Shophouse spirit : layered living in modern Singapore.

• Main Authors: Yeap, Cassandra June-Yi., Thio, Cherie Tian Zhen., Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh.
• Other Authors: Cherian George
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/52519
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Shophouses were, at one point, the dominant building form in Singapore. First brought to the island by immigrants from Southern China in the 19th century, they earned widespread popularity across races and social classes because of their adaptability, and the ease with which they could be built. Now, they are icons of Singapore’s history and heritage. But shophouses represent more than just Singapore’s past. Behind the shutters of each shophouse, reside inhabitants who embrace an ethos very different from that of the rest of the population. This feature writing final year project seeks to express the spirit of the shophouse lifestyle through the stories of the people living in and around them. It hopes to uncover perspectives on living that are timeless – yet especially timely for a society that is grappling with what it will take to grow successfully.