Ang Mo Kio – A Short History

The modern history of Ang Mo Kio – or AMK as the locals often call it – realy begins in 1973 when development started on the previously forested and farmed land. The new town, located in the North-East Region of the island, was to become the HDB’s 7th satellite town, and notably was the first to be built in the then new metric dimensions. Covering an area of 27 hectares, the town is comprised of 7 neighbourhoods, and won the esteemed Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) Outstanding Buildings Award three years after it was fully completed, in 1983.

 

Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park
The Bishan Ang Mo Kio Park that links Ang Mo Kio and Bishan Estate.

The self-contained town was characterised not only by its spacious units, increased parking lots and its green spaces, parks and leisure areas, but it also became the hub for several small neighbourhood start-up businesses – something that is still very much in evidence today. One particular success story is Sheng Siong Supermarket. After opening their first shop in 1985, the former pig farmers had become Singapore’s third largest retailer by 2007 and have been listed on the SGX since 2011.

 

Today, Ang Mo Kio is home to just under 200,000 residents, making it the 8th largest population centre in the country, and the third in the North East Region. Geographically it is located almost exactly in the centre of the island, and is bordered by the Central Water Catchment to the west, Serangoon to the east, Yishun to the north and Bishan and Sengkang to the south and north east respectively.

 

Originally built on and around a valley, the town makes use of the land formations: the town centre is sandwiched in between Ang Mo Kio Town Garden East and Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West, both of which are on hillocks and Ang Mo Kio Park is situated on several hills overlooking the Mayflower estate.

 

As you would expect from a modern, self-contained town, AMK has all the amenities people want and need for 21st century city living. As well as being home to several pre-schools, Ang Mo Kio has nine primary and nine secondary schools, two colleges and Nanyang Polytechnic. The most recent addition in the sphere of retail is 2007’s AMK Hub. Connected to the Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange, the Hub boats 350,000 square feet of retail space and an 8 screen cinema complex.

 

Transport wise, the CTE begins its life in AMK, providing quick and easy access to the south of the island, as well as to the PIE and TPE. The area is served by the North South Line, with Ang Mo Kio MRT Station in the centre and Yio Chu Kang MRT Station further to the north of the region. Both stations have easy access to a bus terminal.

 

 

 

 

New launches around this region

 

Current new launch condos in the rest of Singapore

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