Singapore is a city that has made an impressive mark among other locations. The city-state boasts an exquisite blend of old-world charm and modern marvels, from the towering skyscrapers making up the city skyline to the charming shophouse hotels dotting Singapore’s historic districts.
Shophouses have been integral to the city’s history, serving as retail spaces and living quarters for families and business owners alike. Shophouses also come in various styles, and distinguishing them can be difficult. After all, their aesthetic approaches have heavily influenced one another.
In this blog post, we will explore the evolution of shophouses in Singapore by delving into their traditional roots to their modern-style counterparts.
The Simple and Squat Early Shophouse Style (1840-1900)
The Early Shophouse Style is characterised by a low, two-storey, squat design, typically with one or at most two rectangular windows on the upper floor. It is also characterised by minimal ornamentation, often featuring ethnic elements.
The earliest documented shophouse dates back to 1840 and had a no-frills, bare-bones design. These structures featured a five-foot passageway on the ground floor, shuttered wooden jalousie windows, and clay-tiled roofs. Rectangular windows and doors are typically timber-framed with shutters made of boards, panels, or louvres to facilitate ventilation.
First Transitional to Art Deco Shophouse Styles (1900-1950)
The First Transitional, Late, Second Transitional, and Art Deco style shophouses are remarkable examples of cultural blending and shophouse architecture evolution in Singapore.
Between 1871 and 1931, shophouses got more opulent as market confidence and population growth propelled them. As this period progressed, shophouses evolved from basic, squat shapes to elaborate, expressive designs with ornate plaster and tiles.
The shophouse aesthetic peaked in the Late Shophouse Style, also known as the Chinese Baroque Style. Intricate decorative elements, bold colour schemes, and glazed tiles characterise this shophouse style.
The “Singapore Eclectic” style
As a prosperous business hub, Singapore attracted immigrants from China, Europe, and Southeast Asia, resulting in the “Singapore eclectic” style that evolved from their exchanges. Greek and Roman architectural motifs, such as arches, columns, parapets, and balustrades, are commonly seen on shophouse facades alongside Malay vernacular elements such as roof eaves and louvred windows.
The Peranakan Shophouses
The Peranakan Chinese or Straits Chinese influenced Singapore’s shophouse architecture. Peranakans arrived in Southeast Asia in the 1500s and intermarried with indigenous Malays, forming a distinct culture and way of life from those who came in the 1900s.
A melting pot of cultures
Peranakan shophouses are characterised by a mix of cultural influences, blending Chinese, Malay, and European styles. The Peranakans’ love for aesthetics is reflected in the elaborate decoration of shophouse facades that feature intricate motifs depicting Chinese mythology and good fortune symbols.
The shophouses also incorporate elements of Malay vernacular architecture, such as roof eaves and louvre-shaded windows, which are well-suited to Singapore’s tropical climate. Some of the best-preserved Peranakan shophouses can still be found around the historic Straits area.
Separate spaces for men and women
One of the most distinctive features of Peranakan shophouses is the separation of spaces between men and women. The inside rooms were designed to reflect the habits and beliefs of each gender despite sharing common activities such as dining and playing the cherki (also known as Ceki) card game.
Men socialised at the front of the house, while women conducted housework at the back. Girls were kept hidden from public view and could only see the outside world through a peephole in the second-floor door that overlooked the public walkway.
Back to Basics with the Modern Shophouse Style (from the 1950s Onwards)
During the 1950s, Singapore’s economy flourished, leading to the emergence of modern shophouses. These shophouses became taller, more spacious, and adorned with larger windows and intricate facades. As construction techniques advanced, reinforced concrete was used to build many shophouses, allowing more intricate designs and features to be added.
The Singapore modernism style
Singapore experienced a surge of self-determination movements after the Japanese occupation and the collapse of the British Empire. This resulted in the “Singapore modernism” style, where local architects built for local sensibilities. Singapore modernism was starker in simplicity and raw edges compared to the Art Deco period.
The emergence of HDB flats
The post-war population boom led to the creation of the Housing Development Board (HDB), which aimed to accelerate the work of its predecessor, the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT). HDB flats retain some of SIT’s modernist aesthetics but are taller, made of concrete, and can hold more households, making housing more efficient and cost-effective. Modernist aesthetics spread throughout the island as HDB flats multiplied alongside new schools and community centres.
The pragmatic design of modern shophouses
Common among modern shophouse styles are practical design elements and utilitarian features. The style produced more severe-looking properties, with thin concrete fins and air vents added to improve ventilation across these spaces. Builders stuck closely to the style’s disciplined geometric proportions, creating a functional and efficient look.
Current Status of Shophouses in Singapore
Shophouses remain an essential aspect of Singapore’s cultural identity. Property owners, developers, and the government can ensure that these historic buildings are preserved for future generations to enjoy and learn from. As a result of their preservation, Singaporeans will have a better understanding and appreciation of this unique aspect of the country’s cultural heritage.
The Vibrant Evolution Continues
Despite the push towards efficiency in the modern era, vibrant shophouse communities continue to exist. Singapore shophouses have come a long way from their humble beginnings as simple structures with minimal ornamentation. With each passing decade, they have evolved and adapted to the changing needs of the times while still retaining their distinctive character and charm.
Today, they continue to serve as a bridge between Singapore’s rich past and its modern future. Shophouse hotels in Singapore, for example, are an excellent way to experience the island’s rich history and unique architectural landscape. In addition to offering modern amenities and comfortable accommodations, these accommodations are designed with vibrant and eclectic styles that showcase the city’s past.
Are You Interested in Viewing or Investing?
Conservation shophouses in Singapore bear witness to the island’s multicultural history and commitment to its future. Whether you’re looking to stay in a shophouse hotel in Singapore or capture the delightful pastel hues of shophouses on a photo walk, you can experience the city’s rich shophouse heritage with Shophouse Collective.
Our comprehensive one-stop shop for buying, selling, and leasing shophouses is backed by a state-of-the-art listing platform and in-depth market analysis. Our team of experts is committed to helping you make informed decisions about your shophouse investment, ensuring you maximise your returns. Contact us today and take the first step towards your shophouse investment journey.
