53 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh

Last updated

Block 53 Lorong 5 Toa Payoh, also known as the VIP Block, is a HDB block in Toa Payoh, Singapore. The building is the only block in Toa Payoh with a Y-shaped design. [1]

History

Constructed somewhere before 1968, Block 53, located along Lorong 5 Toa Payoh, is the only block in the town of Toa Payoh with the unique Y-shape design. [2] The building is 19-stories tall, and has a rooftop gallery which is inaccessible to the public. [1] [3] The building has been the site of at least four deaths due to falling between 1971 and 1978, two of which occurred within the same week. [4] [5] [6] [7]

The building was visited by Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Singapore, when she was visiting Toa Payoh in 1972. [8] [9] The building was also visited by General Bulsak Wanamas, the former under-secretary of defense of Thailand, during his visit to Singapore in 1973. [10] The building has also been visited by John Gorton, Princess Anne, Prince Philip, Benjamin Sheares, and Sirimavo Bandaranaike. [3] The building is included in the Toa Payoh Heritage Trail by the National Heritage Board. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Block 53, The "VIP Block"". Roots. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Block 53 at Lorong 5 Toa Payoh, between 1968 and 1970". BookSG. National Library Board. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Toa Payoh Heritage Trail" (PDF). NHB. National Heritage Board. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "THREE DEATH FALLS: POLICE APPEAL". The Straits Times . Singapore. 14 December 1977. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "Body Found at Flats". The Straits Times . Singapore. 16 December 1977. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Teenager found dead at Toa Payoh". The Straits Times . Singapore. 13 April 1971. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Schoolgirl falls to death after an exam". The Straits Times . Singapore. 19 October 1972. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  8. ↑ "QUEEN ELIZABETH II VISITS TOA PAYOH HOUSING ESTATE". National Archives of Singapore. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Chan, Alphonso; Hashim, Jaleha (1 August 1996). "A Toa Payoh flat where the Queen came a-calling". The Straits Times . Singapore.
  10. ↑ "Thai general's high-rise view of Singapore". The Straits Times . Singapore. 20 January 1973. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.

1°20′16″N103°50′55″E / 1.3377°N 103.8486°E / 1.3377; 103.8486

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.