shophouse
A shophouse is a traditional urban building type that combines a street-level commercial shop with living quarters located above. Common across tropical Asia, it is especially associated with Singapore, Malaysia (notably Penang, Malacca, and Kuala Lumpur), southern Thailand, Indonesia, and parts of Vietnam. Shophouses are typically built in rows along city streets, sharing party walls with neighboring units to form a continuous frontage.
The design originated in the 18th and 19th centuries, evolving from earlier Chinese shop-and-residence houses (tong
Architecturally, shophouses are usually narrow and long, with two to three stories. The ground floor features
Today, many shophouses are preserved as heritage buildings and adapted for modern use, including cafes, shops,