Singapore has no shortage of heritage buildings that have been given a new lease of life. From the former Nan Chiau High School becoming New Bahru to the old St Andrew’s Mission Hospital transforming into KADA, these spaces now offer plenty of reasons to visit beyond their historical significance.
Joining the list is Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station, a former fire station that’s now home to co-living spaces, restaurants, and creative workshops. We went down for a visit as the revamped property celebrated its 1st anniversary on 15th October 2026, and here’s what you can expect when you pop by this lifestyle enclave.
Former Bukit Timah Fire Station, taken in 1991.
Image credit: Urban Redevelopment Authority via Facebook
Built in 1956, the former Bukit Timah Fire Station served as a familiar Singapore landmark for 49 years before ceasing operations in 2005 amid the area’s urban development. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) then gazetted the landmark in 2019 for conservation, ensuring its unique architecture would be preserved for years to come.
Redevelopment plans took a few twists and turns along the way. In 2021, the project was initially awarded to Homestead Holland Pte Ltd, but faced multiple delays. In April 2024, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and URA handed over a 5-year lease to Coliwoo’s parent company, LHN Facilities Management.
In 2025, the property was transformed into a mixed-use development, now known as Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station, while preserving its original architectural character.
Today, the space combines co-living spaces with dining establishments, retail shops, and hands-on workshops. It’s also conveniently located near Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Rifle Range Nature Park, and the 24km Rail Corridor, making it a handy stop for those exploring the area on foot or by bicycle.
You don’t have to be a resident to enjoy what Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station has to offer. Apart from the co-living space, the property is also home to several businesses offering hands-on experiences, whether you’re interested in cooking, arts and crafts, or picking up a new skill.
If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at something beyond the usual pottery or painting workshop, The Sundowner has quite the selection of activities.
For starters, its Rooftop Farm Experience introduces participants to organic gardening and beekeeping in a 2-hour session. You’ll get to put on a bee suit, feed rescued honeybees, sample different varieties of honey, and even make a cocktail. It’s priced at $115/adult and $85/child.
Image credit: The Sundowner
There’s also the Bees! Ants! Worms! Workshop that lasts for 1.5 hours, where participants can observe ant colonies, search for earthworms, and learn how composting works. It’s an interactive way to discover the smaller creatures that play an important role in our ecosystem. To attend the workshop, prices are $85/adult and $65/child.
Foodies can sign up for the Pizza Making Experience at $135/adult and $95/child, which involves 3 hours of preparing dough and sauce, gathering fresh herbs, and baking pizzas in a wood-fired oven.
Alternatively, the Pasta by Hand workshop, priced at $125/adult and $95/child, teaches participants to make fresh pasta, with varieties such as pappardelle, tagliatelle, and ravioli depending on the session. Each session lasts about 3 hours.
Image adapted from: The Sundowner
Those who enjoy their morning cuppa can try Roast Your Own Coffee, where they’ll roast green coffee beans over a fire, grind them, and experiment with different brewing techniques in the 2-hour session. Brunch is included in the experience, too. It’s priced at $95/adult.
Image credit: The Sundowner
Other activities include Bean to Bar Chocolate, a 2–hour session priced at $110/person, where participants turn cacao beans into their own chocolate bars, and Brew Your Own Beer, a 2–hour session priced at $110/person, which covers craft beer tasting, draught beer basics, and preparing a bottle for fermentation.
Book an experience at The Sundowner.
Put on your little artist hats, because World of YING offers intimate, atelier-style workshops that turn everyday materials into personalised creations.
Its Wearable Art Experience, priced at $350, lets participants paint their own cape blouse under the guidance of artist Ying. Each person receives a blouse in their chosen colour, and no previous painting experience is needed. However, this workshop is currently fully booked at the time of writing, so keep a lookout for any available dates on their website.
Image credit: World of YING
Alternatively, the Orchid Keepsake Experience, priced at $120, is available for booking. Participants receive a handcrafted orchid base to decorate using colours, patterns, and artistic techniques.
Image credit: World of YING
You’ll get to choose between Dotting Style, Marble Lines, and Free Expression, with guidance provided throughout the process. The result is a personalised keepsake that you can bring home, even if you’re completely new to painting.
Book an experience at World of YING.
If you’ve ever spent time admiring elaborately decorated cakes on social media and wondered how to recreate them, Haute Cakes gives you the opportunity to learn how to make them yourself.
Located in a sunlit studio within the former fire station, the establishment conducts small-group workshops for both children and adults. Each session accommodates around 4-5 participants, allowing for more personalised instruction.
Its Peranakan Buttercream Cake Decorating Workshop, priced at $180, introduces participants to decorative cake-making techniques. Those interested in creating realistic-looking flowers can also try the Tropical Flowers Workshop, which features blooms such as hibiscus, bougainvillaea, and Phalaenopsis orchids, with sessions priced at $180.
Other options include the Leonardo Da Vinci Rose Workshop and Peony Workshop, both priced at $180, as well as a Floral Sugarcraft Kit priced at $150.
For younger aspiring bakers, there’s the Little Artists Workshop – Cupcake Canvas, priced at $90, which runs from 10am-12pm. Depending on the workshop’s duration, tea or lunch may also be provided.
Book an experience at Haute Cakes.
At Dawn Q Floral, you can learn how to assemble your own decorative flower bouquets instead of ordering one online.
Its Intro to Floral Arranging-Petite Vase Workshop, priced at $69.90, teaches participants how to put together floral displays using seasonal flowers. Expect to work with varieties such as Catherine roses, gerberas, waxflowers, statice, and matthiola, although the selection changes throughout the year depending on the season.
For something that lasts longer than a traditional bouquet, there’s a private Dried Flowers in Basket or Vase workshop, priced at $159, where participants can arrange preserved blooms into decorative pieces.
Families can also join the Bloom Together: Parent-Child Floral Workshop, priced at $125/parent-child pair, for a shared flower-arranging experience. If you happen to sign up for this workshop with another parent-child pair, you get an additional 10% off for both families.
Most sessions last approximately 1–2 hours, making them easy to fit into a weekend itinerary.
For those considering starting a floral business, Dawn Q Floral also conducts an In-Depth Floral Workshop for Aspiring E-Commerce Florists. Priced at $4,800, you will get the chance to learn how to make decorative floral pieces for all kinds of events.
You can also browse the shop’s collection of fresh bouquets, preserved arrangements, bridal flowers, and customised floral gifts if you’d rather leave the arranging to the professionals.
Book an experience at Dawn Q Florals.
Given the property’s proximity to the Rail Corridor and surrounding nature trails, it’s only fitting that there’s a bicycle shop within the premises.
Draftline Bikes caters to cycling enthusiasts with its selection of premium road bicycles, frames, wheelsets, and performance components.
The shop also provides professional bicycle servicing and personalised bike fitting, helping cyclists maintain their bikes and find a more comfortable riding position.
Those keen to understand their bicycles better can look out for its Bike Servicing Workshop, where they can pick up practical knowledge about bicycle maintenance.
Get your bikes checked at Draftline Bikes.
Parents looking for educational activities beyond the classroom can check out Xplorers.Life, which offers interactive learning experiences for children, youths, adults, and even seniors.
Its Science & S.T.E.A.M. Discovery sessions feature hands-on experiments and maker activities, while Woodworking & Creative Making introduces participants to building toys and crafting their own creations.
There are also Food Science & Culinary Exploration workshops, where cooking and baking are combined with scientific discovery. Meanwhile, Sensory Play & Exploration sessions incorporate water play, slime, textures, and other tactile activities. All these workshops are generally priced from $10-15/pax.
For a more personalised approach, Xplorers.Life offers Private 1-to-1 sessions that focus on individual interests, confidence building, and strengths development. Its programmes also cater to learners with different abilities and learning needs.
Find out more about Xplorers.Life.
After all that exploring and crafting, you can refuel at Decker Barbecue, an American-style barbecue restaurant serving up smoked meats and hearty sides.
The restaurant incorporates elements of the former fire station into its design, including the building’s distinctive red doors, which have been repurposed into large windows. It’s a subtle reminder of the property’s past while diners enjoy their meals.
The highlight here is the selection of meat platters, featuring cuts such as Wagyu Beef Brisket, Beef Brisket, and Pork Spare Ribs. The menu also incorporates Asian-inspired flavours, with dishes such as Rendang Brisket and Mala Mushrooms.
For something to accompany your meats, there are sides and appetisers such as Mac and Cheese, Pineapple Salad, Kailan Collard Greens, Coleslaw, Buffalo Cauliflower, and Dirty Basmati. Those with a sweet tooth can finish their meal with Banana Pudding.
One of the restaurant’s more interesting features is its DIY sauce station, where diners can create their own barbecue sauce combinations using over 10 ingredients. These include chilli padi, black vinegar, kecap manis, and sesame paste, allowing you to customise the flavours to your liking.
Meat sharing platters range from $40 to $288, and items bought a la carte range from $12 to $68. Do note that Decker BBQ is not halal-certified.
Those looking for long-term accommodation or a staycation can consider Coliwoo’s co-living studios, which come fully furnished with private bathrooms and kitchenettes. Room sizes range from 15sqm to 20sqm.
Here’s a breakdown of the pricing:
| Room type | Amenities | Room size | Nightly pricing | Monthly pricing |
| Single Studio | Internet, towels and bed linens, air conditioning, smart TV, toilet paper, and water heater | 98.88 sq ft | Starting from $150 | Starting from $3,650 |
| Queen Studio | Internet, towels and bed linens, air conditioning, smart TV, toilet paper, and water heater | 123.2 sq ft | Starting from $180 | Starting from $3,650 |
| Studio 1956 | Internet, towels and bed linens, air conditioning, smart TV, toilet paper, and water heater | 192.7 sq ft | Starting from $180 | Starting from $4,300 |
| Premier Twin Studio | Internet, towels and bed linens, air conditioning, smart TV, toilet paper, and water heater | 196.8 sq ft | Starting from $200 | Starting from $4,500 |
| Premier Queen Studio | Internet, towels and bed linens, air conditioning, smart TV, toilet paper, and water heater | 142.79sq ft | Starting from $200 | Starting from $4,350 |
Unlike conventional rental arrangements that often require lengthy commitments, these units offer flexible stays ranging from a minimum of 6 nights to leases of up to 12 months, making them ideal for both tourists and those planning to stay in Singapore for longer.
Each studio also comes with its own refrigerator, so there’s no need to worry about sharing fridge space with other residents. You’ll also have access to communal facilities such as laundry equipment, a washer-dryer, an ironing board, and an iron, at no additional charge.
Communal amenities located outside the rooms.
Image credit: Coliwoo
The rental fee includes utilities, weekly housekeeping, and maintenance services. Do note that rates are charged per room, while seasonal parking comes at an additional cost.
Residents can also use the Coliwoo app (App Store | Google Play) to locate nearby MRT stations, bus stops, and supermarkets. The app features discounts from participating partner restaurants, which residents can redeem when dining at eligible establishments.
The property is wheelchair-friendly, although pet policies may vary between units. If you’re hoping to bring your furry companions along, it’s recommended to check with the sales team beforehand.
It’s not every day that a former fire station gets a second life as a place to live, dine, and explore. With its preserved architecture and mix of lifestyle offerings, Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station gives visitors a new way to experience a piece of Singapore’s history.
And with the Rail Corridor, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and Rifle Range Nature Park nearby, you can even make a full day out of your visit.
For more cool places to visit in Singapore:
Photography by Vani Gupta.
Cover image adapted from: Coliwoo, Urban Redevelopment Authority via Facebook
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