As the Modern Shophouse Style emerged, elements from earlier styles began to be omitted. The five-foot way and party walls remained, but modern materials such as concrete were used. In line with the international move towards a more utilitarian perspective at that time, modern shophouses were built to be functional and austere. The Modern Shophouse Style’s façade features thin concrete fins and air...
Shophouses—a historical source of delight and nostalgia—are a prevalent building type in Singapore’s architectural and built heritage. These buildings are generally two- to three- storeys high, built-in contiguous blocks with common party walls. They are narrow, small terraced houses, with a sheltered ‘five-foot’ pedestrian way at the front. Constructed between the 1840s and the 1960s, these...
It’s a city renowned for its gleaming glass skyscrapers. But of all the architectural styles in Singapore, none is as distinctive as the lavishly decorated shophouses. Take a stroll through Little India, Chinatown, Joo Chiat/Katong, or along Koon Seng Road. And you’ll discover the uniquely Singaporean buildings that have become tourist attractions in their own right. Largely influenced by the Peranakan...
Few things get more attention than a shophouse for sale — and for good reason. In 2014, median shophouse price in Singapore peaked at $3,824 per square foot (psf) on land area. Due to the implementation of the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) loan curb. However, demand for shophouses decreased in line with other types of property. In 2017, the median shophouse price stood at $3,301 psf on land area....
The Historic District of Chinatown comprises four distinct sub-districts: Telok Ayer, Kreta Ayer, Bukit Pasoh and Tanjong Pagar. This article introduces the history and character of the area and explains its growth from the 1820s. When it began as the first settlement of immigrants from southern China and southern India, until the immediate post-World War II period. Together with the other precincts south...
What are shophouses? They were built by Singapore’s pioneers and showcased the many cultural influences of the early builders who bought land from the East India Company. They were built for sale or rented to new immigrants seeking their fortunes. From the 1840s to the 1960s, shophouses moved through many different styles, from the Early and Late Shophouse to the Art Deco and Modern Shophouse. These...
Selected architects integrate the best of both worlds—every shophouse has a similar, carefully-conserved façade, but each door opens up into an intriguingly different spatial experience, with each shophouse having their own uniquely designed stand-out features. Considerable design freedom was accorded to the invited local architects, allowing them to explore the potential of each shophouse, breaking...
Shophouses are a historical style building common throughout Singapore's architectural landscape. These distinctive narrow terraced buildings generally 2-3 stories high and given their name as the ground floor generally used as a shop, with the upper floors be using as living quarters. Today you will see many of these historic buildings lovingly restored for both residential and commercial use. Here is the...
One of the most popular forms of local architecture must be the shophouse—rows of charming narrow units that speak to us of Asian heritage and culture more strongly than virtually any other structure. Traditionally, a shophouse has a narrow frontage with a sheltered corridor at the front for pedestrians (called a five-foot way). They have internal courtyards, open stairwells, and skylights to bring light...