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 lau) and adapting to colonial town planning. The arrangement maximizes land use and frontage in dense commercial districts, with a retail display on the ground floor and domestic space above. In some ports, a covered pedestrian walkway, known as the five-foot-way, runs in front of the shops, providing shelter from sun and rain and shaping the street’s character.

Architecturally, shophouses are usually narrow and long, with two to three stories. The ground floor features a shopfront with a large display window and a recessed doorway, while upper floors contain living rooms, bedrooms, and service spaces. Facades often exhibit decorative elements such as plasterwork, ceramic tiles, timber shutters, and colorful tiling. Interior plans typically include an internal staircase, a rear light well or air shaft, and ventilation to cope with tropical climates.

Today, many shophouses are preserved as heritage buildings and adapted for modern use, including cafes, shops, offices, and residences. Their continued presence reflects urban history, multicultural influences, and evolving approaches to conservation in Southeast Asia.