor of the home has a common area that can be used as a second living room and playroom.
Natural light is the best part of the space. The front of the house is lined with windows.
There are four bedrooms on the second floor, including the master bedroom, a guest suite, and her children's rooms.
Initially, there were only three bedrooms. It was two on one side and then another at the end. We turned it into two bedrooms.
The couple had to get approval from the SLA before they could partition the room.
She said that they are okay with it if they feel it makes sense and it enhances the property.
The master bedroom has a blue color scheme. The common area has a window-lined wall.
The master bedroom has a bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe.
Hay said this is her favorite room because it's the main living room on the first floor.
There is a mix of vintage and custom-made furniture in the house.
I have a number of different workshops, from the metal workshop to the bamboo workshop. Hay said that he design the furniture he wants and then have them make it for him.
Hay's oldest son and daughter share a bedroom. It has the same bed frames.
George has a separate nursery.
A traditional attap shelter is located in the backyard and serves as an outdoor gathering spot for the family on the weekends.
An attap house is a type of traditional housing found in Asia. The roof is made from attap leaves.
Hay said that the structure was handcrafted in Malaysia and shipped to Singapore.
We were lucky that there was a swimming pool. Hay said that they just had to re-line it.
On occasion, the SLA comes by to check on the house.
They do occasional checks. They check the trees and the structure of the house. In a climate like Singapore, you do need to do quite regularly because things can just suddenly happen.
Hay and her husband have the freedom to grow their garden as they please, even though the government handles the big trees.
We have done a lot of gardening work. She said that they have some vegetable patches and their own chickens.
There is a separate building on the property that used to be used as a chauffeur's quarters. The space was turned into an office by Hay.
This would have been the chauffeur's quarters, with a garage and a bathroom at the end.
She runs her interior design firm from there.
Hay loves the black-and-white bungalow because of its rich history.
We have had older people show up at the gate. The children were here 60 years ago. Hay said that they want to see how much has changed in the house.
The couple plans to stay in Singapore and not move at the moment. The couple is looking for new ways to decorate their house to accommodate their growing family.
Hay said it was really amazing living here.
The original article can be found on Insider.
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