Cecil Lee

About Woodbridge Hospital Woodbridge Hospital is the former name of Singapore’s main psychiatric institution, now known as the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). Its history is essentially the history of institutional mental healthcare in Singapore. Overview: 1. Origins of Psychiatric Care in Colonial Singapore (1840s–1920s) Before “Woodbridge” existed, mental health care in Singapore went through several early, basic institutions: - 1841 – First “Insane Hospital” - Established in the Bras Basah area to house people with mental illness. - Conditions were custodial rather than therapeutic: the focus was on confinement and basic care. - Mid–late 1800s – Moves and renamings - The asylum moved a couple of times (including to Pasir Panjang and later to the Sepoy Lines area, near what is now Singapore General Hospital). - It was known by names like “Lunatic Asylum” and “Mental Hospital”, reflecting attitudes of the time. - Overcrowding and poor conditions were persistent issues as the colony grew. These early institutions set the stage for a purpose-built psychiatric hospital, which eventually became Woodbridge. 2. The Yio Chu Kang Mental Hospital (1928–1950s) - 1928 – Opening of the new Mental Hospital at Yio Chu Kang Road - A large, purpose-built psychiatric facility was opened on Yio Chu Kang Road. - It was simply called the Mental Hospital at first. - It adopted the typical early 20th‑century asylum design: large wards, high walls, and a self-contained campus, emphasizing segregation from society. - Clinical practice in this era - Treatments were limited and often rudimentary by modern standards. - Care was still mostly institutional and long‑term; people often stayed for extended periods. This Yio Chu Kang campus is what would later become famous as “Woodbridge Hospital.” 3. The Name “Woodbridge Hospital” (1951) - 1951 – Renamed Woodbridge Hospital - The hospital was renamed Woodbridge Hospital, reportedly after a wooden bridge near the entrance to the grounds. - Over time “Woodbridge” became the common way Singaporeans referred to the national psychiatric hospital. - The name also picked up colloquial and sometimes stigmatizing connotations, as it became shorthand for “mental hospital.” During this post‑war period, new psychiatric drugs and therapies began to be introduced, slowly changing the nature of treatment toward more active medical and psychological intervention. 4. Modernization and Shift in Philosophy (1960s–1980s) From the 1960s onward, Woodbridge Hospital went through significant transformation: - Introduction of modern treatments - Use of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and mood stabilizers. - Development of psychotherapy, occupational therapy, and social work as part of psychiatric care. - Gradual move away from pure institutionalization - The global movement toward deinstitutionalization influenced Singapore. - Greater emphasis on rehabilitation and returning patients to the community where possible, instead of lifelong confinement. - Expansion of services - Care for children and adolescents, geriatric psychiatry, addiction treatment, and forensic psychiatry gradually developed. - Training roles expanded: the hospital became a key site for training doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals in mental health. Woodbridge began moving from being just an asylum to being a modern psychiatric center. 5. Move to Buangkok and Creation of IMH (1993–1990s) - 1993 – Relocation and renaming - The old Yio Chu Kang site was replaced by a new, purpose-built campus at Buangkok Green. - The institution was renamed Institute of Mental Health / Woodbridge Hospital. - The dual name reflected a transition: acknowledging the well‑known “Woodbridge” name while repositioning the institution as a modern medical institute. - Design and concept of the new campus - More open, therapeutic environment compared to the older asylum-style layout. - Facilities were better suited for specialized services, research, and training. This move symbolized a deliberate effort to modernize mental healthcare and reduce the stigma associated with the old “asylum” image. 6. From “Woodbridge” to IMH: Changing Identity and Stigma (2000s–Present) - Over time, the official and public usage shifted increasingly toward “Institute of Mental Health (IMH)”, with “Woodbridge Hospital” retained mainly as a historical name. - IMH today: - Singapore’s national psychiatric hospital and main tertiary mental health center. - Provides acute inpatient care, outpatient services, community-based programs, emergency psychiatric services, and subspecialty clinics. - Active in research, public education, and anti‑stigma campaigns. The move from “Woodbridge Hospital” to IMH reflects broader changes: - From custodial care → evidence‑based, multidisciplinary treatment - From isolation → community integration and early intervention - From stigma and fear → increasing public awareness and normalization of mental health issues Short Summary - Pre‑1928: Mental illness managed in small colonial asylums (Insane Hospital, Lunatic Asylum), often overcrowded and custodial. - 1928: Large Mental Hospital opens at Yio Chu Kang Road. - 1951: Renamed Woodbridge Hospital, becoming Singapore’s main psychiatric institution. - 1960s–1980s: Modern treatments, rehabilitation, and training expand; philosophy shifts away from long‑term institutionalization. - 1993: Hospital relocates to Buangkok Green and is renamed Institute of Mental Health / Woodbridge Hospital. - 2000s–present: Common name becomes IMH; Woodbridge survives mainly as a historical term. +++ This was the original location of Woodbridge Hospital: The road leading to it was Jalan Woodbridge. In 2001, the developer MCL wrote in to change this road Jalan Woodbridge to Gerald Drive. This was approved. As Woodbridge Hospital moves further down a few kilometres away. Today the epic centre where it once stood is exactly at Hougang Primary School grounds. Close to this is Hougang One (formerly Hougang Point). In close proximity are HDB flats Blocks 970, 927, 938 etc..

East Tudor, a landed property area was once on a hilly land of a cemetery. In fact, my grandfather was buried on this land in the early 1960’s. A near-by estate Tanah Merah Green also landed housing is just beside this cemetery plot.

Under Shapes and Forms Feng Shui, it is considered less than ideal to have the main entrance door close to the central rubbish bin(s).

Assuming that the TOP stairs marked with a large 2 is the roof TOP last step; then the total number of steps is ten (10)

Sorry what question are you asking on this? Total number of steps?

Nim Collection and streetdirectory.com The sales brochure site plan and streetdirectory shows identical compass readings of 162 degrees S1 for stacks 1 to 9 and 2 to 26 in Nim Collection.

A past By ranking of all five bedroom types at West Scape

Three other sites: Geylang, Tampines and Woodlands. These sites do not have real water in really close proximity. Thus depends on the block and layout arrangements:

HDB Upcoming Sales launch in February 2018 Choa Chu Kang site: Under Shapes and Forms Feng Shui, this is certainly an interesting site. And need to study how the planners configure the blocks/stacks in this development: good / average or bad:

The site Watercove Ville used to be a Kampong called Kampong Wak Hassan. This road is still around. Today, terrace homes are built on the land.

What the site looks like in 1966 After 1980’s, Jalan Jaffar and Jalan Kuda disappeared to become part of the PIE highway. Only Jalan Daud and lower roads are still around. In the 1980’s there was a Chinese cemetery nearby Today, the Chinese cemetery site sits HDB Eunos Vista:

This streetmap (1995) still shows the vibrant former Hillivew HDB BUKIT Gombak estate to the top left frame of Hillview Heights. In 1995, the condo was still under construction

This 1966 street map shows the area is predominantly industrial land. Once upon a time Hillview Heights sits on a factory called National Carbon. Later on it was called “Union Carbide”: a factory making dry cell batteries for torch lights and toys etc... Most likely this factory supports union carbide which at that time was nearby manufacturing batteries such as A, AA, 9V type of batteries. Today Glendale Park is located exactly at the former Hong Kong Rope factory site:

Hillview Heights condo various Flying stars. This development is considered as belonging to Period 7. These are some of the facing directions of Hillview Heights condo.

Symphony Heights Site Plan Please don't rely on the North compass marking on the above site map. As this North marking is not accurate. Below: Do rely on maps like onemap.sg:-

Springdale condo is considered under Flying Stars Period 7: generally either NE1 or SW1 facing. 1. NE1 facing units: 1.1 From now to 2023, the wealth stars for a NE1 facing is located at East sector (Water star #8) and North (Mountain star #8). 1.2 Thus good that during this period, the frontage has both the #8 stars. Good that either the Mountain or Water star falls in a bedroom or bedrooms. 2. SW1 facing units: (Facing Upper Bukit Timah side and all year long afternoon sun) 2.1. From now to 2023, the SW1 facing units are less lucky as the frontage has the double #7's. This is where between 2000 to 2003; this pair of #7's was the wealth stars at that time or current prosperity stars then. 2.2. Today from now to 2023, the wealth stars are the #8's and these stars for SW1 stacks are usually at the "rear" of the unit: at North and East sectors.

Watercove Ville @ Sembawang predominatly has facing direction of either NE1 or SW1 NE1. Has the auspicious water wealth #8 star at the frontage. Thus since many units face the sea, the sum-of-ten can be activated for : Health, wealth and family luck. If the unit is not facing a water position, then best to place a water position at the balcony area to activate the luck. On the downside; the other sectors in such a home has bad stars that best to be disarmed or neutralised. SW1. As the water wealth #8 is at the frontage; water at the frontage is good. It will be advantages if the unit faces a pool of water or activate a water position at the balcony area. As such overall, the unit can activate the sum-of-ten. Need though to disarm bad stars in many sectors of the home. To disarm health related considerations.

Nim Collection Flying Star Directions of N1, S2 and SW1. For homes with more than 1 storey high, often one should also look out for or superimpose the layout of one level onto another. For example, when I superimpose the level 1 layout with that of level 2, the stove is directly above the bed-head as shown in red marking "A":- In addition for level one, look out for a toilet directly above areas like the main door, living room sofa, altar if any and toilet if any above a stove.

No issue even if 1071 and 1073 is at the T-junction. As these are high-rise flats and not landed property. Plus the sides of these stacks are facing the T-junction.

Under Shapes and Forms Feng Shui the 4 bedrooms stacks 1135, 1137 and 1139 are amongst the best stacks/units in this developement. Next best stacks are 1107 and 1109. 1105 comes close to this:- Equally good stacks units: 1111, 1113 and 1115:- Thus whenever a stack/unit faces a park is always a premium in Singapore. With the exception that some may not like partial afternoon sun all year round. Flying Stars Period 8: E1 facing stacks

Blossom Spring at Yishun Sales Brochure: Site Plan and Floor Plans blossom-spring-@-yishun.pdf Year Completed 2018 - Under Period 8 Flying Star Feng Shui HDB Blossom Spring at Yishun Map of the area in 1966. During that time, this plot was accessible only through a major road called Bah Soon Pah. And this area was often used by the SAF for traning. In the early 1970s to 1980's the land was used by People's Defence Force for training e.g. digging in and defence. In the 1970's Formerly, this site was directly above Lorong Mayang. Lorong Mayang became non-exisistent.

In 1966, the road running along the area of HDB Meadow Spring is called Bah Soon Pah Road.. an army training area: In 1976, a new network of roads surround this estate called Lorong Akar off Lorong Mayang. In the late 1980’s these roads disappeared to become Yishun estate. And the major road here is the starting boundary of Yishun called Yishun Avenue 1. In the 1980’s new estates use similar road conventions where roads with a 1, 3, 5, 7 run from East to West. While roads eg. Yishun avenue 2, 4 runs North South. Similar in convention with Ang Mo Kio estate road naming. Early 1980’s map before Yishun estate which was built post 1983 onwards..

Adana at Thomson is a small freehold development with 74 units. Comprising 3 Blocks of 5 Storey Residential Flat with Roof Terrace, with a Basement Car Park with Swimming Pool and Communal facilities. On one hand, the let down is that it is just beside a petrol station (Block 551) and there are two other petrol stations upstream; This is where the concern of vapours from petrol pumps and ground level reservoirs (if any). More concerned for units at lower levels and particularly facing the petrol station. The plus is that it is next to the Lower Pierce Park and Lower Peirce Reservoir.

What this site looks like in 1966. A rustic Yio Chu Kang Village directly above the plot of land. Mostly farming and poultry/pig rearing land... In 1975:- The area has developed since then. Today new roads such as Sunshine Lane, Sunshine Terrace sprang up afterwards. Frankly not an issue having MINDS Yio Chu Kang near-by. The estate is appropriately called Sunrise as this North East part of Singapore has the rising morning sun. As compared to Sunset way in Clementi. Where the sunsets at Clementi / Pandan side.

Alana a Hawaiian theme development at Sunshine Terrace a three storey cluster housing with condo facilities. For cluster houses and landed properties; it is good to superimpose the 1st storey layout with the 2nd storey layout. What to look out for? The main consideration is where is the kitchen and the stove location. For example, when I superimpose the above; I found that the kitchen stove on level 1 is directly above the illustrated bed-head poistion of bedroom 2 on level 2. In common sense Feng Shui, this is not ideal. Thus, ideally, don't have a bed directly above the stove. Perhaps, make this a study room instead. I also found that the wc and toilet on 2nd level is directly above the living room. Thus best to avoid seating directly below the WC. Even worse off or less than ideal if the wc/toilet is above the main door.