Joo Chiat, Singapore Shophouse Design, Asian Residence Conversion, Architect

Joo Chiat Place : Singapore Shophouse

Singapore Residential Conversion design by CHANG Architects

12 Oct 2012

Joo Chiat Shophouse

Architect: CHANG Architects

Joo Chiat Place Singapore

JOO CHIAT SHOPHOUSE

An old shophouse. A Joo Chiat client. The passion to retain the charms of a historical place in Singapore.

Located along Joo Chiat Place, this project involved conserving and converting an old bookstore shophouse into a dwelling place; and transforming a concreted, vacated land at the rear into a garden space, with new extension of a single-storey house.

The front facade:

photo : Albert Lim K.S

Built in the 1920s, the front two-storey shophouse has been stripped of its layered decorations, revealing only its original structures, finishes, and detailing, in celebration of its heritage and seamless integration with today’s lifestyle.

Non-structural partitions were removed so that the spaces, the old textured brick walls, timber rafters and floor joists, can be better appreciated.

Furniture, fittings and services are placed in a central axis. Progress through the house is to the side rather than along the axis. This frees the brick walls, and maintains clear vistas on both sides that run 55m to the rear.

View of the Front Shophouse from the Garden:

photo : Garden.Invy & Eric Ng of Shooting Gallery Asia

One side of the house faces a back lane. Instead of maximizing built-up areas, both the owner and architect felt the need to keep the end of this back lane visually unobstructed. This leads to the creation of a central garden space. As a result, the neighbours on either side enjoy a backdrop of green oasis.

Beyond this central garden space, is the new single-storey house that is essentially one-room thick. The decision to go low dense and to elevate from the ground pleasantly increases the breathing and green spaces for this house and its surrounding.

A series of rooms are organized intermittently, continuing the same axis and vistas. This offers cross-ventilations, day-lighting, and fragmented views of the greenery.

View of the garden & Rear House from the Shophouse:

photo : Albert Lim K.S

The final result brings back fond memories of the client’s childhood – reminiscence of community living where homes were interconnected social spaces; of spaces that were adaptive, useful and livable; and how architecture enriches the rituals of everyday life.

Joo Chiat Singapore Shophouse – Building Information

Architect: Mr Yong Ter Chang, CHANG Architects
Carpenter: Mr Ben Teh – East Interior Pte Ltd
Client / Developer: Ms Ching Ian Wee / Mr Yang Yeo
Environmental Engineer: Mr Kevin Lim – City-Tech Associates
Landscape Contractor: Mr Chor Ko Chua – Greenscape Pte Ltd
Main Contractor: Mr See Kooi Goh – Allegiance Construction Pte Ltd
Structural Engineer: Mr Hoo Tuong Tiong – City-Tech Associates

Award: World Architecture Festival 2012 – Shortlisted – Category: New and Old

Joo Chiat Shophouse Singapore images / information from CHANG Architects, Singapore

Location: 25 Gallop Road, Singapore, Southeast Asia