Built from the early 1800s to the mid-1900s, shophouses used to be abundant in Singapore. These long, narrow terrace houses often feature ornate facades, louvered windows, and internal courtyards that suit the region’s tropical weather.

Singapore’s rapid urbanization led to many shophouses being razed, until authorities started conserving them in the late 1980s—and today, these heritage buildings are in high demand. In the Joo Chiat enclave, east of the city center, rows of shophouses create a quaint and beautiful streetscape.

Shuwen and Kelvin found their perfect home in one of these dwellings, where they now live with their two young boys. “Owning a shophouse is akin to guarding a part of Singapore’s heritage,” says Kelvin. “Its conservation status means that our children and grandchildren will always be able to return to it, and identify it as part of their lived history.”

Shuwen says that Kelvin first suggested purchasing one of the historic homes. “I started liking shophouses after we viewed one that was on sale in 2018,” she says. “It was really old and not refurbished, so I got to see the original open courtyard and wooden staircase inside, and I felt that these features added to the home’s character.”

Before: Exterior

After: Exterior

After more searching, the couple found this particular shophouse. They liked that it was not overly updated, and that it still retained the character of classic shophouses inside and out. “The size of this shophouse is perfect for our family of four—it’s not so large that we lose one another,” Kelvin explains. “We can see or hear one another even if we are in different rooms because the spaces feel connected. We didn’t have to make any changes in the way we live; everyone felt right at home immediately.”

The couple brought in architect Quck Zhong Yi, partner at local firm Asolidplan, to help them with the renovation. “It had a somewhat postmodern, eclectic mix of features: raw concrete flooring, a stainless steel-and-glass staircase, a dark timber trellis, and heavy stone cladding in the kitchen, which was lit by a skylight. There were also bold red highlights both inside and outside,” says Zhong Yi.

Before: Living Room

After: Living Room

Before: Dining Room

After: Dining Room

Shuwen and Kelvin are avid lovers of Scandinavian and midcentury furniture and objects, and they sought a bright and serene space to showcase their collection, explains Zhong Yi. “Carl Hansen!” Kelvin quips immediately when asked about his favorite designer. “For the craftsmanship and use of materials. Also, Fritz Hansen—particularly pieces by Poul Kjaerholm.”

On the other hand, Shuwen gears toward Vitra’s playful and subtle designs, and Artek’s distinct Nordic vibe. “I deal with the soft furnishings around the house, and I love tableware by Marimekko and Iittala,” she says. “Beyond the designs, we appreciate these products’ quality. The pieces we purchased for our first home more than 10 years ago are still with us. They still look, function and, most importantly, fit well.”

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

Instead of removing everything that the previous owner did, Zhong Yi made selective changes. “Our design strategy was to express the multilayered history of the century-old shophouse,” he says. “We acknowledged the existing interventions as a valid layer and kept the appropriate parts while modifying others.”

Before: Hallway

After: Hallway

Asolidplan neatly concealed the back-of-house spaces off the kitchen and added a planter at the second story, in front of an existing sunken bathtub, to provide privacy. Sunshine from the home’s central skylight allows the olive tree planted here to thrive. “The entire kitchen on the first story and the primary bathroom on the second story were refinished with white tiles and textured plaster to maximize the reflection of daylight,” Zhong Yi says.

Before: Primary Bathroom

After: Primary Bathroom

The firm removed the original partitions between the living area and kitchen to create one large, connected space. “Even our work and study spaces are in the living area—shelves and study desks from String stretch along the room’s length,” says Kelvin.

The couple’s favorite spot is the living room, where the children often play and the adults can join in or pursue their own activities while being together as a family. “It’s a home for our children to grow up in and make memories from,” Kelvin says. “Certain shophouse elements—like the courtyard and even the echoes of footsteps on the timber flooring—make for a playful experience.”

Before: Primary Bedroom

After: Primary Bedroom

Before: Child’s Bedroom

After: Child’s Bedroom

More Before & After stories:

A Feral Terrace House Becomes a Magical Garden Home for $423K

In Buenos Aires, a Crumbling Home Gets a Major Refresh With a Rooftop Pool

An Old Montreal Apartment Embraces Sharp Contrast—and a Surprise Sauna

Project Credits:

Architecture: Asolidplan / @asolidplan

Architecture team: Quck Zhong Yi, Shanelle Ong, William Tin

Builder: E&B

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Before & After: In Singapore, a Historic Shophouse Springs to Life With an Indoor Tree