• The word “attap” is a transliteration of the Malay word atap.
• Before the 1950s and 1960s, housing flats have yet to become the main mode of housing in Singapore. Instead, attap houses were a common sight.
• As implied in its name, attap houses make use of attap (Nipa palm) leaves in its construction, which are typically laid over the roof. The Malay word “atap” mainly refers to the materials used to cover a roof.
• Attap houses were popular in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, and was a common form of housing for the Chinese, Malays, and Indians in Singapore. Attap houses were a major feature of kampong (rural) life.
• In the 1970s and 1980s, the number of attap houses decreased drastically. They have now become a thing of the past.

Chen Yiquan (53), an Admiralty Zone 5 RC member who led the project, explained in an interview that the mural aims to help narrow the gap between the older and younger generations. “The older generation cherish memories of their kampong days dearly, but when they share this with their grandchildren, they realized that the younger generation may not even know what an attap house looks like.” (Lianhe Zaobao, 26/5/2019)