The Urbanist Singapore
Rethinking local history through digital storytelling, theater, and boutique education
By Ben Kee — Founder of KWHD Singapore
The Journey
Yong's path to starting his own business took some interesting turns. He studied urban and cultural geography at the National University of Singapore (NUS). After that, he spent over a decade in higher education, shaping policy and international relations at NUS and SMU.
The pandemic changed his trajectory. Turning 40 pushed him to reflect, realizing he didn't want to wait for retirement to follow his passion for local history. Pushing past his fears, he officially launched The Urbanist Singapore.
The Work
The Urbanist goes way beyond your typical walking tour. Yong prefers a "boutique" approach, keeping things small to ensure students get a highly curated experience. Working alongside his sister and a former teacher, they focus on school programs, deep-dive heritage walks, and bite-sized stories on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
To get younger audiences interested in local culture, The Urbanist mixes history with art and spoken word. By working with natural storytellers, they bring Singapore's past to life for a whole new generation. They also run special public tours, like walks exploring Stamford Canal or the history of Orchard Road.
The Philosophy
At its heart, The Urbanist is driven by curiosity and a desire to make a lasting impact. Yong avoids making merchandise just for the sake of it; everything he does has to have a real educational purpose.
Leaving a safe, stable job meant learning to see uncertainty as an opportunity instead of a threat. He takes this same rigorous approach to his tours, studying for them like he's preparing for a major exam to make sure every historical fact is spot-on.
We sat down with Yong to talk about taking the entrepreneurial leap, keeping local culture relevant, and what it really takes to build The Urbanist from scratch.
1.What made you start The Urbanist?
We emerged out of COVID, and I felt it was a really good time of reflection. It demonstrated how life can suddenly change beyond your control. I turned 40 a couple of years ago, and I came to the conclusion that I didn't want to wait till I retired to pursue my passion for Singapore's heritage. The journey to get there takes a long time, so I knew I had to just start.
2.How does your background help you with this?
I studied geography at NUS and specialized in urban cultural geography—looking at cities, what makes them work, and the issues we find in them. After that, I spent 10 to 12 years in higher education doing international relations and education strategy. It was a lot of policy work, identifying horizons and infusing them into the curriculum. All of that definitely informs what I do now.
3.Why is keeping The Urbanist "boutique" or small so important?
We want to keep the quality of our tours really high, so we avoid doing massive, mass-market projects. Working with a small, flexible team lets us handle multiple projects smoothly without all the red tape of a big company.
4.It can be hard to get kids interested in local history. How do you do it?
Students today are super plugged into global media. To keep our local history interesting, we have to teach it in fresh ways—like through art or theater. We hire guides who are great storytellers to bring these spaces to life. We also make fun, short videos to reach youth right where they already hang out online.
5.How did you prepare for the leap to self-employment?
I planned a two-year financial runway so that if I didn't make any money at all, I was still supported. Mentally, I was reading an article about how we face uncertainty. Usually, uncertainty is very scary, so we try to avoid it. But what was magical and reassuring to me was realizing that on the flip side, uncertainty also presents possibility. You don't know how it will turn out, right? You just have to be disciplined and do the self-work.
6.How is preparing a tour for locals different from a tour for tourists?
The prep work is super intense. I study for it like I'm taking a big exam because I have to be factually accurate. Locals will absolutely notice if you get a detail wrong! We also stick to outdoor "built heritage" tours so we respect the official docents inside the museums.
7.What is the next step for The Urbanist?
I am transitioning more toward the education side of things. I am going to schools a lot more now. Once I establish a little bit of a pull, I hope my other guides can handle the actual tours so I can focus on that deeper curriculum work.
The Urbanist Singapore
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Yong on a tour outside the Asian Civilisations Museum — image courtesy of the Asian Civilisations Museum
Yong leading a heritage walk at a Chinese temple
Connect
Yong
Currently based in Singapore, Yong is the founder of The Urbanist Singapore, an education company focused on local history. Following a long career in higher education strategy, he launched his boutique practice to engage students and the public through immersive heritage walks, digital storytelling, and creative art projects.
Ben Kee
Ben is the founder of KWHD Singapore, a creative and maker studio in Singapore. He writes about craft, makers, and the spaces they build for Scaffolds Stories.