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Shop houses: Singapore’s traditional housing

The word “Shop house”is a portmanteau joining “shop”and “house”because these traditional buildings in Singapore feature a shop on the first floor and a residential space on the second floor. Their exteriors exhibit British colonial architectural styles, while the interior showcases traditional Singaporean architectural elements. Let’s find out more about the history of Singapore’s traditional shop houses, which bear some resemblance with contemporary residential-commercial complexes in Korea.

Heritage of Multicultural Architecture

Shop houses are traditional residential buildings that are still widely used today for residential and commercial purposes. They have had an immense influence on modern Singaporean architecture and are the living, breathing evidence of Singapore’s heritage.Shop houses were first built by migrants from China, Malaysia, and India in consideration of the hot climate in Southeast Asia. A basic shop house is a two- to three-story building, with the first floor mainly used as a shop and the remaining floor(or floors) used as residential space. Shop houses are set back from sidewalks, allowing the space between entrance and sidewalk to be used for displaying merchandise. Since most of them were adjacent to one another, separated only by a single wall, windows were installed on the roof to help air circulate inside the building. To prevent fires from spreading from one building to the next, a partition was installed between their roofs. Today, shop houses are operated as shopping malls, hawker centers, and Housing Development Boards(HDB).Numerous hotels in Singapore feature colorful façades inspired by shop houses and a mix of traditional Peranakan décor. Shop houses reflecting architectural styles of different eras can be found all over Singapore.

Shophouse, the Original Residential-Commercial Complex

Singaporean shop houses’architectural style and usage are akin to Korea’s residential-commercial complexes. In the past, Koreans mainly lived in traditional houses, or hanok, and residential environments and commercial spaces were separated. With the introduction of Western architecture and modernization, residential-commercial complexes began to appear. They feature various cultural, entertainment, convenience, and commercial facilities, which resemble the comfort of living in shop houses. More recent buildings even include fitness centers, golf practice zones, swimming pools, and saunas that are exclusively available to residents. Many of them are skyscrapers that boast fantastic views and allow for interior remodeling. They are particularly popular among office workers and families with children as they provide security and privacy. It is interesting that what constitutes a traditional type of architecture in Singapore lives on in a highly modern form in Korea.