Shophouses with Classical Pilasters near Raffles Hotel. Seah Street, Singapore. The shophouse, the predominant building type in colonial days, has living quarters above a shop, which is recessed beneath an arcade, thus providing protection from tropical sun and rain. This use of classical motifs on a local architectural form produces an unusually elegant building. [Compare another shophouse façade with classical elements.] Photograph and text 2008 George P. Landow [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL.]
Other Shophouses in Singapore
- The Shophouse: A Characteristic Singaporean Architectural Form (in the Postcolonial Literature and Cuture site)
- Block of shophouses, Chinatown
- Restored Shophouses on Club Street
References
Chua Nemg Huat. The Golden Shoe: Building Singapore's Fionancial District. Singapore: Urban Development Authority, 1989.
de Ledesma, Charles, Mark Lewis, and Pauline Savage. Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei: the Rough Guide. London, 1997. See also their site.
Lee Kip Lim. The Singapore House, 1849-1942. Singapore: Times, 1988.
Last modified 21 October 2008