A sense of fun and enjoyment was created by simply using emulsion paint in a riot colours on the school’s walls and structural columns

Considered one of Singapore’s best primary schools, Nanyang Primary School dates back about 100 years — and while this history adds gravitas to its reputation, it has also meant that some of its buildings were unable to meet modern educational standards.

These included the hilltop buildings and the Coronation Road Entrance. The large kindergarten building, in particular, had not been positioned and designed in sync with the natural sloping topography of the site from street level up to the hilltop. Instead, it was located on the street and perpendicular to the direction of the slope, thus creating a wall-like, uninviting barrier when seen from the entrance.