Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Nothing is sadder than seeing a once-important building fade away into obscurity. Thankfully, Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station on Upper Bukit Timah Road is giving this old landmark a second life near some of Singapore’s best hiking trails
Bukit Timah Fire Station protected the community for 49 years before closing in 2005. It was gazetted as a conservation site in 2019. In 2025, Coliwoo reopened the building as a co-living space with several workshops, programmes and even a restaurant on site. As you can probably tell, the building had a long history that went well beyond its time as a simple fire station.
Fun fact: During my National Service, my encik – who has since retired – actually served at Bukit Timah Fire Station. He is a wonderful man who told all sorts of stories about his time there. I’m sure he would be glad to know his former home is still helping the community years after its closure.
What I experienced at Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station
When I got there, I was greeted by cordial staff who were truly excited to show off the fire station. The longer I spent there, the more I understood their pride. After a brief but informative speech from the Senior Minister of State Ms Low Yen Ling and Coliwoo founder, Kelvin Lim , we got a tour. Only then did I realise how much work went into this place.
Despite the rain and the very bad haze, the view was still astounding. The fire tower is painted with a beautiful mural, set against the greenery that the same fire station used to protect. The mural represents the bountiful nature that surrounds this side of Singapore.
Though I will say, I’m surprised I didn’t see any monkeys in the art. According to one of the tenants, some of those mischievous rascals tend to play around the pool, swinging around pool noodles and such. Aside from that silly detail, the art really gives the place a warmth to it.
After the tour, we got straight into the workshops. If you like lo-fi, a good book on a rainy day or anything ‘chill’, you’d love them. The first workshop was flower arranging at Dawn Q Flowers. The store itself was small and slightly squeezy for a big guy like myself, but it felt comforting nonetheless. When you enter, you are surrounded by a floral aroma, refreshing and breezy. It was a gloomy day, but just sitting there felt therapeutic.
Sorting between pom-poms and Cathrine roses and adding just enough shrubbery to accentuate the centrepiece, I genuinely felt like a princess for a second.
Above is my own creation. Flower aficionados, please be merciful. I personally think it’s beautiful. A 1-hour workshop at Dawn Q Flowers costs S$69.90, and each session comes with a new variety of flowers. They also have more options on their website. I can genuinely see myself doing it a few times a year now.
Workshops in Singapore: Celebrate creative birthdays, bachelorettes & anniversaries
The next workshop I attended was cake decorating by Haute Cakes. This is another very chill workshop.
I was given an edible flower to paint using these colourful powders. It was simple and chill, but everyone was fully locked in on painting.
Once we were done, the instructor gave us a slice of honey cake. Let me tell you, it was one of the best cakes I’ve had in a long time. I’m not a cake person, so this really took me by surprise. It turns out the honey used in the cake came from another tenant that provides a beekeeping workshop.
To see the community come together and help one another is truly heartwarming. The full cake decorating workshop is 4 hours and costs S$180 per person, with more options on their Instagram and their website.
Who is Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station best for?
I’m hard-pressed not to say ‘everyone’, but it is best for hikers. It makes a natural pit stop for Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Rifle Range Nature Park and several other hiking hotspots nearby.
While you take a load off, you might end up roaming the grounds and finding workshops to try with your family. They also work as dates with the one you love.
There is also a restaurant on the grounds, Decker Barbecue, which serves American BBQ. Decker Barbecue has a very impressive rating on Google, but I personally did not get to try it.
How to get to Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station
There are actually several ways to get there. You could take the Downtown Line (blue line) to Hume. It takes around 15 minutes to walk from there. Personally, I would consider this a hike.
Cross the road from the exit at Hume station and follow the path straight to Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station. The path is actually quite nice as you walk along the forest. Alternatively, there is a bus stop named Springdale Condo, next to the fire station. It has less greenery, but it’s only a 1-minute walk.
Do we recommend Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station?
Yes. It really is as simple as that. Mind you, I live in Pasir Ris, so I had to travel across the country in the rain and haze. Despite that, I still had a lovely time. The building is beautiful, the nature is serene, and the community is lovely and wholesome. I will say you should check out their website, as they provide rooms for long-term and short-term stays. Do note that rooms may be fully booked.
People also read:
