About

Dear Blangah; Love (DBL) is a documentary and archival weblog dedicated to preserving the stories, memories, and everyday lives of the people who call Telok Blangah home.

The project began during a period of uncertainty, following the Government's decision to redesignate Gillman Barracks and the surrounding Gillman Forest for future public housing. While many conversations naturally centred around the development itself, we found ourselves drawn to something different: the people whose lives have quietly unfolded in these neighbourhoods over the years.

Every place is more than its buildings and landscapes. It is made meaningful by the people who have lived there and the corners of the neighbourhood that have become part of who they are. We wanted to create a space where these stories could be remembered.

Each post tells the story of one resident through a personal interview, exploring their experiences, reflections, and the places in Telok Blangah that hold special meaning for them. Whenever they are comfortable with it, we also photograph them, so that their portrait accompanies their story and honours them as its storyteller.

DBL is not intended to be a platform for protest or debate. Instead, this is a quiet archive of lives lived and connections formed. It is our way of recognising that the history of a neighbourhood is written not only in official records, but also in the experiences of the people who have loved it.

We hope this archive preserves a small piece of that story, with honesty and love.