Shophouses first appeared in Singapore when the Town Plan of Sir Stamford Raffles dictated the subdivision of the land into smaller regular lots. They were narrow, long terrace houses with varied facades, creating an attractive unified streetscape. The shophouse was built to be flexible, either to be used entirely as a home, or a home upstairs with a shop downstairs. It can be thought of as the original...
INTRODUCTION: PERANAKAN SHOPHOUSES IN SINGAPORE Today only traces remain in Singapore of one of the world’s most precious creole cultures, but the city-state is at last making efforts to preserve and showcase what’s left. Straits-born Chinese – the Peranakan (which means “born of”) – are largely the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to Singapore in the 17th century and married local...
This project is the passion to retain the charms of a historical place in Singapore. This shophouse is located along Joo Chiat Place, in a conservation shophouse district in the secondary settlement areas of Joo Chiat and Katong in Singapore. The conservation guidelines for this area require the front portion to conserve and restore, while the rear portion can be redeveloped to a maximum of 4 storeys. For...
Grilles and gates are security features fitted at entryways and fenestrations of buildings. Historically, metals such as wrought iron, cast iron, mild steel and bronze are construction materials favoured for their strength, lightness and workability. Gates and fences function to secure compounds whilst allowing some visual permeability. Grilles at windows and doors allow these to remain open for light and...
The shophouse can be defined as a row house. It is the basic program of having a shop on the ground level with living quarters above. Typically, the width of each shop is between 13’ - 25’ along the front facing the street while the depth of the shophouse spans two to four times that dimension. The narrow but very deep plots necessitate a rather specific layout that can be traced across the majority of...
Whether you're a student of architecture or a casual admirer of interesting buildings, Singapore is an observational hothouse (to go along with its tropical climate). The city-state's buildings represent an enchanting mix of Asian, British colonial, and modern global influences. "Singapore has its fair share of iconic buildings, especially (those built) in the '90s and 2000s, that have contributed to a...