The Mustafa Experience
Architecture - Exterior
In the metropolitan city of Singapore, Mustafa Centre stands out with its old-style tiled exterior and shop house windows.
Panoramic Views
Panoramic view of Mustafa centre showing the transition between the oldest building (far left) , Mustafa Centre, to
Mustafa Extension No.2
Panoramic view of Mustafa centre showing the transition between Mustafa Centre Extension No. 2 to Mustafa Centre Extension No. 4.
Did you spot?
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Evolution of the interface of Mustafa
Compare the left and right side of the image above. As you've correctly observed, the right side has a more modern facade with metallic wave patterns that will be seen in the interior of the mall. In fact, the right side was actually an expansion of Mustafa centre, that perfectly illustrates the evolution that Mustafa had over the decades, from rustic designs to modern patterns to catch up with the changing times.
where mustafa first began
Entrance to Mustafa Centre (first building)
Colonial-style columns and shophouse windows
If you go to Mustafa Centre today, you can still see how the exterior architecture retained from the 1990s when it was constructed. In the 1990s, much of the buildings constructed still had highlights of the colonial times even though Singapore had been independent for 30 years.
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Take a look at the image above, do you see the colonial influences in the windows and and the pillars?
the latest edition
Exterior of the new building of Mustafa centre
Glass walls and Metallic Elements
On the other side of the Mustafa Centre, it is a whole new era - Glass walls and metallic wavy patterns. This tells us that while Mustafa Centre remains to be a reminder of Singapore's heritage, it also struggles to keep up with the times.
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Can you think of other malls in Singapore that gives the same feeling?
Fanlights and transom windows
Windows of the Mustafa Centre's oldest building
Window of Mustafa Centre (completed in 1999)
Figure 2.27
Little India, Historic District,
Singapore, pg 56
Have a look at the three images above. Do you see any resemblance?
That's because they are windows of Semi-Circular Fanlights and Transom design which can be seen in the shophouses along Serangoon road back in the late 1900s. As defined in Little India, Historic District, Singapore (Part II: Architecture – Understanding the shophouse), "a transom window is a rectangular opening immediately above the door or window ... [it] comes in a variety of shapes, including rectangular, segmental arch and semi-circular forms," and this design of transom windows is a key characteristic of shophouses along Serangoon Road back in the late 1900s. Before building the mega mall known as Mustafa Centre today, Mr Mustaq Ahmad "acquired twenty shophouses along Syed Alwi road." (Mustaq Ahmad, Singapore Infopedia). Though no concrete evidence has been established to confirm the relationship in the designs of the Shophouses' windows at Syed Alwi road and present day designs of Mustafa Centre's windows, we believe there is a strong correlation between the two.
Mustafa Centre's brand logo which is reflected at the entrance of their oldest building
Trolley which reflects Mustafa Centre's logo
Upon further observation, we noticed the semi-circular design of the transom window is reflected in the brand design of Mustafa Centre as well. Perhaps this fanlight design of the transom window is symbolic of Mustafa's humble beginning and a reflection of the shophouses that were previously occupying the land before Mustafa Centre was built.
Additional information:
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Mustafa Centre
Main Contractor: Hexagon
Completion year: 1999
(Taken from Hexagon)
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Mustafa Centre Extension No. 2
Main Contractor: Kim Seng Heng Engineering Construction Pte Ltd
Architectural Consultant: Architects 8000
Structural Consultant KTP Consultants Pte Ltd
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(Taken from Construction Excellence Awards)
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