Restoring Singapore shophouses - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 07:50, 28 November 2021

2021-11-28T07:50:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:50, 28 November 2021
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	--[[User:Institute_of_Historic_Building_Conservation\|Institute of Historic Building Conservation]]		--[[User:Institute_of_Historic_Building_Conservation\|Institute of Historic Building Conservation]]

−	~~= Find out more =~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki ==~~=	+

	* Chinese renaissance architecture in China and Hong Kong.		* Chinese renaissance architecture in China and Hong Kong.
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	* The Chinese construction industry.		* The Chinese construction industry.
	* The Hong Kong shophouse.		* The Hong Kong shophouse.
		+	* Traditional dwellings of Dajun.

−	[[Category:~~Conservation~~]] [[Category:~~DCN_Commentary~~]] [[Category:~~DCN_Project_Knowledge~~]] [[Category:~~International~~]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Project_Knowledge]] [[Category:International]] [[Category:Conservation]]

Designing Buildings at 08:46, 4 December 2020

2020-12-04T08:46:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:46, 4 December 2020
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	* The Hong Kong shophouse.		* The Hong Kong shophouse.

−	[[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:International]]	+	[[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Project_Knowledge]] [[Category:International]]

Designing Buildings at 11:58, 26 November 2017

2017-11-26T11:58:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:58, 26 November 2017
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	* IHBC articles.		* IHBC articles.
	* Institute of Historic Building Conservation.		* Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
		+	* Liveable Yangon: for whom?
	* MahaNakhon, Bangkok.		* MahaNakhon, Bangkok.
	* Risk identification and allocation of Singapore construction joint venture projects with developing countries.		* Risk identification and allocation of Singapore construction joint venture projects with developing countries.

Institute of Historic Building Conservation at 08:14, 1 September 2016

2016-09-01T08:14:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:14, 1 September 2016
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	In Singapore in the early 1990s shophouses were being demolished based on misleading structural advice that they were too expensive, or too difficult to restore for any future use. The cleared sites were of great value for the modern multi-storey development.		In Singapore in the early 1990s shophouses were being demolished based on misleading structural advice that they were too expensive, or too difficult to restore for any future use. The cleared sites were of great value for the modern multi-storey development.

−	When Sir Stamford Raffles (1781–1826) arrived, Singapore was hardly developed at all. Raffles formulated a plan to divide the town into communal neighbourhoods, or campongs. The Chinese were moved to south of the Singapore River, and local groups and other Malays to the upper reaches of the river. The north banks of the Singapore River were set aside for development by the government. Most of the first workers’ houses, low-rise timber buildings, were replaced by the blocks of shophouses designed with set requirements relating to site size, building heights and overall layouts of these areas, such as China Town and Little India.	+	When Sir Stamford Raffles (1781–1826) arrived, Singapore was hardly developed at all. Raffles formulated a plan to divide the town into communal neighbourhoods, or campongs. The Chinese were moved to south of the Singapore River, and local groups and other Malays to the upper reaches of the river. The north banks of the Singapore River were set aside for development by the government.
		+
		+	Most of the first workers’ houses, low-rise timber buildings, were replaced by the blocks of shophouses designed with set requirements relating to site size, building heights and overall layouts of these areas, such as China Town and Little India.

	Prior to my involvement in 1993, and indeed during the time I was in Singapore, shophouses were being demolished at a significant rate. The government sought advice on how to save the buildings that were thought to be at the end of their life.		Prior to my involvement in 1993, and indeed during the time I was in Singapore, shophouses were being demolished at a significant rate. The government sought advice on how to save the buildings that were thought to be at the end of their life.

Institute of Historic Building Conservation: Protected "Restoring Singapore shophouses" ([edit=author] (indefinite) [move=author] (indefinite))

2016-09-01T07:48:17Z

Protected "Restoring Singapore shophouses" ([edit=author] (indefinite) [move=author] (indefinite))

← Older revision

Revision as of 07:48, 1 September 2016

Institute of Historic Building Conservation at 07:48, 1 September 2016

2016-09-01T07:48:06Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:48, 1 September 2016
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	* Chinese renaissance architecture in China and Hong Kong.		* Chinese renaissance architecture in China and Hong Kong.
−	* CIBSE Case Study: Christchurch International Airport	+	* CIBSE Case Study: Christchurch International Airport.
	* D'Leedon, Singapore.		* D'Leedon, Singapore.
	* IHBC articles.		* IHBC articles.
	* Institute of Historic Building Conservation.		* Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
−	* MahaNakhon, Bangkok	+	* MahaNakhon, Bangkok.
−	* Risk identification and allocation of Singapore construction joint venture projects with developing countries	+	* Risk identification and allocation of Singapore construction joint venture projects with developing countries.
−	* Robot Building, Bangkok	+	* Robot Building, Bangkok.
	* The Chinese construction industry.		* The Chinese construction industry.
−	* The Hong Kong shophouse	+	* The Hong Kong shophouse.

	[[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:International]]		[[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:International]]

Designing Buildings at 07:43, 1 September 2016

2016-09-01T07:43:22Z

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	This article originally appeared in [http://ihbconline.co.uk/context/145/index.html#18/z Context 145], published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in July 2016. It was written by Brian Morton MBE.		This article originally appeared in [http://ihbconline.co.uk/context/145/index.html#18/z Context 145], published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in July 2016. It was written by Brian Morton MBE.

−	[[File:~~Singapore shophouses of the 1920s~~.jpg]]	+	[[File:Singapore_shophouses_of_the_1920s.jpg\|link=File:Singapore_shophouses_of_the_1920s.jpg]]

	[Image: Singapore shophouses of the 1920s]		[Image: Singapore shophouses of the 1920s]
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	The Singapore Government appointed a French architect and me to guide it with this new approach, and agreeing a way forward with the officers of the government and its engineers. This led to a proposal that a group of houses in China Town, and another group in Little India, should be restored in accordance with this approach. The new philosophy and methodology has since been incorporated into the control regulations for work to these historic structures.		The Singapore Government appointed a French architect and me to guide it with this new approach, and agreeing a way forward with the officers of the government and its engineers. This led to a proposal that a group of houses in China Town, and another group in Little India, should be restored in accordance with this approach. The new philosophy and methodology has since been incorporated into the control regulations for work to these historic structures.

−	[[File:~~Singapore shophouses being refurbished~~.jpg]]	+	[[File:Singapore_shophouses_being_refurbished.jpg\|link=File:Singapore_shophouses_being_refurbished.jpg]]

	[Image: Singapore shophouses being refurbished]		[Image: Singapore shophouses being refurbished]
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	Brian Morton MBE is consultant to the Morton Partnership.		Brian Morton MBE is consultant to the Morton Partnership.

		+	-----
	Further reading		Further reading

Designing Buildings at 07:42, 1 September 2016

2016-09-01T07:42:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:42, 1 September 2016
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	This article originally appeared in [http://ihbconline.co.uk/context/145/index.html#18/z Context 145], published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in July 2016. It was written by Brian Morton MBE.		This article originally appeared in [http://ihbconline.co.uk/context/145/index.html#18/z Context 145], published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in July 2016. It was written by Brian Morton MBE.
		+
		+	[[File:Singapore shophouses of the 1920s.jpg]]

	[Image: Singapore shophouses of the 1920s]		[Image: Singapore shophouses of the 1920s]
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	The Singapore Government appointed a French architect and me to guide it with this new approach, and agreeing a way forward with the officers of the government and its engineers. This led to a proposal that a group of houses in China Town, and another group in Little India, should be restored in accordance with this approach. The new philosophy and methodology has since been incorporated into the control regulations for work to these historic structures.		The Singapore Government appointed a French architect and me to guide it with this new approach, and agreeing a way forward with the officers of the government and its engineers. This led to a proposal that a group of houses in China Town, and another group in Little India, should be restored in accordance with this approach. The new philosophy and methodology has since been incorporated into the control regulations for work to these historic structures.
		+
		+	[[File:Singapore shophouses being refurbished.jpg]]

	[Image: Singapore shophouses being refurbished]		[Image: Singapore shophouses being refurbished]

Designing Buildings at 07:39, 1 September 2016

2016-09-01T07:39:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:39, 1 September 2016
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−	This article originally appeared in [http://ihbconline.co.uk/context/145/index.html#31/z Context 145], published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in July 2016. It was written by Brian Morton MBE.	+	This article originally appeared in [http://ihbconline.co.uk/context/145/index.html#18/z Context 145], published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in July 2016. It was written by Brian Morton MBE.

	[Image: Singapore shophouses of the 1920s]		[Image: Singapore shophouses of the 1920s]
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	* CIBSE Case Study: Christchurch International Airport		* CIBSE Case Study: Christchurch International Airport
	* D'Leedon, Singapore.		* D'Leedon, Singapore.
		+	* IHBC articles.
	* Institute of Historic Building Conservation.		* Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
	* MahaNakhon, Bangkok		* MahaNakhon, Bangkok

Designing Buildings: Created page with "This article originally appeared in [http://ihbconline.co.uk/context/145/index.html#31/z Context 145], published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in July 2016. ..."

2016-09-01T07:20:24Z

Created page with "This article originally appeared in [http://ihbconline.co.uk/context/145/index.html#31/z Context 145], published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in July 2016. ..."

New page

This article originally appeared in [http://ihbconline.co.uk/context/145/index.html#31/z Context 145], published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in July 2016. It was written by Brian Morton MBE.

[Image: Singapore shophouses of the 1920s]

Structural engineer Brian Morton advised the Singapore Government on a new approach to restoring Singapore’s shophouses, which has since been incorporated into the regulations.

-----
In Singapore in the early 1990s shophouses were being demolished based on misleading structural advice that they were too expensive, or too difficult to restore for any future use. The cleared sites were of great value for the modern multi-storey development.

When Sir Stamford Raffles (1781–1826) arrived, Singapore was hardly developed at all. Raffles formulated a plan to divide the town into communal neighbourhoods, or campongs. The Chinese were moved to south of the Singapore River, and local groups and other Malays to the upper reaches of the river. The north banks of the Singapore River were set aside for development by the government. Most of the first workers’ houses, low-rise timber buildings, were replaced by the blocks of shophouses designed with set requirements relating to site size, building heights and overall layouts of these areas, such as China Town and Little India.

Prior to my involvement in 1993, and indeed during the time I was in Singapore, shophouses were being demolished at a significant rate. The government sought advice on how to save the buildings that were thought to be at the end of their life.

The reason that so many houses had been demolished related to an approach that was generally used by the builders. If the roofs were in a bad condition, the timbers were replaced, and if the floors were in bad condition, they too were replaced. Temporary supports were used to retain the party walls if necessary. The result of this was that houses collapsed.

Later a top-down philosophy was introduced, where individual roof timbers were inspected and replaced as necessary. Similar action was taken at each floor level, rebuilding masonry from the top down as the roof and floors were dealt with. This resulted in a very stable structure being retained.

The Singapore Government appointed a French architect and me to guide it with this new approach, and agreeing a way forward with the officers of the government and its engineers. This led to a proposal that a group of houses in China Town, and another group in Little India, should be restored in accordance with this approach. The new philosophy and methodology has since been incorporated into the control regulations for work to these historic structures.

[Image: Singapore shophouses being refurbished]

Brian Morton MBE is consultant to the Morton Partnership.

Further reading

* Lee, Edwin (1990) Historic Buildings of Singapore.
* Kilpin, Lee (1988) The Singapore House, 1819–1942.
* Davison, Julian (2011) Singapore Shophouse.

--[[User:Institute_of_Historic_Building_Conservation|Institute of Historic Building Conservation]]

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===

* Chinese renaissance architecture in China and Hong Kong.
* CIBSE Case Study: Christchurch International Airport
* D'Leedon, Singapore.
* Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
* MahaNakhon, Bangkok
* Risk identification and allocation of Singapore construction joint venture projects with developing countries
* Robot Building, Bangkok
* The Chinese construction industry.
* The Hong Kong shophouse

[[Category:Conservation]] [[Category:International]]