Statues and water features in Singapore at Clementi, and meaning of the name Clementi

 

Some pieces are in the water. Others are half way up the columns.

Water bubbles, sculpture by Chua Boon Kea, has been around since 2011.

In case you are wondering about the name Clementi, which comes from the Clementi family in Singapore. Two members of the family could be the person the area was named after. Since I don't know much about either, I need go no further. But a bust of one of them is here.

Mr Clementi. 

Clementi is an Italian surname, originally popular in the Venice region, a patronymic (child of a father called Clemens). Clemens was from the Latin for merciful or mild.

Useful Websites

https://sgbestinvestment.wordpress.com/2015/01/09/things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-clementi/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clementi_MRT_station

https://www.smrt.com.sg/News-Room/COVID-19-Efforts 

https://www.houseofnames.com/clementi-family-crest

Fish pond in Community Centre in Singapore

Harrow in north west London in England put out an appeal for suggestions when redeveloping the town centre. I had some ideas, and pictures. 

In Singapore water features are included for feng shui. Feng shui which means wind water. That is a succinct way of saying being calmly and harmoniously in tune with surroundings and environment. 

Harrow, and developers and architects worldwide, please copy the idea of water features.  

See my later post on fish.

Fish pond in Community Club, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

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What Community Clubs' Architects Do To De-Stress and Stress you

Problem
The first problem is that several community centres in many areas have similar names. But drivers, taxi drivers, pedestrians, MRT passengers - everybody gets confused.

When you arrive, however, many Community Clubs have features designed to reduce stress. My favourites are:

1 Water features - fountains and fish.
2 Green walls of greenery.
3 Cafes and snack bars.
4 Changing coloured lights.

Lights
Nee Soon East has changing coloured lights. You can watch the entire front of the building change colour, facing it from the temporary bus terminal, and the road approach from the MRT.

From white

to red

Nee Soon East Community Club also has a stress-inducing feature. If you approach from the left at the back, to reach the corridor to the front desk office and notce boards and elevators you have to walk across the goal end of the open-sided games area, stopping, whilst the players dodge around you chasign balls and throwing them across your path.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.