HAIR DRESSER ALONG FIVE-FOOTWAY IN CHINATOWN
View of five-foot way outside coffeeshop in Chinatown, with an elderly lady having her hair done by a "hairdresser" and another sitting at marble-top table commonly found in coffeeshops and Chinese households. An unique feature of Malaya's shophouses, "five-foot way" was introduced by the town planners when Sir Stamford Raffles stipulated that shophouses must have a covered walkway of about five feet along its street front. These walkways were meant to protect pedestrians from the hot tropical sun and rain. Business could be conducted along these five-foot ways and thus the phrase "five-foot-way traders", an example of which is the "hairdresser" in this photo.
1960
19990003431 - 0040
91,090/1/4A
2005-007888-KFW
Viewing permitted. Use and reproduction only with permission.
Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Photograph taken by Wong Ken Foo (K F Wong)

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View of five-foot way outside coffeeshop in Chinatown, with an elderly lady having her hair done by a "hairdresser" and another sitting at marble-top table commonly found in coffeeshops and Chinese households. An unique feature of Malaya's shophouses, "five-foot way" was introduced by the town planners when Sir Stamford Raffles stipulated that shophouses must have a covered walkway of about five feet along its street front. These walkways were meant to protect pedestrians from the hot tropical sun and rain. Business could be conducted along these five-foot ways and thus the phrase "five-foot-way traders", an example of which is the "hairdresser" in this photo.

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