Study and eat at old fire station

Education and food are never far from most Singaporeans' minds - even in an economic downturn.

That is the thinking of the new tenants at the old Bukit Timah Fire Station, who said they are optimistic about their business prospects despite the current recession.

The 20,000 sq ft site, which was a fire station from 1956 to 2004, now houses brightly coloured enrichment centres, adventure infrastructure and restaurants.

Last week, at least five of the six tenants opened for business, including enrichment centre Philosophy Cove and Firestation Hillside Gastrobar. There are still three vacant blocks.

The main tenant is CreativeBITS, a new-media and arts enrichment place. Its investment arm, Spectra, signed a three-year lease with the Singapore Land Authority to manage the site.

'I wanted an unusual location that would allow for outdoor learning and has space for labs. We chanced upon this property and jumped at leasing it,' said Mr Chia Sheh Meng, 35, director of Spectra and also programme director for CreativeBITS.

Previously, the latter had carried out lessons only in primary and secondary schools.

Retrofitting the nine-block compound cost nearly $1 million, and parts of the old structure that are viewed with nostalgia were kept.

'The 18m-high tower from which the firemen used to observe smoke is a rock-climbing and abseiling tower, and the three-fire-engine garage now houses labs,' said Mr Chia.

The fireman's pole stands out in the reception area of CreativeBITS.

Other tenants are also confident that their unique services will allow them to stay above water in the downturn.

Mr Gerald Chia, 31, director of Philosophy Cove, already has about 20 students signed up for English and science holiday programmes.

'Although it's a recession, Singaporeans place a lot of emphasis on education. So I think people will continue to send their children for enrichment,' he said of his courses, which target kindergarten and primary school children.

Over at Black Tangerine Studio, which runs art classes for children, administrative manager Angela Tan, 33, said: 'People won't stint on their children. It's likely they may eat out less, but they won't deprive their children of enrichment.'

And enough hungry diners are coming to check out the modern European cuisine at Firestation Hillside Gastrobar to ease the worries of owners Victor Tan, 45, and Ruan Lim, 29.

'We're all a little worried as times are bad, but response has been good,' said Mr Tan, adding that even some celebrities have turned up.

Said Mr Lim: 'You don't have to dress up and the atmosphere of this site is so special. You can eat and watch trains pass by on the track just behind. Where else in Singapore can you do that?'