So called because it consists of a shop at the bottom, and the shop owner's residence upstairs. This unique architectural feature which combines Chinese with Malay and European influences is common in South East Asia and was built before WWII.

In Singapore many have made way for modern projects but those that remain are beautifully preserved and now serve as shops, restaurants and pubs. A new lease of life as can be seen in these pics!

Pls check through the following pages of this thread as we explore the shophouses of Singapore!

http://www.urban.uiuc.edu/faculty/budic/asian/images/singa-chinatown_JPG.jpg

An old picture of Singapore
http://www.straitscafe.com/postcards/singapore1/boat_quay_1960.jpg

You can see these kind of shophouses in only southern cities of Thailand but not in Bangkok though.

Shophouses are very common even today in Europe. In Waterloo's main street, both sides is line with shopshouses. but i have to say the singapore one looks better

No shophouses in Bangkok? I thought I saw some at the Chinatown?

renell, show us the shophouses of Waterloo:)

in manila you never get these shophouses, or 1900-era old buildings.

i'll get some pics, when the weather clears up and i find some time to go outside

heres a pic of waterloo shophouseshttp://www.grantham.karoo.net/andrew/pictures/rail/be-waterloo2.jpg
http://www.joot.com/dave/vacation/2002/photos/belgium/waterloo01.jpg

on the second pic, i'm not so sure if all of them are shophouses coz some shops take more than 1 floor. and that areas of the town is not paritcularly a residential area

I saw lots of shophouses in Singapore from my hotel room...:D
Cool, they even modernized some of it by making a big roof...

Yes, some shophouses have even been turned to luxury homes with central voids with fountains inside.

Nice pics renell. Did you take them yourself? Those kind of buildings are actually very common in Europe, but I prefer the Asian shophouses still.

naw, i didnt take those... i dont plan to go outside this weekend coz its freezing cold outside... those buildings are the norm in brussels.. i see those type of buildings even in the city centre..

http://www.sippala.net/timo/singapore/pics/DSC01520.jpg
an indoor shophouse:D

Another picture from Cliff's post.

http://www.tropicalisland.de/SIN%20Singapore%20Arab%20Street%202%20b.jpg

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by Pablo </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>http://www.sippala.net/timo/singapore/pics/DSC01520.jpg
an indoor shophouse:D</td></tr>
</table>indoor?
is that a shophouse?

SUNNI> Its actually 2 separate shophouses but they built a glass roof over both of them so that the space between can be airconditioned.;)

To be precise...it was a street that got converted into a aircon pedestrain area...:)

it is air conditioned?? wow i have no idea of that earlier

Been living here in singapore for 2.5 years. want to share a nite shot of shop house facade that I took last month. It is located somewhere China Square.

http://www.pbase.com/swatch69ph/everywhere_singapore/China Square Shop House.jpg

Pbase don't allow hotlinking

Yup. You cant link from pbase but I had a look at your shophouse pics. Very colourful:) Welcome aboard!

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by RafflesCity </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>Yup. You cant link from pbase but I had a look at your shophouse pics. Very colourful:) Welcome aboard!</td></tr>
</table>

Hiya there Raffles!..Thanks for the compliment and thanks for welcoming me aboard!

A picture of a preserved shophouse at night.
http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~mippy/DSCN0657.jpg

You going Chinatown this Sunday? Think its possible to take photos of the shophouses with fireworks as a backdrop!! ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

<table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=98% class="quoteBox">
<td align=left valign=center> <smallfont> <b>Quote</B> <I>originally posted by heirloom </i></b> </smallfont> </td>
<tr><td align=left valign=top>wrong wrong wrong... it's like... if you're on your way home from work / school and the bus takes extra long to come on a really humid + hot day you lose all ability to perhaps complete your project due tomoro or study for a test. you just can't. therefore, it is important to aircondition all frequently used areas eg bus stops, shelters to apartments, void decks, corridors, schhoooooooools. a person could be travelling a whole day and not have to suffer the burning rays of the sun. raise productivity!! and comfort!!

erh no i haven't read taht book. what's it about?</td></tr>
</table>

Hey..I suppose you need to build a dome over the island and aircon it eh? kekeke :D

I admit I am "trained" to hate aircon, and it is partly medical. I suffer from quite severe sinus, and sleeping in an A/C room always means I get into a sneezing fit the following day. I realli hate ice cold lecture rooms...I cant sleep and I cant concentrate, coz I am just trying to rub some heat or daming my nose with tissues.

I noe rite now its getting realli hot...and of coz I do appreciate tt cool air, but many a times...its jus overkill. I do not need to walk down an aircon street to appreciate the shophouses. So long that there is shelter from direct sunlight and showers, I am more then satisfied.

But there is one exeption: I hardly ever go to outdoor hawker centres anymore....I sweat like anything. :P

Hahaha........I still remember how I have to readjust my air cond temp regularly during your stay at my place! :D

Originally posted by szehoong

Hahaha........I still remember how I have to readjust my air cond temp regularly during your stay at my place! :D As you can see....I am nice enough to give warnings WAY in advance!!! :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

You going Chinatown this Sunday? Think its possible to take photos of the shophouses with fireworks as a backdrop!! ;)

I dont think I'm going..lazy.
Why dont you try?!

I recommend you go to the top of that 20 storey HDB Block, you can have backdrop of skyline and Chinatown too!

I have to go..coz its actually the last day to take the CBD with lights! :D Dunt noe about the fireworks thou. ;)

Which 20 storey HDB are u talking about? I cant seem to recall...

Originally posted by huaiwei

I have to go..coz its actually the last day to take the CBD with lights! :D Dunt noe about the fireworks thou. ;)

Which 20 storey HDB are u talking about? I cant seem to recall...

erm..its an L shaped HDB Block near the open grass field (where they have those opera shows etc). Opposite the road from the Maxwell Food Centre. Hard to describe but if you are there you should be able to find it.;)

Here are 2 shots I managed to get from up there on Aug6.
You can see the shophouses below.

http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~mippy/DSCN0663.jpg
http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/~mippy/DSCN0670.jpg

More pictures from Darecky(http://www.sky.s64.pl/home/W/Sing/Sing_e.htm)

http://www.sky.s64.pl/home/W/Sing/sl07.jpg
http://www.sky.s64.pl/home/W/Sing/sl34.jpg

This shophouse has just been restored and repainted. Its unusual shape is defined by the fork in the street.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103ct2-med.jpg
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103ct5.jpg
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103ct4.jpg

looks cool. but the i don't really like the way it was repainted..

The guy who made the lines on the road must have had too many tiger beers that day!

@renell..you dont like the colours?

@Jo..LOL..looks possible..but unlikely in Singapore:D
Those signs means go slow and no parking/overtaking in that area;)

The building it self looks cool, except the top; which extended too high-from the main core roof, Despite that makes it seems quite un-usual and un-stable for thiskind of triangular-shaped-like building.....but it's still one of those old-colonial-age structures in Singapore (I belive)...right?

there's something about it that makes me think that it's NOT a classic building. must be the new paint.. coz classic buildings i often pass by have shown some marks of age. this doesn't..

@renell..it was just repainted, like many other shophouses..it sure did look dirtier before!

@Chad..you are right..this building could be as old as the ESB!:D

that building looks cool!..kinda corner house buidling :)

Originally posted by RafflesCity

@renell..it was just repainted, like many other shophouses..it sure did look dirtier before!

@Chad..you are right..this building could be as old as the ESB!:D


it looks nice. period:)

you all can ignore my "i hate this paint" comments:D

cute indeed!!:D

I remember the horror that someone (I think it is you :D) whom said that it is gonna demolished as this is perhaps one of my most recognisable building around the Chinatown area.

I remember the relief when we went and saw the construction board that they are restoring it when we had a drink nearby....remember? ;)

Yes I remeber that too. Im surprised it was already in the final stage of restoration. ;)

I hope the paintwork was in line with the way it was painted when it was first built?

Haha..yes I remember clearly we had a drink there although huaiwei wanted to rush back lol. :D I was definitely very relieved to see this thing shining in the sun again...old pics of it would be cool but I cant find any at the moment.

Heres another pic
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103ct3.jpg

very nice indeed

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Haha..yes I remember clearly we had a drink there although huaiwei wanted to rush back lol. :D I was definitely very relieved to see this thing shining in the sun again...old pics of it would be cool but I cant find any at the moment.

Heres another pic
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103ct3.jpg For some reason everyone can only remember my need to go home?? :D

Anyway that is a really sweet picture!! :cool:

Soo cute!:D

Originally posted by huaiwei

For some reason everyone can only remember my need to go home?? :D

Anyway that is a really sweet picture!! :cool:

Well.......you were obviously whining that you wanted to go home :D

- yak...yak...yak....I wanna go home...yak....yak....yak.....I wanna go home.......yak....yak....yak.......! :D :D :D

:rotf::rotf:

Hey as your tour guide, I need to have the neccesary rest ok!! ;)

Those 'shophouses' at Bugis Junction ,I heard ,are actually exact duplicates.

In order to build a huge basement carpark ,the whole shophouse block was demolished ,the carpark built and the shophouse rebuilt.

They're many shophouse styles in Singapore ,like Singapore's very own Singapore Ecletic

http://www.sia.org.sg/architect/ura/images/sthbridge.jpg

http://www.sia.org.sg/architect/ura/images/keongsaik.jpg
Art Deco shophouses.

http://www.sia.org.sg/architect/premises/images/premises.gif



http://202.172.40.133/t2002117/Pictures/chinatown_files/photo/photo_restructed%20shophouses.JPG http://www.mfa.gov.sg/experience/Oct2001/images/shophouses.JPG http://65.107.211.206/post/singapore/arts/architecture/shophouse/9.jpg

http://www.snapshotasia.com/Images/Singapore/sing_chinatown_300.jpg

http://www.mnd.gov.sg/handbook/images/optimising/optim_pix010.gif

http://www.mnd.gov.sg/handbook/images/developing/develop_05.gif
Old shophouses intergrated in the design of the Hotel Rendezvous.

I'll post more pics if I can find them.

Thank you SO much for reviving this 'Singapore Shophouse' thread, redstone! :banana:

I'm an ardent fan of these buildings and happy to note them and support their continued existence wherever I can! :angel1:

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300cc.jpg
An Art Nouveau Shophouse near the Botanic Gardens.

Originally posted by redstone

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300cc.jpg
An Art Nouveau Shophouse near the Botanic Gardens.

hmmm.....you sure it is Art Nouveau? It doesn't seems like it.......more of the classic Ecclectic Straits Chinese Neo-Classical Style ........unique to Singapore and Malaysia

Hmm..your're right!

It has some elements of Frence Renaissance ,at the cornices near the roof.But I think it is still mainly Art Nouveau.

I remember there were entire books just on these different styles of shophouses....have nay of you seen it? Would be cool to show the shophouses from each style!

Thanks for the pictures redstone - I think we can now call you our art-deco-parkview-shophouse master!:D

@huaiwei, I saw the book but the price tage is hefty. I'm still hunting for more scraper books though, our bookstores dont seem to stock them well.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

@huaiwei, I saw the book but the price tage is hefty. I'm still hunting for more scraper books though, our bookstores dont seem to stock them well. Maybe the library would be an excellent alternative? ;) I think when we start showing the different styles, these shophouses will start to have a character all of their own. For eg, how many noes about the Peranakan styled shophouses in Katong (not just in Emerald Hill)? It's shocking that most people arent aware of that.

A nice shot I found
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/9shop1.jpg

Originally posted by redstone

Hmm..your're right!

It has some elements of Frence Renaissance ,at the cornices near the roof.But I think it is still mainly Art Nouveau.

Actually the rest still isn't Art Nouveau. Having flowers as the main element of decoration doesn't qualify/pass off as Art Nouveau. ;)

Here are some samples of Art Nouveau architecture:

http://www.frank-gehry.com/art-nouveau.jpg

http://home.tiscali.be/frankvc/art%20nouveau.jpg

http://www.mike-reed.com/images/Travel%20Journal/Belgium/210%20-%20Art%20Nouveau%

http://images.artelino.com/images/images/art_nouveau2.jpg

http://www.ot-nancy.fr/photos/b_lw_bergeret.jpg

If you've watched Casper (the movie)....the mansion are setted in Art Nouveau style. ;)

http://www.arch.nus.edu.sg/SOA/design_studio/dds2b/blair/study/guidelines/guideline.html
Here's a site which shows examples of some styles of shophouses.

Perhaps someone should check out Balestier Road - Lavender Street stretch and the adjacent Jalan Besar.It has alot of styles of shophouses.;)

one thing i really like about singapore: shophouses
does anyone have any details on specific styles of shophouses in singapore and malaysia?

Originally posted by InitialD18

one thing i really like about singapore: shophouses
does anyone have any details on specific styles of shophouses in singapore and malaysia? We gonna need to refer to those books for this one. I do not mind doing the research...just let me finish my exams first, which will be over in 3 day's time. :D

Anyway, here is an article that might interest some shophouse fanatics. It is from the Urban Redevelopment Authority for those who are attepting to restore shophouses. Take note of the five broad styles mentioned towards the bottom:

Source: http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/mod3ele.htm

http://www.ura.gov.sg/images/title-conservationinfo.gif

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE SHOPHOUSE

The conservation guidelines for shophouses, terrace houses and bungalows relate to the key elements of the typology of the building.

Shophouses, an important building type in Singapore's architectural heritage, are narrow small terraced houses for business and living. Constructed between 1840 and 1960, these humble buildings are two- to three- storeys high, built in contiguous blocks with common party walls.

Quality restoration of a shophouse requires an appreciation and understanding of the architecture of the building. The key elements to be respected in the restoration are:

Roofs

Pitched and finished with overlapping V-profile or flat natural colour unglazed clay tiles, laid on timber battens and bonded with mortar.

Party Walls

Principal load bearing walls which demarcate one shophouse from its neighbour.

Timber Structural Members

The main timber beams, the secondary timber beams, the timber floor boards and the timber rafters.

Airwells

Enclosed courts opened directly to the sky to provide additional natural ventilation and lighting to the interior.

Rear Court

Open court at the back of the shophouse bounded by the rear boundary wall, the service block, the rear elevation of the main part of the shophouse and the party wall.

Timber windows

Windows of the French or Casement design.

Timber staircase

Internal staircase arrangements. The retention and restoration of the original staircase is encouraged.

Front Facade

The shophouse facade has five distinct elements:

The Upper Floor that projects over the five-footway to form a covered pedestrian arcade.

The Columns at the front of the building that form the five-foot way colonnades and support the upper floors.

The Five-footway which serves as a sheltered space for social activities and for circulation.

The Timber Windows on the upper storeys are evenly spaced across the facade.

The Roof finished with natural colour unglazed V-profile or flat clay tiles complete with a timber fascia and galvanised iron gutters and downpipes.

The shophouse facade features one of the five basic Shophouse Styles, the Early Shophouse Style, First Transitional Shophouse Style, Late Shophouse Style, Second Transitional Shophouse Style and the Art Deco Shophouse Style. Within each of these styles, the first storey may be a residential front or an open shopfront.

The conservation guidelines advocate retention, restoration and repair of these main features so as to retain the key characteristics of the traditional shophouse. In adapting the building to suit modern day needs, in some areas, the rear of the building has to be setback for the reinstatement or introduction of the rear service lane and a new rear extension may be permitted.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/images/keyele.jpg

How would you classify this building?

Anyone knows or has more pics?:?

It looks SO.............................cute!

Look at that!
Position Between two giants
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103ct4.jpg

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300tc.jpg

See the name?

'Da Zhong' ,or any dialect pronounciation.When I passed by it a month or so ago ,there is renonvation works at the base ,with a sign about the works and the name of the building ,but I didn't take note of it.

Whoa! That's a cool building :)

Originally posted by redstone
'Da Zhong' ,or any dialect pronounciation.When I passed by it a month or so ago ,there is renonvation works at the base ,with a sign about the works and the name of the building ,but I didn't take note of it.

Cool! It was probably a headquarters or something last time. Hope they add more info on it..or maybe can contact the URA:dooby:

Yet another one of those lesser known local gems.. A cool and cute looking shophouse.. :)

I never really realised its uniqueness until you showed a closeup of it here on SSC.

Originally posted by redstone

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/500/300cc.jpg
An Art Nouveau Shophouse near the Botanic Gardens.

Strange! Never seen it before..you know exactly where it is? Is it near that former food centre?

It is near the Botanical Gardens ,at Cluny Park Road ,near the former French Embassy.

Here's a shophouse in Singapore I drew. Have you guys seen this in real? I posted in Malaysian forum like months ago..I hope it's ok I wrote down Malaysia there hehehe

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/9shophousebaq.jpg

hehe..I saw it before. Very nice! You said you got the idea from a shophouse in Singapore:cool: I will try to take more shophouse pics next time:cheers:

Originally posted by renell

Shophouses are very common even today in Europe. In Waterloo's main street, both sides is line with shopshouses. but i have to say the singapore one looks better
Surprising, but yeah.. looking at the photos it seems like they would be shophouses! I suppose the definition is that the shop space on the ground floor is connected to the upper floors on the same house so the shopowners can live there.

Singapore/Malaysia/Indochina shophouses look so much better than those in Bangkok.

Any pictures of Bangkok shophouses?

Sure :)

Here is a rendering
http://209.197.68.107/tmp/joshophouserender.jpg

..a couple of photos
http://thai.cside.tv/gallery/images/sukhumvit01-08.jpg

http://thai.cside.tv/gallery/images/siamsquare02-05.jpg

Upcoming development
http://www.sansiri.com/th/project/sun_square_silom/images/sun_2.jpg

And a thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=968062#post968062)

These shophouses are relatively new, the old ones look much better IMO :cool:

I suppose one difference between Thailand and Singapore is that shophouses are still being built in Thailand. Not that I know the situation in Singapore but shophouses are no longer built there, right?

I dont think they do shophouses in Singapore today. Highrise is more economical.

Anyway whats the differences in style between Bangkok shophouse & those of IndoChina? I thought they would be similar.

Yeah on second thought I guess they are quite similar :)

Some of them though, especailly in Laos can have some French inspired architecture. In Vietnam (esp Hoi An) they have a Chinese look and in Saigon I remember some shophouses were quite tall, 10 storeys or so.

Any pics of the Bangkok/ thai shophouses built like before 1920 or something? In BKK chinatown they have some shophouses similar to Malaysia/Singapore ones :)

Here is Hoi An.. amaaazing little place, very cosy
http://whc.unesco.org/sites/images/948g.jpg

http://gregoire.leclercq.free.fr/en/travels/asia/vietnam/2003/IMG_3118%20-%20Hoi%20An.jpg

Just a cool model (Rattanakosin, Bangkok. Houses of mixed age)
http://www.japandesign.ne.jp/HTM/JDNREPORT/sotsuten2002/geidai/img/20.jpg


Some old ones from Bangkok..

SHOPHOUSES ON BAM RUNG MUANG ROAD

http://www.seameo.org/vl/rattanakosin/pictures/image32.gif

"Bam Rung Muang road is one of the oldest roads in Bangkok. It was a small walkway at the beginning and was improved in 1864, and widened in 1870. Shophouses were built and completed in 1872.

The shop front with arches used to be a covered- colonnaded walkway which is found similarly in the old towns of Phuket and Penang. But now the covered-colonnaded walkway was already blocked and filled with cement and this has caused Bam Rung Muang a road without safe footpath. Although there are not many original units left, this area is still distinctive because most of the shops have homogenous sale products which are Buddhist artifacts.
Such activity has been being operated for a long time and became the oldest and largest Buddhist artifacts thoroughfare in Thailand."


OLD SHOPHOUSES ON PRAENG POOTHON ROAD

http://www.seameo.org/vl/rattanakosin/pictures/image31.gif

"Praeng Poothon area is one of the perfect sites of old style chophouses remaining in Bangkok. This area was the site of a palace before it was redeveloped in the Fifth reign (1868-1910). More than 100 units of old chophouses still keep their major structure and original materials. This area used to be one of the most busiest squares in Bangkok before modern shopping centres and department stores became prevailing custom of the Thai society."


OLD SHOPHOUSES ON PRAENG NARA ROAD

http://www.seameo.org/vl/rattanakosin/pictures/image30.gif

"The word 'Praeng Nara' comes from the name of Prince Narathip Prapanpong who owned this area. During the Fifth reign (1868-1910), the area was redeveloped by the construction of a road called Praeng Nara road. Shophouses were then constructed along the road. These old chophouses still exist at present. Many units remain their original architectural features. The shophouses now belong to the Royal Crown Property Bureau"

Thanks Jo. Some of those look quite charming, but in general the shophouses in Bangkok could do with a cleanup. I read that theyre planning to do that for the Chinatown isnt?

Yes I agree most of them require a cleanup and the shop part could often be improved to make it more modern and inviting.

I didn't know about the Chinatown shophouse cleanup.. is it the ones that risk being demolished to make way for a shopping center?

Originally posted by Jo
I didn't know about the Chinatown shophouse cleanup.. is it the ones that risk being demolished to make way for a shopping center?

No not that. I remember kiku posted an article saying the old shophouses would be restored. I think they are near the Royal Palace area Ratchadamnen klung area or something..

The Shophouse: A Characteristic Singaporean Architectural Form

Before massive post-independence redevelopment destroyed much of the character of Chinatown, its dominant architectural type or form was long the shophouse, a small two- or three-storey structure that combined business quarters at street level and living quarters on the shuttered upper floors. A few areas such as Amoy Street, remain in which "long terraces of shophouses flank the street, all featuring characteristic five foot ways, or covered verandahs, so called simply because they jut five feet out from the house" (RG 539).

As the authors of a popular guidebook relate the recent history of Chinatown's architecture, after independence, the government of Singapore considered the "tumbledown slums of Chinatown as an eyesore and embarked upon a catastrophic redevelopment campaign that saw whole roads bulldozed to make way for new shopping centres, and street traders relocated into organized complexes. Only recently did public opinion convince the Singaporean authorities to restore, and not redevelop, Chinatown. enovated buildings remain faithful to the original designs, though there's a tendency to render once characterful shophouses improbably perfect" (RG 538; emphasis in orginal). Given that an enormous number of Chinatown structures still exist and that many people now live in vastly improved conditions, one wonders in what sense the renewal project has in fact proved "catastrophic." Certainly, unlike other cities, such as New Haven, Connecticut (in the U.S. A), in which modernist architecture and town planning gutted urban centers, destroying neighborhoods and producing cities empty of people after business hours, Singapore's Chinatown still has thriving -- even scruffily thriving -- neighborhoods.

View of Chinatown's restored shophouses: Mohamad Ali Lane from the South Bridge Road end.
http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/arts/architecture/shophouse/shophouse1a.gif

Such squeaky clean, glistening appearances embody the improbable perfection characteristic of almost all such restorations throughout the world. How then does one preserve or restore older buildings in a modern urban setting characterized by new technologies of sanitation, transportation, and so on?

View of Chinatown's restored shophouses on Mohamad Ali Lane: Looking toward South Bridge Road.
http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/arts/architecture/shophouse/shophouse2.gif

The bright, clean arcades and wall surfaces of these restored shphouses embody what the authors of a popular travel guide astutely term an improbable perfection -- one that raises fundamental questions about the nature of such such restorations.

Restored Shophouses on Pagoda Street, Singapore
http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/arts/architecture/shophouse/shophouse3.gif

This elegant structure, which now houses an antique shop, represents a particularly elegant form of shophouse and originally probably contained a family association

View of Chinatown's unrestored shophouses on Boon Tat Street (around the corner from the Nagore Durga Shrine). September 1998
http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/arts/architecture/shophouse/shophouse4.gif

Upon seeing this photograph of these three unrestored Boon Tat Street structures in the midst of the much-gentrified part of Chinatown, several older Singaporeans have remarked, "That's the old Singapore! That's what it looked like fifty years ago when I was a child."

According to a history of the financial district published by the Urban Development Authority,

On average, residential density within the combined 5.2 sq km of the north and south built-up areas was 568 people per ha. However, there were extensive areas where densities reached between 1,220 and 1,700 people per ha. Some blocks of houses even reached 2,470 or more people per ha. The overcrowding was due largely to the existing subtenanting practice of dividing and further subdividing rooms. Generally, the worst over-crowding occurred in the most dilapidated buildings.

The rows upon rows of shophouses were built back-to-back. Typically, the ground floor was used for retail or workshop activities. A steep, narrow internal staircase led to the second storey where space was divided by temporary partitions into cubicles on one or both sides of an internal corridor. In each cubicle lived a household or a group of single individuals. Kitchens, bathrooms and lavatories were shared by all households in the building.

Restored Shophouses on Amoy Street, Singapore

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/arts/architecture/shophouse/shophouse7.gif

These buildings, like the structure on the corner of Amoy and McCallum Streets, seem to exemplify good architectural restoration and the issues that even it raises. These shophouses, or former shophouses, look physically sound, lived in, and generally appear to capture (!) much of the flavor of the original buildings in their original suroundings, though an enormous skyscraper does make its way into the picture. These buildings, unlike some other quite charming ones in Singapore, do not, in other words, appear so perfect, so bright and shiny, that they appear to belong in Disneyland or to the world of The Truman Show.

These buildings succeed because they bear marks of being situated in a time-marked environment. In particular, the weathered shutters and no-longer-pristine sidewall of the tallest shophouse conveys some of its passage through time, thereby embodying what the great architectural and social critic John Ruskin called age-mark. Nonetheless, these buildings have passed through time, and they have arrived at an era in which the technologies of sanitation and transportation have changed so fundamentally that one wonders to what degree can one restore such structures -- if by "restore," that is, one means in some way to render them similar to their orginal modes of existence. The problem here of course arises in the fact that every structure took form within a particular, distinct environment, and it is not at all clear that one can restore one building, which originally a particular role in an architectural ecology, without restoring the whole, even if such were possible or socially and politically responsible. What, then, are the effects of modern automobiles lining both sides of Amoy Street, and what about the absence of people filling the streets? To what extent can one have a shophouse that now provides home for a brokerage house, solicitor, or advertising firm? On the other hand does one wish to bring back, not only the bustle, but the filth, animal dung, and odors of the city 150 years ago?

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/arts/architecture/shophouse/8.jpg

Such squeaky clean, glistening appearances embody the improbable perfection characteristic of almost all such restorations throughout the world. How then does one preserve or restore older buildings in a modern urban setting characterized by new technologies of sanitation, transportation, and so on?

http://www.postcolonialweb.org/singapore/arts/architecture/shophouse/intro.html

I know sometimes I can be a little ignorant ,but are those ornately-decorated shophouses we have in Singapore only exist in Singapore & M'sia or does the shophouses of other countries are as ornate as ours?

I am not too sure, but I think those we have here are amongst the most varied and ornate in South East Asia, due to the mix of styles employed in the design ie European and Asian.

I think there are nice ones in French IndoChina too and some in Thailand as posted by Jo. I think there are some shophouses in Europe too?

Originally posted by Jo

Sure :)

Here is a rendering
http://209.197.68.107/tmp/joshophouserender.jpg

..a couple of photos
http://thai.cside.tv/gallery/images/sukhumvit01-08.jpg

http://thai.cside.tv/gallery/images/siamsquare02-05.jpg

Upcoming development
http://www.sansiri.com/th/project/sun_square_silom/images/sun_2.jpg

And a thread (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=968062#post968062)

These shophouses are relatively new, the old ones look much better IMO :cool:

I suppose one difference between Thailand and Singapore is that shophouses are still being built in Thailand. Not that I know the situation in Singapore but shophouses are no longer built there, right?

Singapore does have some Modern shophouses as well as Art Deco ones.Many of those had been turned into budget hotels.A few of them had the whole interior demolished and rebuilt ,but retaining the façade.

In the late 1970s shophouses were still getting built.
But now ,I don't think so.:(

I think maybe in the future they will stop building them in Bangkok as well, but continue in the rural provinces. If so I doubt most people would worry about it, as their architecture is nothing like in the good old days :) Better to focus on restoring the concrete slab styled new ones, becasue we have a lot of them!

To answer your previous question, yes there are some portugese-chinese styled shophouses in Phuket and the southern provinces in Thailand. Most are of the modern kind though. What about indonesia, they have any shophouses in Singapore/Malaysian style?

The shophouses you have in Singapore looks great and that row of waterfront shophouses and those in Chinatown is a great visual complement to the CBD behind!

Originally posted by Jo
What about indonesia, they have any shophouses in Singapore/Malaysian style?

The shophouses you have in Singapore looks great and that row of waterfront shophouses and those in Chinatown is a great visual complement to the CBD behind!

Yes I just love the contrasts! Each enhances the other somehow:cool:

I dont know about Indonesia. Must ask in the main forum. I guess Jakarta could have them or wherever you find the Chinese.

Yeah do that, it would be interesting to see more styles.

Here I found a pic from Saigon.. it's not so good as it was meant to show the guys playing some game but behing them you can see some relatively old shophouses and the newer tall ones, if they count as shophouses.
http://209.197.68.107/tmp/saigonshophouses.jpg

Thanks for that pic Jo, those shophouses remind me of the ones seen along the Singapore River at Boat Quay. Can you also spot my favourite 'Flatiron' shophouse in it?:angel1:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/2/9swisssing4.jpg

http://www.voyagenow.com/hotelImages/Singapore/Singapore/Hotel_1929/intro.jpeg

http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/1929/gifs/reception.jpg

designer furniture overload!
http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/1929/gifs/lobby.jpg

look at the marimekko prints :D
http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/1929/gifs/suite.jpg
http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/1929/gifs/superior.jpg
http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/1929/gifs/superior3.jpg
http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/1929/gifs/superior2.jpg
http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/1929/gifs/superior4.jpg

http://www.voyagenow.com/hotelImages/Singapore/Singapore/Hotel_1929/image-6703-10616322413f4738f19f704.jpeg

Arrgh!!! Those pics are torturing me! I so wanna stay in that shophouse-hotel!

Ever since I read about its restoration and walked past it at night with its subtle touches of lighting..I've been curious about it (Its in Chinatown btw). Is it expensive?

Aaarrrrrgh! :runaway:

They should have chosen a different style of interior decoration for that beautiful building! :bash:

but its so nice!!!

True ... incredibly nice! :) But I wish they had stayed within the time frame of the building rather than having that modern interior, chic and in really good taste as it may be! :(

http://www.travel-singapore.com/royal-peacock-hotel/index.jpg

http://www.ashkeling.com/images/rp2.jpg

http://www.royalpeacockhotel.com/images/pic_front.jpg

http://www.royalpeacockhotel.com/images/rooms/ssw.jpg
http://www.royalpeacockhotel.com/images/rooms/stn.jpg
http://www.royalpeacockhotel.com/images/rooms/dw.jpg
http://www.royalpeacockhotel.com/images/rooms/ew.jpg
http://www.hotelsonline.com.sg/Singapore%20Hotels/Royal%20Peacock%20Hotel/room1.jpg

http://www.holidaycity.com/royal-peacock-singapore/photo5.jpg

WH makes a good point about keeping with the exterior, but I find the look cheerful:)

Trying to dig up info on this little-known hotel..here's a night pic and why I was enchanted by it.

http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/images/50keongsaik.jpg

Built in 1929 and used at separate times as a trading house, rental apartments and a budget hotel, 50 Keong Saik Road is now home of a boutique hotel with an edge. Not just because its entire structure is of an unconventional triangular shape, but also because a bold and instinctive architectural design has filled it with a few delightful surprises.

Sound Foundation


As the building had recently undergone renovation works, structural conditions were relatively good at the onset. The main structural work done involved the replacement of the existing triangular-shaped second storey metal roof at the rear portion of the building with a new reinforced concrete flat roof and a landscaped garden.


Roof Spaces

Besides Singapore Chinatown’s first open-air jacuzzi at the newly built second floor roof terrace, another roof terrace, featuring an outdoor shower and sky bath, was added on the fourth floor, making it probably a first for commercial shophouse properties as well.


Two attic rooms were attached at both ends of the roof terrace with these "moonlight delights". For those who preferred to be on solid ground, the building also had inspired innovations on the lower levels.


Mirroring Effect


The architect installed mirrored walls in the lobby in an attempt to bring into the hotel the vibrant pulse of street life just outside the hotel's main doors.


This innovative use of mirrors connected the interior of the building to the excitement on street level. The hotel restaurant also shared the same bar counter and front desk. A feature mirror was also found in the restaurant and it similarly, brought in the "street life".

Rooms With Views


Prior to restoration, the third floor was the only level with proper rooms with views of the garden and Keong Saik Road. Improving the poor room layout was one of the design challenges as the walls were not straight. Due to its odd triangular shape, there were some intriguing space constraints to be overcome. In addition, every room was to have natural ventilation and lighting. This was achieved through clever use of space. Colours, walls and furnishing also created a welcoming and soothing ambience upon entry.


On the outside, 50 Keong Saik Road’s largely intact original facade looks like a charming piece of monochromic architecture trapped in time. On the inside, it is a colourful burst of ideas and innovations that not only demonstrate an exciting fusion of old and the new, but, more importantly, display the sterling results of efforts to overcome the odds and accentuate the positives in pursuit of architectural excellence.

Where is Royal Peacock located?

Singapore's first ever "hip" hotel - 1929 on Keong Saik Road - is true seat of style. Angelia Teo checks in.

http://www.hotel1929.com/image/headlines/happer3.jpg

Although not quite in the heart of Chinatown, Keong Saik Road inevitably conjures up images of old Singapore, a place where the tragic figures of our past convened to indulge their appetites for debauchery, corruption and food.

These days, it's the zichar that draws the crowds for the most part but when evening falls, the district harks back to the bustling red district of yore. Scruffy ah peks throng the streets, taking their pick from the straggly line-up of platform-shod, mini skirted, over-the-hill prostitutes. The last vestiges of old Chinatown are clearly visible here where, thankfully, the conservation hand of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has yet to reach. Like Montmartre in Paris or Soho in London, Keong Saik Road's colour continues to draw tourists and locals alike. And now, it has spawned Singapore's first - and so far, only - "hip" hotel.

Sitting in the restaurant lobby of the one-month-old Hotel 1929, there is no escaping the curious juxtaposition of cultures, eras and styles. From the outside, Hotel 1929 could be just another 74-year-old shophouse building on a street filled with nothing but conservation building. Its ceiling-to-floor glass windows on the ground floor reveal a collection of some of the last century's most iconic chairs in the lobby; it's no wonder the building is often mistaken for a furniture shop. But enter and you'll discover a swanky retro interior complete with eccentric purple carpets and corridors of photographs from the 1920s. Hotel 1929, named after the year it was built, is clearly cut from different cloth. As if on cue, a middle-age man with a chevalier saunter walks across the hotel's front facade, coming into view of Singaporean owner Loh Lik Peng. The former's bright yellow T-shirt is tucked under his armpits, his beer belly on display, while a cigarette hangs precariously from his lower lip. "See?", Loh exclaims, indicating the man who is oblivious to his observers. "Where else can you see people like that walk past? Only here."

Neither does it perturb him that his establishment is located directly opposite one of Singapore's most notorious landmarks. Keong Saik Hotel is synonymous with the city's red trade and is well known for offering rooms for hire on a two-hourly basis. "It just adds colour to the street," says Loh, who bought the four-storey building just 18 month ago for $3.4 million, "And to my hotel."

A first-time hotelier, the 30-year-old Loh had initially thought to lease out the building, which was a brothel in the '20s, but a home spilling over with vintage designer chairs sparked the idea to design and build unique, never-seen-before-in-Singapore hotel. "I wanted to create something special," says the ex-lawyer, "and so I combined my love of chairs with this hotel."

http://www.chinatownhotel.com/graphics/facade.jpg
http://www.holidaycity.com/chinatown-singapore/photo1.jpg

http://www.chinatownhotel.com/graphics/lobby.jpg
http://www.chinatownhotel.com/graphics/lobby2.jpg

http://www.chinatownhotel.com/graphics/bedroom.jpg
http://www.chinatownhotel.com/graphics/bedroom2.jpg

Wow, Heirloom! :)

A lovely Shophouse-turned-hotel! :banana: Are you going to show off more?

Actually Raffi has already "sold" me on the Fullerton--on the other hand, I might not be able to afford to stay there, at least not for very long. ;)

What's a "boutique" hotel anyway? Is it part of a chain, or is it called boutique as in 'a small store' (=French) because it doesn't have hundreds of rooms?

ummm they're all in the vicinity of keong saik road

Now the Chinatown Hotel does it right! :okay:

The decor matches the period of the exterior of the building ... very pleasant. :cool:

I am now in love with these shophouses at Keong Saik Road! I feel so tempted to stay in one of them for a night :dooby:

Hotel1929
http://photo.starblvd.net/Raffles/2-1-3-1079784864?m=1&pg=1&ro=0&co=2

Chinatown Hotel
http://photo.starblvd.net/Raffles/2-1-4-1078998362?m=1&pg=1&ro=0&co=3

My God, do you have any idea how unnaturally clean this is?! :D

Unnaturally clean as compared to what, sOmeOne?

I expect my hotels to be clean. Even the most humble abode should be clean. So what's unnatural?

'unnatural' is the essence of human beings.. i think the conservationists in sg should stop complaining about the shophouses being too well restored and all that and just accept that unnatural is natural among humans :) if we were natural we'd be monkeys.

Wow, Heirloom! Some heavy philosophy there ... :|

I understand Singapore demolished a whole lot of its shophouses because they were what people at the time thought of as filthy and decrepit. Really a shame! :(

I hope this folly (at least I see it that way) will not go into a new phase. It truly is worth the expenditure of fixing up remarkable existing buildings! :okay:

Originally posted by heirloom

'unnatural' is the essence of human beings.. i think the conservationists in sg should stop complaining about the shophouses being too well restored and all that and just accept that unnatural is natural among humans :) if we were natural we'd be monkeys.

That is a good point. WH, if you read back the previous page you see some conservationists criticizing the restoration projects as being too clean, too meticulously crafted back to the original form that they become unnatural of the real state.

However clean and pristine is definitely better than old and rotting and uninhabitable! :cheers1:

http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/prepaid/duxton/gifs/facade.jpg

http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/prepaid/duxton/gifs/superior.jpg

http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/prepaid/duxton/gifs/duplexsuite.jpg

http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/prepaid/duxton/gifs/lobby_lounge.jpg

restaurant L'Aigle d'Or
http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/prepaid/duxton/gifs/laigle_rest.jpg

I love the lobby of that hotel heirloom, looks so cosy:cheers:

Now here are a collection of pics showing the lovely and colourful styles of shophouse windows in the Chinatown area:)

http://photo.starblvd.net/Raffles/2-3-5-1079670302?m=1&pg=1&ro=2&co=4
http://photo.starblvd.net/Raffles/2-4-1-1079670473?m=1&pg=1&ro=3&co=0
http://photo.starblvd.net/Raffles/2-4-2-1079670737?m=1&pg=1&ro=3&co=1
http://photo.starblvd.net/Raffles/2-4-3-1079670901?m=1&pg=1&ro=3&co=2
http://photo.starblvd.net/Raffles/2-4-4-1079670945?m=1&pg=1&ro=3&co=3

here are some shophouses found on the expat property site, landseer (http://www.landseer.com.sg).

http://www.landseer.com.sg/emerald/front.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/emerald/01.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/emerald/02.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/emerald/04.jpg




http://www.landseer.com.sg/emeraldhill4/front.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/emeraldhill4/living.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/emeraldhill4/windows.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/emeraldhill4/stairwell.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/emeraldhill4/pond.jpg



http://www.landseer.com.sg/newemerald/01stairs.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/newemerald/03living.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/newemerald/05windows.jpg
http://www.landseer.com.sg/newemerald/09downstairs.jpg


more at the webiste

OMG! :eek2: I wanna live there!

But where are the good shophouse locations for living? I think Emerald Hill and Cairnhill have some nice clusters in a good area (near Orchard Rd)

Originally posted by RafflesCity

OMG! :eek2: I wanna live there!

But where are the good shophouse locations for living? I think Emerald Hill and Cairnhill have some nice clusters in a good area (near Orchard Rd) Hm...I heard you can actually live in the Tanjong Pagah area or something?? :D

yeah those i posted are in emerald hill i think... you see at www.landseer.com.sg lor... the rent for the third one is like 14000+ a month... haiz so ex...

Originally posted by heirloom

yeah those i posted are in emerald hill i think... you see at www.landseer.com.sg lor... the rent for the third one is like 14000+ a month... haiz so ex... Er...you are still buying landed property in very prime downtown land afterall! :D

Originally posted by heirloom

yeah those i posted are in emerald hill i think... you see at www.landseer.com.sg lor... the rent for the third one is like 14000+ a month... haiz so ex...

So ex!!!!

Hmm but I wanna try one of those hotels in Keong Saik Road. I wonder if they do room service..

Wat do you expect? They paid a fortune to restore the place! :D

A row of shophouses in the Duxton area. I love the contrasts with the background!

http://photo.starblvd.net/Raffles/2-5-1-1080391474?m=1&pg=1&ro=4&co=0

Originally posted by RafflesCity

That is a good point. WH, if you read back the previous page you see some conservationists criticizing the restoration projects as being too clean, too meticulously crafted back to the original form that they become unnatural of the real state.

However clean and pristine is definitely better than old and rotting and uninhabitable! :cheers1: I was reflecting on this.....nothing philosophical from me, dont worry, but I take conservation projects as "works to revert buildings into what they looked like when new." Albeit this time, we can be sure they will be propery maintained and are unlikely to ever degrade again into their pre-existing sorry state just before the works? ;)

Indeed.

And to be realistic, can we really expect these shophouses (many of which sit in prime downtown land) to still fulfill their original functions? Many have been vacated as their residents moved elsewhere.

At least after restoration, they can still enjoy life as trendy shops, business offices, pubs and restaurants that attract people. Whats the use of a rotting building that can only be experienced from outside.

That said, we do have the mantra in Singapore of making the most $$$ out of every sq. inch of land!

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980002918-8262-3202-1097/img0118.jpg
An example of a flamboyant and exeggeratted Chinese Baroque style shophouse ,Syed Alwi Road.

wow! at first glance i thought 'gaudi'!!! where is that?

It is on Syed Alwi Road ,Little India area.

This is an exaggerated style of Chinese Baroque.The top column deco isn't normally so big.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007380-8105-3181-0349/img0006.jpg
A famous shophouse at Balestier Road ,occupied by the Singapore Institute of Science.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0039.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0039.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0041.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0044.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0043.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006539-8105-3181-0687/img0086.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006539-8105-3181-0687/img0088.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006540-8105-3181-0678/img0011.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006539-8105-3181-0687/img0087.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006540-8105-3181-0678/img0009.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006540-8105-3181-0678/img0010.jpg
The same row of shophouses as in the previous post ,Syed Alwi Road

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001350-8324-3302-3084/img0099.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001350-8324-3302-3084/img0096.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001350-8324-3302-3084/img0103.jpg
Neil Road

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001350-8324-3302-3084/img0105.jpg
Orchard Road

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001351-8324-3302-3085/img0002.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001351-8324-3302-3085/img0006.jpg http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001351-8324-3302-3085/img0008.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001351-8324-3302-3085/img0014.jpg
Jinricksha Station ,Neil Road.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001352-8324-3302-3086/img0025.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001352-8324-3302-3086/img0028.jpg
Tanjong Pagar area.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0014.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0015.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0018.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0019.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0021.jpg
Blair Plains

Those are simply beautiful redstone! Especially this one. :eek2:
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001293-8346-3102-0967/img0039.jpg

Did you post the ones at Cairnhill?

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005515-8073-3222-3982/img0120.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001294-8346-3102-0968/img0015.jpg
Abandoned shophouse at Club Street.It is still abandoned now.This photo was dated 1997.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007352-8262-3202-1112/img0053.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980002911-8262-3202-1091/img0119.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007353-8262-3202-1117/img0091.jpg
The Jinricksha Station ,the most famous shophouse in Singapore ,topped with a Palladian dome.
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001351-8324-3302-3085/img0063.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001351-8324-3302-3085/img0090.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001352-8324-3302-3086/img0024.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001352-8324-3302-3086/img0024.jpg

Most of the pre-war shophouses in S'pore are in a eclectic style of Chinese ,Malay ,and European classical styles.The more flamboyant ones are along Balestier Road / Jalan Besar and the surrounding area.



http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006540-8105-3181-0678/img0006.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005090-8073-3222-4805/img0050.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005838-8106-3181-7827/img0118.jpg
Jalan Besar

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001351-8324-3302-3085/img0049.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006320-8154-3221-0985/img0038.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001351-8324-3302-3085/img0050.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001350-8324-3302-3084/img0088.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19990001350-8324-3302-3084/img0089.jpg
Peranakan shophouses.

I passed by Balestier Road recently and saw some of the most colourful shophouses I've seen.

Did you per chance have your camera with you, Raffi? :)


Thank you for that series of super ornate Shop Houses up there, redstone! :okay: I'm almost tempted to call them "the Wedgewood series." ;) I'm fervently hoping that those that are in not too good a shape in the pictures will also be restored. They are all potential little jewels, and Singapore would be poorer without them! :angel:

I wonder if other countries beside SEA has such ornate shophouses.

Maybe Holland.

Here is what I read from my book

"The emergence of the shophouse as the dominant urban typology in Singapore was possibly due to Raffles having been Lieutenant Governor presiding over British interests in Java between 1811 and 1816. He would have observed that the narrow warehouses of the Dutch East India Co. were fronted by verandahs. The shophouse was a hybrid of the narrow fronted houses of Amsterdam and the courtyard houses of Southern China."

@WH, I did take some new colourful shophouse pics and I will post them here soon :okay:

Balestier Road / Jalan Besar has the most ornate shophouses around.:D

Many have friezes of animals such as cats ,dogs ,cows ,horses and even dragons and human figures.

The budget Hoover Hotel is actually an Art Deco shophouse.

RC ,and pictures of European shophouses?

@WH, I did take some new colourful shophouse pics and I will post them here soon :okay:

Yeeeeaa!!!! :banana::banana::banana:

I hope I have time to make a trip to Balestier Road, but here are some pics I took of the shophouses near Chinatown.

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/shc.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/shb.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sha.jpg

Yeaaaa! :okay: THANK you, Raffi! :)

The first one is just gorgeous!!! :master: The second would benefit enormously from a cheerier paint job. So for that matter, would the third. ;) What amazes me, though, is that #2 and #3 have such sameness for such a long stretch, almost giving a "block" impression. The Shop Houses I had seen before--at least that's what I imagine & recollect were entirely different one from the other. I think I like the small scale effect better. :) But please don't get me wrong ... these are lovely! :angel1:

Looking forward to more as always (if you can make it) :cheers1:

Thanks WH!

The past 3 days my feet have been working the Chinatown district up and down and I've been looking at shophouses by day and night. You see, baqthier and szehoong were visiting and at the last minute szehoong's reservation didnt go through so we decided to literally walk around the shophouse hotels enquiring about the rates. We finally settled on the Tropical Hotel which offered them about US$36 a night. Small rooms but with attached bath and aircon. :cool:

I highly recommend these shophouses in Chinatown due to the unique experience, affordable rates and great location!

and I hope to see their pics soon:dooby:

Do take time to go to Balestier ,RC!

It has the most amazing shophouses around!


I am glad to say that literally thousands of shophouses in Singapore has been gazetted for conservation.

http://www.e-marketing.sla.gov.sg/emktg/sla_images/property/08CR06-25%20Kerbau%20Road%200208CR1229JAN04040806.jpg
Kerbau Road

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005515-8073-3222-3982/img0120.jpg

Abandoned shophouse at Club Street.It is still abandoned now.This photo was dated 1997.

WOW! :eek: ....this is the old picture of 31st & 33rd Club Street!!! :eek:

Raffi, Baq and myself passes this place the other night and it is wonderfully restored. I do not have any pictures of it but I remember it now served as the entrance to a very posh private condo which is built 'inside' the row of shophouses there......very unique entrance indeed as the entrance to the left of this picture is the entrance to the condo while the other is the exit ;)

^^^

I managed to get pics of it and it has indeed been preserved :cool:

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/shf.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/shg.jpg

Raffi, I can well imagine that you and your feet are exhausted from walking all over magical Sincapore! :)

I'm glad you got to meet up with local and KL forumers. :) What a treat! :banana:

@redstone: the pictures you come up with are just unbelievable, so beautiful! Thank you enormously. :okay:

I'm so happy that Singapore was wise enough to preserve this beautiful and unique (?) heritage. :angel1:

Yup..by helping them look for a hotel in the shophouses I also got to know a little bit more and next time people need cheap accomodation here I know where to recommend them :cool:

I will try to get some pics from Balestier Road hopefully but in the meantime here are some pics I took that I posted in the world forum.

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/scenea.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/sceneb.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/gs29.jpg

As requested by redstone, shophouses along Balestier Road.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103shophouse.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103shophouse2.jpg

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/103shophouse3.jpg

Wow ,that's stunning! :eek:

yup..one of the most fanciful designs on a shophouse I've seen.

Any other areas of Singapore with such ornate shophouses?

Jalan Besar area.Are those the only photos of the Balestier area shophouses?

I have 1 more that I will post later. But these are the main freshly renovated shophouses.

There are somemore along Balestier that are still under restoration.

btw behind Boat Quay I saw some of the just-restored shophouses featuring lime-green paint. Very unique :eek:

Eh ,go there and take more leh.:D

There are still many very amazing shophouses along Balestier Road.Some are not restored but are not dilapidated and are still as amazing.

I am not in Singapore now, but rest assured I will take lots of pics when I get back again;)

If you go to Jln Besar area ,there are lots of shophouses ,most of them are amazing.Try going into those 'small streets' branching out from Besar.Along Petain Road are some of the most amazing shophouses I've seen around there.Lots of decorations. :cool:

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006533-8105-3181-0384/img0077.jpg
Albert Street

Its rare to see shophouses in such a state anymore. Most simply have to be gven a fresh coat of paint, especially those in the city!

That looks like an old pic. Do you know where Albert St is?

Thank you, Raffi, for two series of heretofore unseen Shophouses! :banana:

They really constitute a type and style of building all its own, and there are soooo many different ones in Singapore! :eek:

Redstone: the one you show looks a bit lost and forlorn, especially with the space demolition of a building next to it leaves open. Was it a Shophouse that was destroyed there? From the narrow space of street frontage, I would almost suspect it. :cry:

The surviving one, although in bad shape, is really quite remarkable in that its decorations are actual Chinese characters and not merely ornamental as in those of Balestrier Street. :okay:

Its neighbor looks a bit sad, too. I hope Singapore will soon get around to giving these lovelies a bit of long overdue care! :angel1:

Albert Street is off Rochor Canal Road.Behind Sim Lim Sq.Part of it had been turned into a pedestrian mall.

An amazing hotel at Albert Street:
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/189971_overview.jpg
http://www.bookings-asia.com/sgdetails/25026/25026_1.jpg
http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/albertcourt/gifs/hotel.gif
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/189971_main.jpg
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/189971_entrance.jpg
It is a huge complex of restored and re-adapted shophouses ,linked up by bridges ,walkways ,skyways and covered former alleys and lanes.



It is one of two hotels here comprising of a huge complex of restored shophouses.The other being InterContinental Singapore ,which also incorporates a restored old building and a new tower block.


WH.Many of those shophouses along Balestier Road are restored.:)

and you can see it's a terribly old pic by that car in the pic :)

It is amazing indeed! :eek:

I never really knew about this one, got to check it out in the flesh.

@WH, thats an interesting point you raised. I've not seen Chinese characters on the new restored shophouses. hmmmm.

Albert Street is off Rochor Canal Road.Behind Sim Lim Sq.Part of it had been turned into a pedestrian mall.

An amazing hotel at Albert Street:
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/189971_overview.jpg
http://www.bookings-asia.com/sgdetails/25026/25026_1.jpg
http://www.asiatravel.com/singapore/albertcourt/gifs/hotel.gif
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/189971_main.jpg
http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/189971_entrance.jpg
It is a huge complex of restored and re-adapted shophouses ,linked up by bridges ,walkways ,skyways and covered former alleys and lanes.



It is one of two hotels here comprising of a huge complex of restored shophouses.The other being InterContinental Singapore ,which also incorporates a restored old building and a new tower block.


WH.Many of those shophouses along Balestier Road are restored.:)

This story was printed from TODAYonline

THE Little shophouse of surprises

These time-honoured buildings offer a unique way of life for the discerning home owner

Weekend • June 12, 2004

Angelia Teo
news@newstoday.com.sg

Over a century ago, shophouses were known for their squalor and poor living conditions, typically housing hundreds of coolies and labourers.

Today, the same houses are being turned into stylish offices and residences. Those at Tanjong Pagar, Emerald Hill and Katong, in particular, are much sought-after by home-buyers.

These quaint buildings, most of which are at least 40 to 80 years old, offer a unique way of life for the discerning home owner. Part of the shophouse's appeal lies in its traditional air well, often situated at the centre or off to one side of the building.

According to Richard Low, an architect with GP Designs, a firm which won two Architecture Heritage Awards in 2000 for restorative work done on shophouses in Kim Yam Road and Prinsep Street, the air well is often the design focal point of the shophouse. It allows natural light, air and even nature to seep into the living areas. This, he said, is one of the reasons for the shophouse's popularity.

"Ventilation is extremely good in a shophouse," said Richard, "With so much air and light, you can choose not to have air-conditioning. And it creates an environment very conducive to living."

Lyn Lee, owner of Awfully Chocolate cake shop in Katong, agreed. She has lived in her three-storey non-conservation shophouse in Katong for three years.

"Any shophouse will come with its own heritage, culture and fascinating history," said Lyn. "But the main reason I love shophouses is their architecture. I can carve out different living spaces as I see fit. I don't have to abide by the conventional definitions of living room or bedroom."

Lyn spent more than $1 million restoring her shophouse, practically reinventing the original 1929 floor plan. She built a third storey on top of the original two, where her bedroom is located. She also turned the attic into an open-air bathroom overlooking Katong and the air well into a bamboo garden.

To counteract the traditional "dark and stuffy" shophouse feel, she installed a glass skylight on the roof and knocked out several extra windows. "The shophouse was like a blank canvas," Lyn said." I felt I could do anything I wanted with it."

In fact, there are many more limitations to restoring and renovating a shophouse than there are in doing the same to a traditional house, Richard said.

"There's the issue of structural integrity," he explained. "Shophouses use a lot of timber in their windows and floorboards. So, we need to check for safety."

Other complications, according to Richard, whose firm has a portfolio of about 50 shophouses, relate to the issue of whether to retain, restore or replace original architectural features.

"What's more, the views and orientations of the rooms are restricted because they can only face the back court or the front yard."

Moreover, if the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has gazetted the shophouse for conservation, there are additional considerations such as retaining its facade.

Conservation shophouses often feature decorative walls and floor tiles, along with awnings on the front windows, which must be preserved using original materials. This can prove to be costly and time-consuming.

But Richard conceded that there are more opportunities for creative design in shophouses. "When you look at a shophouse from the outside, you can never tell what's inside," he said. "There are some beautiful shophouses that have used modern interpretations of the space. Visiting a shophouse is always surprising, because behind those doors, you can achieve any look you want."

The URA has gazetted about 6,000 shophouses as conservation buildings, most of which are in the areas of Kim Yam Road, Blair Road, Everton Road, Chinatown, Cairnhill and Emerald Hill. However, on the outskirts of town, in Katong and Balestier, there are a large number of clusters of non-conservation shophouses.

"Naturally, those that have been gazetted as conservation buildings have higher value," said Siti Hajar Ali, a real estate specialist in conservation shophouses. "Because of their decorative facades and also because of their prime locations."

According to Siti, renting a shophouse on Emerald Hill can cost upwards of $20,000. To buy one, you would have to pay about $2.6 million. Despite the high prices, living in a shophouse remains de rigeur for young couples, professionals, creative types and even expatriates who are keen to try out the novelty of living in a historical building.

As Lee put it: "This is my first and, hopefully, last home."

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

Interesting to see them revived and their imaged changed.Hope one day people would appreciate their architecture.:)

I would so love to live in a shophouse!

Shophouses, especiallly prewar ones are rather narrow.

btw behind Boat Quay I saw some of the just-restored shophouses featuring lime-green paint. Very unique :eek:

Here they are. Never seen this color scheme before.
http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/greensh.jpg

@WH, thats an interesting point you raised. I've not seen Chinese characters on the new restored shophouses. hmmmm.

You mean they do not preserved the Chinese characters when they restored em? hmmmm.....So far I've only seen a single shophouse in Singapore which had those and it is very near the Chinatown MRT (I think it belonged to the Chinatown Heritage Board or soemthing like that. Initially I tot the vertical Chinese characters on the pillars aren't popular in Singapore so most do not have em....hmmmm :sly:

I dont see too many with Chinese characters. From what I observed, the characters arent part of the structure but tend to be stuck on?

I dont see too many with Chinese characters. From what I observed, the characters arent part of the structure but tend to be stuck on?


Actually those here are part of the pillars.......those are usually plaster......most of the time they (the new owners) do not remove em although usually the characters are the 'signage' for the moved-out ex-owners.

I'll try to dig out some examples......I dun think I took any but I'll just look for em in case I did :D

There are 2 corner shophouses along Balestier Road that feature Chinese characters, mythical creatures, and frieze panels dipicting people, along with carved pillars, and an absolutely amazing pendiment.

A row of shophouses next to Chinatown Point.

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/shop.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/shop2.jpg

http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/shop3.jpg

This shophouse has just been repainted in 2 months since I last saw it in April. The old color can be seen 1 or 2 pages back.
http://img43.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/shop4.jpg

Nothing beats those at Balestier Road / Lavender Street / Jalan Besar stretch.:)

But this style is also nice what..maybe typical of Chinatown area :cool:

O wow, o wow! :banana::banana: These are SO incredibly BEAUTIFUL! :)

Thank you for keeping this thread alive by showing more and more of these wonderful buildings, guys! :grouphug:

http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/images/innsix.jpg
Erskine Road

Thats strange, its in the CBD yet I have not seen it in that form. Is it now part of the China Square food mall?

Not sure...

Okay, just found some info.Quoted from URA:



1994 URA GOOD EFFORT AWARDS - NOS. 9 TO 35 ERSKINE ROAD

Owner:
Linlee Holdings Pte Ltd (Previous Owner)
Architect:
Wong & Oyang & Associates (S) Pte Ltd


Fourteen units of shophouses (thirteen of the Early Shophouse Style and 1 unit of the Art Deco Shophouse Style) were restored and adapted into a small hotel with 44 rooms.
The front facades and unique ambience are retained with the principal feature being the internal paved `street' lit at intervals by airwells.

Okay, just found some info.Quoted from URA:



1994 URA GOOD EFFORT AWARDS - NOS. 9 TO 35 ERSKINE ROAD

Owner:
Linlee Holdings Pte Ltd (Previous Owner)
Architect:
Wong & Oyang & Associates (S) Pte Ltd


Fourteen units of shophouses (thirteen of the Early Shophouse Style and 1 unit of the Art Deco Shophouse Style) were restored and adapted into a small hotel with 44 rooms.
The front facades and unique ambience are retained with the principal feature being the internal paved `street' lit at intervals by airwells.

I will look out for it..

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/photopost/data/504/9sglavendar2-med.jpg
Art Deco shophouse by Baq.

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980002918-8262-3202-1097/img0116.jpg
Geylang

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/buildings/247921_main.jpg
Tudor Court.Are these old ones or new ones?

http://www.lookarchitects.com.sg/images/nwork/enghoon-1.jpg
http://www.lookarchitects.com.sg/images/nwork/enghoon/5.jpg
28 Eng Hoon Street, looks interesting.

wah the Geylang ones look fanciful!

As for Tudor Court, theyve been there a long time, although are they really shophouse? Look more European to me.

The last one looks like they modified it.

I mean was Tudor originally real shophouses or just some fanciful mimick.

Well, may I add here from my distance that I'm by no means conviced that those "Tudor" Shophouses are original.

No smilie!

Shophouses at Katong.....(taken from Bus):

http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/Bus%20ride/DSCN20261.jpg

http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/ylstan03/Bus%20ride/DSCN20271.jpg

wah..the streets of Bugis look so charming and lazy! :eek:

@WH, you sound very convinced! :D

Perhaps we should research on its origins...

True, Raffi! :laugh: Somehow I don't think that those Tudor thingies are true Shophouses. :yes:

Of course I stand ready to be corrected, so if one of our wise scholars were able to do some research on them, that would be great! :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/singapore/IMGP5119.jpg

^

Duxton area. That building has masks on it as is lighted very nicely at night.

jalan kayu
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/singapore/IMGP5522.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/singapore/IMGP5660.jpg

a thai registered car???
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v47/sybarite/singapore/IMGP5664.jpg

Hold on....the first picture is Jalan Kayu alright, but the second one? Dosent look like the same place at all! :eek:

^Deja vu! What's with the flags... is it national day??

nono... second one is around kallang...

Are these shophouses? They look like theyve been recently reworked on, but the base looks like a typical shophouse.

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/ssc1819/kimkeat.jpg

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/ssc1819/kimkeat2.jpg

they're uglyhouses

they're uglyhouses

ugly meh? I find them kinda interesting.

I dont think they always looked like that. They might have been some post-war flat tops that have been refurbished.

They might be modern rowhouses, rather then true shophouses.

whats a rowhouse exactly???

Rowhouses can be found at Blair Plains and Emerald Hill Conservation Areas.Others are scattered.

They look exactly like shophouses, but it does not have a business below.

Rowhouses can be found at Blair Plains and Emerald Hill Conservation Areas.Others are scattered.

They look exactly like shophouses, but it does not have a business below.

Hmm....thats interesting.......I thought they were all named shophouses.....

No.Those at Emerald Hill and Blair Plains have no retail facility below.They even have a small plot of land in front.Like a mini square or something. :)

Thats true..I also discovered that some shophouses are purely residential, with the first floor used as a courtyard.:yes:

Beside MacDonald House is a lonely little shophouse sandwiched by two giants.

http://www.sngs.sch.edu.sg/cf2004/popupimg/china10a.jpg

http://www.sngs.sch.edu.sg/cf2004/popupimg/china6a.jpg

!! st nicholas girls school looks like a monster!

That's not the school!!!

It was taken by the school students. :D

oh ok haha what building is it?

wow!

The first pic is in Chinatown, next to the Sri Mariamman Temple. It has 'Indian' designs and I dunno where the 2nd one is.

As requested by Whose Homepage, and recommended by redstone - the SHOPHOUSES of Jalan Besar! :banana:

They are indeed some of the most ornate and intricate designs I've seen of this species. They arent located in a very pedestrian friendly area however, being right by the roadside and not all have been refurbished yet. But these pics do give an idea of how Singapore was like in the past, and this area is reminiscent of other parts of South East Asia IMO. It remains to see how this part of Singapore progresses with time :cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/besar.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/besar2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/besar4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/besar3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/besar6.jpg

a long stretch of them (I couldnt get the whole street in)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/besar5.jpg

and I havent combed the entire area thoroughly yet so lets see what I can find the next time;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/RafflesCity/besar.jpg
Petain Road! :banana:

But they look unoccupied? :(

Ooh, next time get some close-up shots of the carvings! :banana:

Yup Petain Rd :)

If I'm not wrong they are sort of occupied - not all units though. Some look like theyre waiting to be leased out. Perhaps this particular row was recently revamped - not too sure though but the area can be quite creepy at night.

Will definitely take a closer look :yes:

Do take some close-ups of the deco! :)

OOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooooHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhh! What perfect jewel boxes, just so utterly precious!

Raffi, thank you so much! :hug:

The long row of lavishly decorated houses in the same style just blows my mind ... and it seems to be along a green strip, or even a park? No matter how "Singapore progresses with time," I hope these buildings will be part of Singapore's long term future! :)

They seem to be in a world totally different and apart from the other Shophouses you show, those that are directly by a street & show greater variety. Of course that modern facade next to the big "7" in the last photo has got to go! :bash:

my dream is to live in a shophouse,they are soooo coasy! :)

What a lovely thought, drwho! :)

What a lovely thought, drwho! :)

wh :hug: :)

there where some pics that raffie had put up on a shophouse-hotel in Singapore. you must see it!..i want a apartment like that! :) :)

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980002912-8262-3202-1088/img0019.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980002912-8262-3202-1088/img0022.jpg
Unrestored shophouses

wh :hug: :)

there where some pics that raffie had put up on a shophouse-hotel in Singapore. you must see it!..i want a apartment like that! :) :)

oh drwho!

there are a lot of shophouse hotels here, some range from the more expensive and luxuriously furnished to the more affordable decent ones. Very charming places to stay - baqthier & szehoong managed to get one nice and cheap one in Chinatown when they came in April.

I will visit Chinatown again to get more shots of these hotels :okay:

We have shophouses everywhere in the city.

The northernmost traditional shophouses are at Balestier, which are also the most beautiful.

@redstone I will take more as some r undergoing restoration, in fact those old pics you posted might have been from Balestier :)

raffie! :)

i really want a shophouse-apartment..they are so sweet:)

btw do you have the link that you posted the pictures from the shophouse-hotel where baqthier & szehoong stayed?:)
please do take more pictures of chinatown!:)

Yes the pics are here!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=106394

I think theres only 1 pic of the hotel as they were determined to explore more of the city :D :) ;)

Yes the pics are here!

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=106394

I think theres only 1 pic of the hotel as they were determined to explore more of the city :D :) ;)

thnxs raffie!!!:):hug:
:)

The Shophouses are truly nice! However, it's much nicer when you stumble across a bunch of them that aren't done up, (some in the east I think).

However, they're so jolly well awkward to photograph! Either you zoom in and get details or you zoom out and end up with awful green bins and cars everywhere!

yes..thats cos theyre right at the roadside!

but there are many in Geylang and Jalan Besar (where my last batch of pics were taken) that show them in their original, decayed condition..

actually theyre fine if theyre a bit dirty but are comfortable and clean inside, but I still love it when they freshen them up with paint :D

Yes, Raffi! :) Many thanks for the link to that thread! :okay: It brings back memories, and I couldn't resist re-actualizing it. ;)

I had admittedly been waiting for another batch of shophouse pix taken by you right here, but apparently that was not to be. :(

Fret not WH! I hear you :cool:

Now lets look at the Cairnhill shophouses, theyre not really shops, but are purely residentials - nevertheless their style is the shophouse kind. Cairnhill is a pleasant residential place right at the edge of the city. Recently that area has seen the rise of upmarket residential highrises and I hope these houses of old will not be sacrificed.

http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/csh2.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/csh3.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/csh.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/csh4.jpg

Great finds! :okay:

They look dwarved by all the tall stuff around them. How quaint. I wonder what they look like on the inside. Certainly not like your typical terrace, right?

some of them have very high entrances..yes that area has a lot of new condos built recently but the location is just swell.

Ohhhhh ... ahhhhhhhh! :) How perfectly beautiful and lovely and wonderful! :banana:

Thank you, Raffi! :okay:

So here we have it: the residential shophouse! :happy:

They may not be what you'd call large dwelling spaces, but they are so neat and sweet, so attractive and inviting! Their lush gardens make them even more appealing. Do you know whether they have (perhaps somewhat larger) back gardens as well?

As you say and it's plain for all to see, they are getting a bit crowded out by the highrise condominiums in close proximity. And of course I hope with you that these houses of old will not be sacrificed. :angel1:

Wasn't there a report on the newspapers about how they're going to be preserved or something? Or are they referring to somewhere else?

I do believe they WILL be preserved although I dont have evidence now. But some effort has gone into upkeeping these old houses as seen in the Architectural Preservtion thread :cool:

Check out this gorgeous shophouse in Geylang!

Taken by Doug Janson: http://www.pbase.com/dougj/singapore_around_town

http://www.pbase.com/image/17585722.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/image/17585727.jpg

Thanks, Raffi. :) It's obvious that these houses are loved and well taken care of by their owners. :happy: However, I feel that that is no guarantee that, even if some protection measures were in place for them at the moment, those protections might not be withdrawn at a future point in order to permit a project. :(

Edit: as I was writing this you added the photos of that beautiful building. THANKS! :okay:

Edit: as I was writing this you added the photos of that beautiful building. THANKS! :okay:

yup its so pretty! :D

now here is another pretty one taken at Balestier

http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/shbal.jpg
http://files.photojerk.com/RafflesCity/shbal2.jpg

^
Oh I recognise that Herbal tea store at balestier......opposite boon tong kee right??

oh yes..the famous chicken rice/porridge stall

I didnt even notice it was herbal tea as I was looking at the facade more than the shop :D

So many carvings!

oh thats a pretty shophouse with nice carvings!:)

imagine sitting in that house in Singapore....having the windows open..drinking tea in the sun and reading a book :) :)

i am a dreamer:)

but its ok to dream, I sometimes dream of living in a shophouse and going back to a different charming era :D

you know many shophouses are being redeveloped to being fully residential units at about 3000-4000 sq ft (the three storey ones with roof terrace and attic). it seems now necessary for such developments to have a lightwell in the middle of the house allowing sunlight to hit the reflecting pool at the bottom or something.. becoming cliched but i wouldnt mind that! my terms are all wrong.. i hope you understand what i'm saying.

I guess you mean these airwells? They arent normally apparent when you look at shophouses but many do have these windows at the back for ventilation

http://img122.exs.cx/img122/3880/shaerial.jpg

uhm nono.. the type of shophouse i was thinking of is like longer than that.. much longer i think? then in the middle of the shophouse there's a hole down ot the first floor... or maybe it really is like that and i can't tell :p

http://www.nicanordavid.com/lumang-tahanan/eastcoast-012.JPG
I hope this thing gets preserved.

what on earth?! looks so eerie :eek:

but I dont mind, a red building now and then is nice

^
You can check it out at Katong if you're still interested........:yes:

thanks..Katong is one area I am quite alien to :bash:

Ohhh, ahhhhhh ... more SHOPHOUSES! :banana:

Thanks, guys! :) As you know, I'm just absolutely in love with this type of building. :love:

Commenting from the first post on this page down:

- Wonderful stucco decorations on the white corner building in the 1st pic Raffi posts! :) Also the stucco in the second (although I'm not too happy with the color combination there).

- I think it's stucco rather than carvings, redstone and drwho. Or am I totally off? :?

- heirloom's post ... didn't we have a restored shophouse (in this thread or elsewhere?) that had been beautifully refurbished through private means not too long ago? It had a small reflecting pool in the garden. I believe some additions had been torn down in order to create that garden space, and also, of course, to bring more light into the place. I think all dwellings should have sufficient sources of natural light anyway. :)

- Raffi's aerial photo of back to back rows of Shophouses is fascinating! :okay: Never saw a shot like that before. The offset of the long parts of the houses is very clever! Maximum space for each, without one getting in the other's way. :cool:

- The red Shophouse redstone shows: I hope it will be preserved, too! :) The lack of a recent paint job should not be a ticket to oblivion. In fact, a more sophisticated paint job would bring out the details of the classical facade much better. :cool: There is so much CHARACTER in each of these buildings, it's truly amazing!

And finally, what's the deal with Katong? Is it an area of ill repute?

uh not really.. katong is near the sea and is a rather relaxed place. that red shophouse actually houses a supposedly famed bakery with a very long history. however due to its dilapidated condition (which i think is illegal) the bakery has to move somewhere else while it undergoes restoration. i'm nto sure if the bakery wiill move back.

some newly developed conservation houses around katong. this development is integrated with a low-rise modern apartment building. quite pretty on the outside, but i was rather disappointed with the showhouse. one of the kitchen cabinets did not fit properly. this is quite appalling considering its a "show"house. also the kitchen flooring was ceramic tiles. omg i could rant on and on about the rest of it but i'll stop here and just say generally its pleasant but i wouldnt buy this (if i had the money).

http://imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/82488.jpg

serangoon road on the other hand is a much seedier area. lots of prostitutes and overseas workers and stuff.

http://imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/82490.jpg




but suprise, who would expect to find a little french bistro here? it's called the french stall.

http://imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/82491.jpg




here's the menu:)

http://imagehost.biz/ims/pictes/82492.jpg

a French bistro in Serangoon? I never! :eek:

that row of white shophouses does look appealing though.

@WH, glad you liked the aerial, please stay tuned for more, as I release more aerial pics in the Chinatown (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=56270) thread - its one huge shophouse area!

Katong is in the east of Singapore, quite pleasant although I seldom venture there but from what I gather, it does have its fair share of interesting houses and bungalows. I'll try to check it out soon :yes: