The SHOPHOUSE

[redstone]

Wow, I think the rear extentions had been very well integrated into the shophouses. Tho personally I don't like this level of commercialization. Still love my good ol unmodified shophouse :P

[RafflesCity]

hmmm...I think areas with unmodified shophouses are at Emerald Hill & Blair Plains & the main conservation areas. I cant remember seeing any extensions added to them.

Bugis/North Bridge is in a commercial-zoned area.

[RafflesCity]

The backs of these ones show the modifcation done. I think the backlanes are gone.

[redstone]

Joo Chiat?

[RafflesCity]

Yup...

[redstone]

When I see fields in the midsts of shophouses I always feel heartache.

[RafflesCity]

yup...and if one unit is missing in a row, its like a missing tooth.

[redstone]

Singapore's narrowest house?


Not sure if it's a real house or just a blocked out alley. But it looks interesting!

[kopiluver]

Originally Posted by RafflesCity

hmmm...I think areas with unmodified shophouses are at Emerald Hill & Blair Plains & the main conservation areas. I cant remember seeing any extensions added to them.

Bugis/North Bridge is in a commercial-zoned area.

No extension of increased height but definitely filled out rear courtyard (see 69 Spottisewoode Pk Rd & 45 Blair Rd)

Originally Posted by redstone

Singapore's narrowest house?


Not sure if it's a real house or just a blocked out alley. But it looks interesting!

Yup, they filled the cavity. This hse on Niven Rd (the left one facing pic) probably squarted on the side alley to access the back lane (in this case Mt Emily). Since no 1 complained it eventually became Adversed Possession (also in those days, owner probably built & owned entire row, as no 1 uses the side alley but them, & they can do so fr back door, makes sense to "absorb")

There's a similar situation on Jln Pinang(or is it Jln Keledek on the right side) where side alley still exist... go check it out.

[redstone]

Originally Posted by kopiluver

No extension of increased height but definitely filled out rear courtyard (see 69 Spottisewoode Pk Rd & 45 Blair Rd)



Yup, they filled the cavity. This hse on Niven Rd (the left one facing pic) probably squarted on the side alley to access the back lane (in this case Mt Emily). Since no 1 complained it eventually became Adversed Possession (also in those days, owner probably built & owned entire row, as no 1 uses the side alley but them, & they can do so fr back door, makes sense to "absorb")

There's a similar situation on Jln Pinang(or is it Jln Keledek on the right side) where side alley still exist... go check it out.

There's a narrow shophouse at Club Street. I think only 2.5m wide? I think it's a separate building cos its painted in entirely different colours from its neighbours, although they're in the same style.

[kopiluver]

Help wanted see:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...&postcount=409

[RafflesCity]

Originally Posted by redstone

Singapore's narrowest house?


Not sure if it's a real house or just a blocked out alley. But it looks interesting!

That is the strangest thing I've seen on the forum today! I wonder what its interior is like...

Probably as kopiluver mentioned it used to be a backlane that later got filled up...maybe bought over..

[redstone]

It's not that obvious, but the two shophouses on the left are leaning. Meanwhile the modern infill office block recently had a fake extension towards the street, so the facade is now flush with the other shophouses.

It's basically a high "canopy" with a cargo crane inside, not sure if there's real floors inside

[redstone]

Rear extensions of conserved shophouses. The huge continuous block is officially called Talib Centre. Quite ugly in design.

[redstone]

Facadism in action, 41/42 Carpenter Street

3 storey shophouses being "restored".





Last time it looked like this:




I hate facadism

[Andrew]

Yeah, but I suppose it's still better than total demolition.

[redstone]

True.... huge areas of shophouses had been demolished, up til the mid 1990s. In the past they were treated as slums and cleared en bloc. But it's the fault of the previous owners, who let and the tenants sublet and sublet, that's how it became slums. In the past I think some shophouses are actually proper houses, like a townhouse. Others are offices and small warehouses. Once restored, they are very nice. I wonder what Singapore would had looked like had there not been mass demolition.

[kopiluver]

Originally Posted by redstone

True.... huge areas of shophouses had been demolished, up til the mid 1990s. In the past they were treated as slums and cleared en bloc. But it's the fault of the previous owners, who let and the tenants sublet and sublet, that's how it became slums. In the past I think some shophouses are actually proper houses, like a townhouse. Others are offices and small warehouses. Once restored, they are very nice. I wonder what Singapore would had looked like had there not been mass demolition.

I dont think it was entirely the fault of the previous owners. Rentals for entire shophouses were as low as $18 to $54 per month.

The Rent control act prevented them from controlling who stays there and if the squatters need to put 30members of their extended families in them. Plus the rent isnt even enough to replace a roof tile... so how to prevent it from deteriorating? Tenant needs to do it themselves and none will cos it's all in the mentality... It aint mine!

[Andrew]

Yes, can you imagine if there was still an unbroken sea of shophouses from Raffles Hotel to the eastern edge of the current Kampong Glam conservation area. It would have been spectacualar if it was all still there and all restored!

[RafflesCity]

Unfortunate that, however the shophouses that were cleared created lots of vacant land around Bugis MRT station.

That area will be used for another strategic cluster in expanding the CBD in future, termed the "Ophir-Rochor" corridor.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=592676