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Exploring Singapore: Shophouses

4 February 2018 in EXPLORE, SINGAPORE

Hello and here’s to February! Here’s also to more updates and catching up with all the adventures I have yet to share! The absence from my blog really annoys me and it’s been due to circumstance and not out of choice.

So, as I move on to better things in regular life, I’m going to pick up blogging again! If you’re reading this, thank you for stopping by today, and I hope you enjoy the city explorations here. :)

City Girl City Stories: Shophouses

In this post, I’m sharing some snapshots I took of a particular architectural building type called the shophouse! Commonly found in Singapore and Malaysia, I’m quite fascinated by these colourful heritage buildings! I understand there is plenty of history and changes in the shophouse, and one of these days when I find the time, I would love to read more about them. :)

Read more info about Singapore’s shophouses here and here! I’ve also added a list of Singapore shophouse related books at the end of this post.

City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses

I found out about this stretch of shophouses located on Emerald Hill Road, in the Orchard area of Singapore, and when I moved back last year, decided to wander down the street when I was in the area. Just to add, I am aware that there are many neighbourhoods/areas in Singapore to spot shophouses, but since I mainly only visited this stretch, I don’t have pictures from other neighbourhoods. (See end of post for links to more information about shophouses and where to spot them in Singapore.)

City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses

For a very brief idea of what a shophouse is like, it is a very narrow low rise building when you view it from the front, but has a very long interior space and usually are two to three floors high. Originally, they were used with a dual function: as a shop downstairs and a residential space upstairs, explaining the name!

City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses

Today in Singapore, they serve both commercial and residential purposes, housing offices, homes, restaurants, bookstores, cafes etc. As I walked further into Emerald Hill Road, I believe most of the shophouses I saw were residential homes and it was an interesting feeling walking around what felt like a small neighbourhood when just beyond this small section, are sprawling shopping malls and crowds of shoppers and tourists!

City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses

To end, I’d just like to say that if I lived in a shophouse, I’d like to imagine that mine would probably be a pink or yellow one! How fun would it be, to come home to something so bright everyday? :)

City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses

City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses
City Girl City Stories: Shophouses

Books related to Singapore shophouses

– Singapore Shophouse Walks series by Tatyana Kildisheva (photography books)
1. Singapore Shophouse Walks: Joo Chiat, Katong and Geylang
2. Singapore Shophouse Walks: Chinatown, Blair Plain, Duxton Hill, Tanjong Pagar
IG: @singaporeshophousewalks

– Singapore Shophouses by Julian Davison

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HELLO, I’M KYLENE

HELLO, I’M KYLENE

I’m a Hong Kong born, Singapore raised city girl. I have lived, studied and worked in both cities and am currently based in sunny Singapore. Welcome to my personal blog, where I share my city adventures. :)
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🤩 February was fun!! 🤩 ❄️ Frozen musical 🤩 February was fun!! 🤩 ❄️ Frozen musical, 😋tons of delicious eats, 📚 visiting @thelibraryofunreadbooks, 👟welcoming sneakers back into my life and trying to increase my step count, 🏛 more museums and books! 🌟
Better late than never! 😆 Here's my January pho Better late than never! 😆 Here's my January photo diary. In summary, 2023 started with lots of art, books and CNY feasting! 😄🎨📚🧧
🍊🍊 Chinese New Year photo diary from Singapo 🍊🍊 Chinese New Year photo diary from Singapore 🧧🧧
I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas! 🌟 H I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas! 🌟 Here is my Christmas diary in 10 snapshots. 🎄 As always, the full version is on citygirlcitystories.com 😊 

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year and once again, I can't believe 2022 is wrapping up so soon! Merry Christmas & happy holidays! 🌠

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citygirlcitystories

🤩 February was fun!! 🤩 ❄️ Frozen musical 🤩 February was fun!! 🤩 ❄️ Frozen musical, 😋tons of delicious eats, 📚 visiting @thelibraryofunreadbooks, 👟welcoming sneakers back into my life and trying to increase my step count, 🏛 more museums and books! 🌟
Better late than never! 😆 Here's my January pho Better late than never! 😆 Here's my January photo diary. In summary, 2023 started with lots of art, books and CNY feasting! 😄🎨📚🧧
🍊🍊 Chinese New Year photo diary from Singapo 🍊🍊 Chinese New Year photo diary from Singapore 🧧🧧
I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas! 🌟 H I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas! 🌟 Here is my Christmas diary in 10 snapshots. 🎄 As always, the full version is on citygirlcitystories.com 😊 

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year and once again, I can't believe 2022 is wrapping up so soon! Merry Christmas & happy holidays! 🌠
🌟 November 2022 diary 🌟 Doraemon exhibition 🌟 November 2022 diary 🌟 Doraemon exhibition at the National Museum of SG, Starbucks Christmas cups are such joy, snapping Christmas things around Singapore and attending a fashion show for the first time! November was great and full in every way, here's to December slowing down! 🎄
🌻 October 2022 photo diary 🌻 SMU park, city 🌻 October 2022 photo diary 🌻 SMU park, city views & HK milk tea, Istana Open House, cookies at home, night views.
[Latergram from the i Light Singapore 2022 festiva [Latergram from the i Light Singapore 2022 festival]

Singapore celebrates our National Day tomorrow! 🇸🇬

Found some snapshots from this year's return of light festival i Light 2022 to share Singapore beautifully lit up at night! 🎆
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