Result of February Sketchwalk at Commonwealth Drive

Such beautiful mature heartland with big trees that provide shades everywhere. Do you know these early public flats at Commonwealth and Queenstown have no water tanks on the roof top when they were built?

I did a long sketch for February Sketchwalk at 117 Commonwealth Drive overlooking block 91 and Queenstown Lutheran Church which is under renovation. I used concertina sketchbook for easy handling but it is not suitable for watercolours so I did fast washes over ink linework.

Size: 90cm x 13cm Moleskine Japanese Album Large

February Sketchwalk at Commonwealth Drive

Credite: Sketch by Patrick Ng

This month’s sketchwalk will be at Commonwealth Drive, behind Commonwealth MRT. This is an old estate which has some unique buildings, such as Singapore’s first flatted factory, and old church, and early HDB flats, some of which have undergone SERS. The market square in the centre surrounded by HDB blocks boasts some famous food such as Two Chefs zhi char.

On the other side of Commonwealth MRT is Tanglin Halt, which will be undergoing redevelopment in stages starting this year. If you have time, you might want to hang around for the launch of Museum@My Queenstown at Tanglin Halt for their official launch at 6pm (it should be open earlier). There's good food and homemade ice cream around there, including some quaint old shops and clinics https://www.psd.gov.sg/challenge/lifestyle/alter-ego/designing-singapore-s-first-ground-up-community-museum

Queenstown is Singapore's first satellite town. Many of the HDB blocks are pretty old and house an ageing community. Compare the architecture with the new flats today and spot the differences! Some of the blocks in this area have already been vacated and removed to make way for new developments. (links: https://thelongnwindingroad.wordpress.com/tag/goodbye-74-to-80-commonwealth-drive/ and https://stateofbuildings.sg/places/commonwealth-drive-blks-74-80)

START
Time: 9:30 AM
Location: Commonwealth Drive, opposite Block 117 near the shelters
(https://goo.gl/maps/2gX3HSUANrS2)

END
Time: 12:15 PM
Location: Same as Starting Location.

Nearest MRT: Commonwealth (EWL)

Locations to sketch:
- Queenstown Lutheran Church
- First flatted factories
- Market square
# HDB flats

Places to eat and shop:
- Two Chefs
- Hammee's Burger
- Countless options around

Sketchwalk leaders: Patrick Ng, Favian Ee.

Sunday Brunch

Now that Lunar New Year is over, I am slowly getting back to work and back to sketching. Enjoying the ‘me’ time in a crowded, noisy cafe for my Sunday brunch. Yummy!