A fire station that served Singapore's Bukit Timah area for nearly five decades has found a second life — and it's a fun one. Built in 1956 and closed in 2005, the former fire station was conserved by the Urban Redevelopment Authority in 2019 and, after a few false starts on the redevelopment front, handed in April 2024 to LHN Facilities Management on a five-year lease. Now branded Coliwoo Bukit Timah Fire Station, the property marked its first anniversary as a lifestyle destination in October, blending co-living studios with restaurants, shops and an unusually hands-on line-up of workshops.
The star tenant for anyone with a free weekend is The Sundowner, whose rooftop sessions go well beyond the usual pottery class. A two-hour Rooftop Farm Experience ($115/adult, $85/child) puts you in a bee suit to feed rescued honeybees, taste different honeys and mix a cocktail. There's also a kids-friendly insects and composting workshop, a three-hour wood-fired pizza-making class, fresh pasta sessions covering pappardelle through ravioli, coffee roasting with brunch included ($95), plus chocolate-making and craft beer brewing at $110 each.
Also in the mix: World of YING runs atelier-style art sessions, including an Orchid Keepsake workshop at $120. Haute Cakes teaches buttercream decoration and tropical flower piping in small groups of four to five, with most classes at $180 and a kids' cupcake session at $90. Dawn Q Floral offers petite vase arranging from $69.90, dried-flower workshops at $159, and a parent-child class at $125 per pair. Cyclists get Draftline Bikes for servicing and fittings, while Xplorers.Life runs affordable STEAM and woodworking sessions for kids from around $10-15 per head.
When hunger hits, Decker Barbecue occupies part of the building — the old red fire station doors now serve as large windows. The menu leans American smoked meats, with Wagyu brisket, pork spare ribs and Asian-inflected options like rendang brisket and mala mushrooms. Sharing platters run $40 to $288, a la carte from $12 to $68, and a DIY sauce station lets you build your own blend from over 10 ingredients. Note it's not halal-certified.
If you want to stay rather than just visit, Coliwoo's furnished studios (15-20sqm, private bathroom and kitchenette) start from $150 a night or around $3,650 a month, with flexible leases for longer stays.
The real draw for travellers is the location. The hub sits near Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Rifle Range Nature Park and the 24km Rail Corridor, so it slots neatly into a walking or cycling day — rent or repair a bike at Draftline, do a morning workshop, then earn your BBQ dinner. It's a low-effort way to see a heritage building actually being used, rather than roped off, and the workshop prices make it a solid rainy-day backup for families and couples alike in Singapore's greenest corner.
