NOSTALGIC DREAMS
A 1970s KOPITIAM JUXTAPOSED WITH MODERN SINGAPORE
Sinpopo -in colourful Katong, Singapore- is a stellar example of the
retro-cool tidal wave that is currently sweeping Singapore design. It is
styled around a 1970s kopitiam (coffee shop). As a world of coffee-lovers,
the authentic design takes us back to
a time of lesser consumerism, where
consumption was less conspicuous,
and this is the atmosphere that Sinpopo have focused on. It is a far cry
from the sleek minimalism that sister
company Awfully Chocolate is renowned for island-wide.
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The 1970s in Singapore was a period of remarkable growth the coutry’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
experienced annual double-digit
growth, but the authentic city was
still very much evident. For many, it
was a time of relative and luxurious
simplicity - hazy filled days where
our media consumption was limited
to evening television and radio. The
name Sinpopo is tribute to the notorious nightclub on nearby Joo Chiat.
Sinpopo creates nostalgia from the
moment you enter. A superretro
1970s television is at the entrance to
the eatery. An abundance of vintage
exhibits and nostalgic Chinese music
twinkles away in the background. A
startling contrast against the modern
metropolis churning away outside.
A comforting paradox harking back
to a bygone era, drawing us in to
sample old-school street desserts
like ais bor (ice ball), written up on
neat paper menus for clientele to
write their orders on. The vivid colours and antique features take both
Katong locals and tourists back to
an authentic Singapore that existed
before the skyscrapers and m odern
life transformed the landscape and
culture.
Sinpopo, 458 Joo Chiat Road
Singapore
VOICE #1 p.10